How to pick a Professional Photographer

If for some reason you have decided semi-professional isn't for you, we have some recommendations on how to pick a true professional photographer. One thing to keep in mind, a lot of folks will call themselves a professional that are semi-pro at best -- let's learn to tell the difference.

Professional Presentation

A professional photographer will be running their own business and thus the image of doing so. Nice business cards, nice website, dedicated business phone, acceptance of credit cards, etc -- all hallmarks of a full fledged business.

Insurance

As part of the a business expense, a professional photographer will carry "errors and omissions" (malpractice) insurance. This protects the photographer from an unhappy customer claiming the photographer missed "once in a lifetime" moments -- particulary for wedding/special event photography.

Experience

A true professional should have been successful for a number of years. If you are going to pay "pro" prices, you need to make sure the photographer has the experience in the field to backup their rates. Normally, the more experienced the photographer, the more expensive their services.

Fulltimer

Most true professional photographers make the lion share of their livelihood doing photography. Weekend-only or part-timers normally are not professionals.

Recognition

Many professional photographers will be involved in various contests, fine art shows, etc to display their abilities beyond the business arena.

Association Membership

Membership in national or local photography associations is a common feature of professional photographers.

Price

For all the reasons above, price is normally higher than semi-professionals. This is perfectly fine -- they provide a level of experience, service, and quality that demands a higher price. When money is no object, go pro every time.

Personality

We recommend people meet your photographers (pro or semi-pro) in person before hiring them for very special events like weddings. This way you have good feel for how well they fit your personality. Too often the more experienced "creative types" will develop a bit of an ego (not always the case, but rather common). Stay away from overly opinionated / ego-centric photographers.

Photography Style

Not everyone has the same style with photography. For example, wedding photographers often are in two major camps: photojournalistic and traditional. Photojournalistic photographer approaches the event as if he/she worked for the local newspaper and was covering your event. Traditional wedding photographers stick with the main "traditional" shots (portraits, big moments, etc).

Let us help find a Pro for your needs

If you strongly feel that SEMIPRO isn't a good fit for your needs, we will be more than happy to refer you to several qualified professionals in the area. Just let us know what you need and we can make the appropriate recommendations accordingly.