what to look for in an event photographer chicagoIf you own or manage a business, there will come a time when you’ll need to hire a corporate event photographer to capture photos on your next conference or meeting. You may be tempted to ask a friend or your staff to do so, but you shouldn’t trust just anyone with this role. Professional photographers do more than take photos. They use their experience and training to capture the beauty and importance of each occasion.

Here are some things you should consider when hiring an event photographer.

Background and credentials

Event photography is a specialized field that requires its own set of skills. Just because a person owns an expensive camera, doesn’t mean he’s a professional. A camera is a tool, and does not guarantee that he’ll produce great photos.

Consider the photographer’s background and credentials. What kind of events do they cover? How many events like your do they shoot a year?

Portfolio

Believe it or not, some people would only look at the pricing and won’t even bother to look at the photos. Photographers put their best work on their website so feel free to check them out. Compare photographers by their portfolio, not their pricing. Make sure that their style is what you’re looking for.

Budget

Try to get price quotes from a number of photographers. Most photographers try to be flexible with their rates since they do understand that some clients are working on a tight budget. However, you also have to understand that the saying “you get what you pay for” usually applies when hiring an event photographer. Haggling may not get you the results you want.

Needs and expectations

Figure out what you want to get out of the event before talking to candidates. Communicate specific event details so as to give the photographer an understanding of what you want captured and where he needs to be at specific times.

With more than 20 years of experience G Thomas Ward Photography has been helping businesses in Chicago capture their business events and conferences. View our Event Photography gallery for samples of our work.