Why Hiring a Professional Photographer Will Be the Best Investment, You Ever Made!
Sophie Tatlow and Bruce Slorach from Utopia Goods, shot in their store in Paddington, Sydney.
Whether you are a one-person band or a large corporation engaging in professional photography will only be good for your business. While I know it's tempting to use the intern at work or a friend to shoot your company's portraits, I believe photography is a skill that you can't learn overnight. So here are a few tips on how and why you should invest in professional photography.
Do your research.
When looking for the perfect photographer for your business, do your research! I'm a people photographer; although I can shoot products if I need to, I can't do it all day long. It's just not me. I prefer to work with people, and I'm better at it. There are so many great tools to find the right photographer for you. Google, Instagram and Pinterest are fantastic ways to find the right fit for your business. Then, dig deeper, read the photographer's journal posts (if they journal), and watch their videos once you have seen the aesthetic you think will fit your brand. It's a fantastic way to know if you will get along with them because having a good working relationship is very important to the outcome. If possible, speak on the phone, on Zoom or in person. Talking to someone is often the best way to gauge if you can work together, and also, you will be on the same page for the shoot.
Chef Joel Bennett, shot in his apartment in Bondi.
2. Anyone can learn photography, but are they the best photographer for your business?
Everyone seems to think they are a photographer these days, and to be honest, and you can do almost anything on a digital camera and a computer. But professional photographers have so much experience working with a camera, finding the right light, or using lights and setting up for a shot. We are experts at making the subject feel comfortable in front of the lens. Plus, they know the computer programmes like the back of their hands.
3. For example, this is how I like to run my photography sessions.
My approach is to chat with the subject to make them feel at ease before I start to point my camera at them. Then I like to give people pointers on standing or sitting, and then I start shooting. The first few shots can be awkward; then, we can get into the flow of things working each other out, trying to create the perfect unique portrait. I prefer to give my clients options, so I like to change the set-up or angle of the shot. Then when it comes to editing, we have some variety. My process has taken me years of experience on many different photographers' sets as an assistant and my own sets to work out what works for my clients and me.
Now tell me can your friend or intern do that? Tell me here. Or are you interested in seeing how I work? Why don't you get in touch here or follow me on Instagram or TikTok?
