If you’re looking for someone to cover your event photography, you may not necessarily know what questions to ask – or if there even is an important question to ask your event photographer. After all, they must know what they’re doing? But not every event photo is made the same! There are different kinds of events and they can be shot in quite different styles. To make sure you get the best event photos on your big day, here are our top 10 questions that give you the rundown on how to hire an event photographer.
Can I see your portfolio?
One of the must-know tips every photographer should know is the have a photography portfolio, so getting hold of this shouldn’t be an issue. A photographer’s portfolio is kind of a photographic CV; a collection of their photos to showcase their best work. This is important so you can see whether their style of photography is the right fit for you. Is it a classic, posed approach to photography, or more of a photo documentary style?
You will also be able to understand their experience from looking at their portfolio – if all of their photos are of weddings, but you want to hire them for a corporate event, you may want to reconsider taking them on as your event photographer.
Can I see your references?
If their portfolio passes muster, asking for their references is still a good idea. By speaking to other clients they’ve worked with you will be able to get a sense of how their professionalism and how they interact with people. Although they might take amazing photos, it’s always a good idea to make sure they’re on the same page as you, the client. You can also look at their reviews online to see other people’s unbiased opinions of them.
Do you have insurance?
Most professional photographers will have basic liability insurance, but it’s always a good idea to ask this to make sure.
How much will you charge me for my event?
Photographers can vary greatly in price, so it’s very important to lay the costs out up-front so that you avoid disappointment before setting your heart on a photographer that’s out of your price range. Don’t waste any time and make sure they’re within your budget by asking the charges for the event and what’s included in their package. Some photographers charge an hourly rate or a day rate, and others charge per image.
If the event runs overtime, will you stay longer?
This is necessary to make sure you and the photographer are both on the same page with timing and costs. If the event goes on longer than expected, your photographer may not be able to stay, or if they are willing to stay longer than planned, they may charge you extra. Discuss this in advance to avoid complications.
Are you working at other events on the same day?
Make sure you know in advance whether your event photographer is juggling other events on the same day. While it is possible for the photographer to juggle two events, this takes away setup time from your event. Your photographer may want to charge you extra if you want them to work only your event.
Have you worked at this venue before?
Event photographers should have an understanding of the space of a venue. It may be beneficial for you to have a photographer who has worked at that venue before. If they haven’t worked there before, they may be willing to do a site visit to check out the venue beforehand.
What packages do you offer?
Ask your photographer what is included in the package as this varies from photographer to photographer. Ask them to clarify what is included in their package because your requirements may not be offered as part of their services.
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- How many photos will I receive? There is often a limit on the number of photographs you are allowed to take away from them, so be sure to ask how many you will receive.
- What’s your retouching service? Most professional photographers edit and retouch as part of their package, but it’s always useful to make sure this is included in the initial cost.
- Digital or print? These days most photographs are sent digitally, but your photographer may include physical prints as part of their package.
- What size are your prints? If they do include print photographs for their clients, make sure you know whether they’re A5, A4, or A3
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- JPEG or RAW? Most photographers will send you the digital print in JPEG format but some clients like to have the uncompressed RAW file to edit it themselves.
Can I customise the package?
Some photographers are flexible with their packages, but others will expect you to pay extra for deliverables that aren’t explicitly included as part of their package.
When can I expect to have my photos?
To avoid frustration, ask when you will receive your photos. It is usually a matter of a few weeks, but some photographers can take months to get your event photos back to you. At Splento we guarantee a 24-hour turnaround.
If you require an amazing photographer for your event, be sure to book with Splento for a reliable, on-demand photographer at an affordable fixed rate of £99 an hour. We guarantee a 24-hour turnaround for your event photos.
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