How do you know if your photographer’s up to the job?
A good event photographer should have experience and/or professional training in photography and know the right settings and lenses to use and exactly where to be at any given time to get the required shot. You don’t want to miss those important moments when they happen.
Professional photographers have a great understanding of lighting and what light is needed to create the perfect photo. Think about the venue where your event will take place and the available light. Photographers should have their own lighting whether it be flash or continuous light for media walls. But if you would prefer to not have a flash going off all the time, discuss with your photographer how they can photograph without it being a nuisance to your guests.
A good photographer should have a photography brief so that both the client and the photographer are on the same page. Along with the brief, having a detailed event schedule from the organiser is helpful too. That way everyone has a clear understanding of what needs to be captured and nothing important is missed. If necessary have a shot list of all the photos that are required as well.
Ask the photographer about the equipment that they use. Every photographer should have at least 2 cameras with a range of lenses to use for different situations. Also ask if they have their own lighting equipment. This could be studio lighting or flash or continuous lighting. You need to ensure that the photographer has all the equipment needed to get the job done well.
Ask the photographer if they have insurance. All professional photographers should have their own Public Liability Insurance in case an accident happens or equipment is damaged or stolen while they are working at your event.
Ask the photographer for some examples of their work. This could mean a range of photos from a variety of different events or it could mean a whole event with different aspects of that one event. To see some examples of a full event Melissa has photographed go to Recent Work or to see examples of different types of events go to Services.
