Before you start searching for a Calgary photographer, it’s important to figure out what style of photography suits your needs best and reflects your vision.
Are you looking for a photo-journalistic approach, food or product photographer? or a headshot photographer? Something more refined and artful or are you looking for something that’s more traditional?
Many Calgary photographers may disagree, but there are plenty of all-around photographers. This article is to help you select the right photographer for your needs, and not mistakenly hire a wedding photographer when you need a product photographer.
Knowing what you’re looking for can narrow down the search significantly.
Narrow down the photography niche
Narrowing down a photography niche for your brand, product or yourself can be a challenging but important task. It is important to consider the target audience, the type of products or services being offered, and the overall aesthetic.
For example, a luxury fashion brand may want to focus on high-end product photography, while a travel company may want to focus on landscape and travel photography.
It can also be helpful to look at what other successful brands in your industry are doing and how they are using photography to support their marketing efforts.
This seems easy but it’s the first step to get the right content. Pepe’s Pizzeria needs interior photos for promotional purposes – hire an interior photographer, not the one who took their menu pics last month.
As I mentioned before, Calgary is a city with a lot of great photographers but very often a wedding photographer is offering services that are not their specialties.
Keep reading and I’ll help you choose wisely.
Know what style you want
Knowing what photography style is right for your content needs is crucial in ensuring that you get the results you want.
There are many different styles of photography within the same niche, each with its own unique look and feel. A jewelry photographer is more suitable for taking pictures of your saphire ring than a general product photographer.
It is also important to consider the purpose of your images and the message you want to convey when deciding on a photography style. If seeking professional headshots for website/linkedin, commercial headshot photographer more suitable than family photographer; no offense intended to family photographers.
Look at their portfolio
The best way to decide the best Calgary photographer for you is to have a look at their portfolio. Does the style fit with what you’re envisioning? Looking through photos is also a great way to learn about various techniques they use and get a feel for their skill level from all their samples.
If you see 10 different unrelated genres on their portfolio, I recommend you think twice to hire this photographer. Good photographers always niche down to around 3 – 5 photography categories.
Of course, there is always an exception. There are very talented people that could be good in all genres.
Photographer’s location
Consider the location of the photographer’s studio or business. If you are having an event in a specific location, it may be more convenient to choose a photographer who is local to that area.
If your are looking to get product photos, finding a photographer closer to you would make more sense so you don’t have to ship your products
Choosing a local photographer would avoid any transportation fee.
Read reviews
Reviews can give potential customers insight into how others felt about working with the photographer, so make sure you read them before deciding who to contact! Additionally, this will give an honest opinion on how well different photographers work, and how satisfied people were with their services overall.
Take this advice with a grain of salt. The internet is full of fake reviews, you need to do your research and read at least 80% of the photographers review to look for a consistency.
Consistency with online presence is key to determine if a photographer is the right fit. Look for social. recognition and comments on the photographer’s social media.
Get referrals
One of the most reliable resources when selecting a photographer in Calgary is referrals – especially from friends/family who have had positive experiences before! If possible, ask around first and find out which photographers they suggest checking out.
When received from past clients these recommendations can be invaluable since people tend to share only positive experiences thus making this one of the best ways of finding suitable professionals!
Have a discussion before booking services
Don’t be afraid to talk directly with potential photographers.
Call them before committing personally or financially as it’s important that both parties feel comfortable working together in order to produce amazing results!
When booking a photoshoot, it is important to be polite and courteous in order to ensure that both parties have a clear understanding of the expectations and desired outcomes of the photoshoot. This will help to ensure that the photoshoot is a successful one and that all involved parties are satisfied with the results.
Being polite and respectful when booking a photoshoot can help to create a pleasant atmosphere and set the tone for a successful shoot. This can help to ensure that all parties are comfortable and that the shoot runs smoothly and efficiently.
Additionally, it can help to ensure that all parties involved have a good experience and that any potential issues that may arise can be addressed in a timely and amicable manner.
Another reason for calling before booking is pricing. Not many Calgary photographers post their prices on their websites and that is a business model preference. Chatting with the prospect photographer will give you a feel about working with him/her.