I was recently asked about redoing a wedding photographer’s attempt at business photography.
Recently, I had a consultation where my customer was asking all the right questions. They asked questions to determine if I had the expertise and experience to do the job. It almost seemed as if they had heard my client presentation before and seemed to be closing themselves. As I was leaving, they mentioned that they had previously hired a wedding photographer to do the job and had really wanted to use the images as they had dedicated not only money but a lot of time to them. Unfortunately, the images did not have the quality or feel that their ideal clients would be attracted to. Their customers, after all, were not brides!
Questions to ask a photographer:
• Who is your primarily clientele?
• What percent of your overall business is like my project?
• Have you done this type of a job before?
• How many times?
• Tell me about the most recent job?
• What are the biggest challenges for a job like mine?
• How much and what type of support will you need from me?
• How long have projects like mine taken in the past?
A commercial photographer has a different point of view from a wedding photographer. Their images must match your company’s branding and attract your ideal client. They cannot have strong, stylized, and dreamy images which are appropriate for brides but don’t hit the mark for business clients (unless you are selling to brides). The equipment needs are also vastly different, depending on the type of photography. Business photographers have a lot of lights, specialized wide-angle and macro lenses, a model portrait studio, and much more. Business photographers need to be team players working with other creatives, able to handle complex projects that rely on effectively communicating between clients, models, venues, and more. They have to be mindful of how the imagery is being used. The goal of a marketing photographer is not to just create a pretty picture but to create an image that will emotionally engage your ideal client.
Water and electricity don’t mix. Hire a specialist if you want images that are an investment instead of an expense. Contact Colby’s Photography if you are looking for a a specialist in commercial, business and marketing photography. You can also learn more about Colby’s Photography or read comments from their satisfied customers.