Things to look for in choosing a photographer

Let's face it, you probably think photographers are overpriced, right? Well, let me shed some light on our backgrounds and what value you get in hiring a professional photographer. In no particular order, but all equally important, here is my list of some valuable skills one should possess:

1. Training. Like many other photographers, I spent two years at college in an intensive media production program aimed at producing professional content producers and story tellers. This took a lot of dedication to learn the craft of producing professional level photographs. Good photographers are constantly learning new skills and honing their craft. There is always something new to learn! For you the client, this means far you're more likely to get the results you're after.
2. Gear. All things being equal, gear does make a difference. However, a photographer has to know how his or her equipment works. Knowing how to adjust your camera's settings with the end result in mind is hugely important. An important piece of gear that will separate good photography with great photography is artificial lighting. Lighting is a vastly underdeveloped skill that if used properly, will transform your images. The key is to make it look natural, but much better. You might be able to take a decent photo with your mobile phone, but you'll rarely get a great photo unless you are extremely lucky, or at the right place at the right time.
3. A good eye. All the good equipment in the world won't save you from bad framing or boring subject matter. Knowing how to frame your images as if it were the finished product saves time, money, and produces better images. If you have a good idea of what to shoot, it save you time from "spraying and praying". Good photographers know how they want the final image to appear even before they press the shutter.
4. Editing. This is a big one. There is a fine line between over-editing and under-editing. Every photographer, from time to time, struggles with how they want their end results to appear. When I started out, I sometimes over-edited my photos. But then I learned quickly that the skill is knowing when to stop. The key is to make it look natural, yet subtle enough to stand out from every other photo. As the client, you might have an idea of what you want the final image to look like, but my advice is to avoid overly edited images. These can look tacky and don't age well. This is a very general statement with huge caveats, but the better the lighting, the less editing you'll need to do. Both shooting and editing are often on a level playing field, with one being no more important than the other. Sometimes the shooting part can be quick and easy, but editing is the more time consuming part. A good photographer is working hard behind the scenes to provide you with fantastic imagery.
5. Adaptability. Whether or not they have a certain shooting style, good photographers need a certain level of adaptability. Does this mean that a photographer abandons their "look"? Of course not. their style is what attracted you to them in the first place. However, a photographer who can adapt to differing situations will ultimately save you time and money.
   
6. People skills. Charismatic, friendly, humility, confident, a good listener, a sense of humour, etc. - these are all important traits to look for in a photographer. There are a ton more, but you want someone who can not only capture good photos, but also be an easy person to work with. Even if their work is outstanding, you don't want to work with a photographer who is miserable or can't communicate effectively. Chances are you will look for someone else on the next project.
7. Accessible. If the photographer is booked a year out, they're either really good or really bad at time management. You decide if it's worth the wait. While some are worth waiting for, there are plenty of great photographers out there looking for work right now.
8. Valuable. Isn't this what the topic of the article is about? Well, yes and no. Yes, you should always expect your money to go far, and paying for photography is no exception. Good photographers will provide a valuable service in any number of ways. It could be in the amount of images you receive, the dollar figure, or their time (or any combination of these). However, don't automatically go with the cheapest option. Pricing can be all over the map for professional photography, so I'd recommend staying in the mid-high pricing range. Most of the time, these photographers know what their worth and how to price the job. While the least expensive option is either desperate or isn't running a successful business.

There are many aspects that make choosing a photographer easy. Hopefully these pointers will help guide your decision making process.

Cheers