3 Must Ask Questions of Your Commercial Photographer - Part 1

My name is Steve Gallegos, your Commercial Photography Insider. In this article I am going to discuss 3 essential questions that you must ask your commercial photographer.

Not all Commercial Photographers have the same policies and practices relating to their method of shooting, billing, or even use and licensing of the photos that they are hired to shoot.

In most cases, unless there is an agreement to the contrary, the copyright in any photograph taken belongs to the photographer, even if you hired them. This is among one of several issues that savvy consumers must be aware of before hiring a commercial photographer.

Here are 3 Must Ask Questions of Your Commercial Photographer:

QUESTION ONE: Is there a pre-photo consultation meeting were we can discuss the assignment?

A pre-session meeting is important so that everyone is on the same page as to the expected outcome, and to gauge the chemistry between the photographer and the client.

QUESTION TWO: Are there hidden fees or services that I should know about?

Quite often, photographers may have assistants, or may require rental of additional equipment. Avoid surprises when it comes time to pay the bill.

QUESTION THREE: Do you offer a product guarantee?

While most photographers do not guarantee their results (that you will like the images), they will guarantee the quality of their work. Many clients hate to see themselves in photos no matter how well they are lit and composed. So, ask if there is a guarantee, or a reshoot in the event there is something wrong with the image, such as poor lighting, out of focus, etc.

For more tips and strategies for marketing your business make sure you read our other articles in this series. Once again I am Steve Gallegos, your Commercial Photography Insider.