If you are looking for professional photography in Toronto for your business, you’ve likely come across numerous options that you are having a hard time narrowing down your options. This article will help you determine a professional photographer to help you make the right decision.
Photography is an integral part of any business. This is especially true if you need images to tell a story, represent your brand, or even capture the special moments. That’s why you cannot afford to work with an amateur.
Finding professional photography in Toronto is the best way to ensure that you capture images that will have a lasting impression on your clients. With that in mind, let’s now look at how you can identify a professional photographer amidst the incredible selection of photographers in Toronto.
Equipment
The kinds of equipment that a photographer carries will tell you a lot about their commitment to photography. Often, a person with a single camera body and the lens is not as dedicated or as capable of taking high-quality shots like one with a variety of camera bodies and lenses. Keep in mind that business meetings or professional images might be taken in some unfavorable conditions – like dark spaces or industrial situations or conferences and so on. A photographer who has a range of equipment is better placed to handle all manners of eventualities and ensure you get quality shots for your business.
A few questions to ask to find out the equipment that your potential photographer carries include:
- What primary camera and lens do you use for shooting? (Expect to hear the type of camera, number of cameras and lenses, etc.).
- What other equipment do you use on your professional shoots? (Think of drones, advanced tripod stands, motion-control equipment, etc.).
- How much do you invest in camera equipment? (Camera and camera equipment come at all prices – with the goods ones being more expensive).
Experience
If there’s one big difference between an amateur and a professional photographer in Toronto, it’s experience. A professional photographer has likely spent more years crafting his or her art and has handled large projects. You need an experienced photographer for your business shots. It is an added advantage if the prospect has worked on similar projects like yours in the past. Here are some questions to help you determine the level of experience:
- How long have you been shooting? (In most cases, a photographer who’s been in business for many years will have more experience than one who’s just getting started. Besides, it’s hard to survive for so long if the quality is not up to par).
- Have you worked on similar projects like mine? (Architectural photography is different from hospitality photography. This question will let you know whether the photographer can handle your type of work).
- How many commercial clients have you worked with? (The more, the better. It’s an added benefit if the photographer has return clients).
Knowledge
In addition to experience, you want to learn about how knowledgeable your prospect is. This is important as it gives you insights into their grasp of digital photography, editing, and skill levels. Find out whether they:
- Use electronic flash units
- Know what HDR photography is
- Understand the importance of editing after shooting
- Know what things need to be edited in photos
Communication
Communication is an essential aspect of any successful client-business interactions. It’s always a good idea to work with a photographer who’s dedicated to serving you. He or she should have clear communication lines that you can use whenever you have a question, concern, or inquiry. A few questions to ask to gauge the effectiveness of their communication include:
- Who will I be contacting?
- Which channels of communication should I use?
- How long do you take to respond to messages?
Reputation
You could quickly identify a professional photographer by what other people are saying about them. If someone is as good as they say, then you’ll find many people – including their past clients – who sing their praises. And thanks to the internet, it is easy to gauge what other people think about the photographer in question. A quick search for the company name will reveal this. Still, you can try adding words like review, testimonials, legit to the company name (like Smart photographers review, or Smart photographers Legit) to find more information. You can also check out their social platforms.
Cost
Professional photographers come at a cost – after all, they have the experience, reputation, knowledge, and so on. However, this doesn’t mean you should be comfortable with being overprized. At the same time, you want to keep off photographers with low-ball offers intended to lure you in.
Conclusion
Finding a professional photographer for your business can seem a little daunting at the beginning, but your efforts are usually worth it at the end of the day.