Most of the time, you don't need to hit it off with your vendors. As long as they provide quality products on time, it's enough. Photographers, though, are another story. Theirs is a personal service and you'll be working intimately with the one you hire. So how their personality meshes with yours is an important factor when making your selection. With so many photographers in Vancouver, it can be difficult to make that choice. Here are some things to keep in mind as you search for the photographer who has that special blend of quality work and a sense of rapport with you.
Once you've perused dozens of portfolios, websites and packages you will want to whittle your field of photographers down to a shortlist. To narrow your list to two or three candidates, remember the first two tips I previously mentioned: Photographers should have professional equipment and should list what they use somewhere on their website; and if you're seeking a primarily digital photographer, your candidates should have a mastery of digital techniques to give you optimum and uniquely crafted images.
After you've made your shortlist, contact the photographers to check on their availability for your event. If their schedules are clear, you should set up appointments to meet with each candidate. You'll start to get a feel through their communication skills on how well they match your personality. Also pay attention to indications of their level of professionalism. Photographers should get back to your email within a day or two - and preferably much sooner - when you first query. If you telephone, getting their voicemail isn't unusual (if they're on the job they wouldn't be taking calls) but you should hear from them in a timely manner.
When you meet, is it a personal visit - ie. are you treated like a guest in their office or studio? - or is the photographer all business? Either approach is fine, but it's about what works for you. Do you laugh easy with each other? Are questions answered to your satisfaction?
Perhaps most importantly is the sensation of genuineness you do or do not receive from your candidates. You want information and communication from your photographer not a sales pitch. By the time you meet each photographer on your list you would have received some material on prices and products, so any drastic reduction in those prices to get you to sign immediately would be an indication of a hard-sales tactic. I've encountered hard sells in my life and inevitably either the quality of the final product was compromised or my enjoyment of it was diminished. So it's not something I push on my potential clients, ever.
Once you decide to hire a photographer, you will typically be asked for a small deposit. A contract will be prepared for you to sign either on the spot or in the week ahead depending on how much customization is involved in your order.
Other questions to answer in order to help you understand if you've got a good rapport with photographers: Are their correspondences respectful and kind? Do you get a feeling they will go above and beyond for you? Does your photographer offer to give you references to his or her past clients?
As I've written before, I'm writing tips to give advice and guidance to consumers in the Lower Mainland. I would like to believe I am the photographer for you, but I fully understand that Vancouver has many talented and diverse people in the business. I'm hoping the information I provide on this site will ease the difficulties of your search. As well, I hope to make you a knowledgeable and satisfied consumer of professional photography services in our area. Let me know if you have questions about this subject or any other as you go about finding the right photographer for you.
Visit my website for further more information and regularly updated content on photography tips and trends - http://www.juliapelish.com
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