David Koonar's Guide on how to choose the right photographer

Finding a photographer can be a pretty daunting task. There are just so many options out there that you’re always worried about spending your money in the wrong place.

If you’re looking for specific kinds of photographers, or just guides on photography in general, I highly recommend checking out the David Koonar site. There, you are certain to find the useful information you’re looking for.

Define the Project

Sometimes, it will be easy to find the photography category you want. If you’re about to have a wedding, you need a wedding photographer. Sometimes, however, defining what you want is a little more difficult. In that case, you’re going to want to create a general list of the shots you need. If you need hundreds of them, just create generalized groups.

If you need to take pictures of watches and jewelry, that’s one thing. If you need to take pictures of a specific landscape or house, that’s something entirely different.

Look in Right Category

Once you've defined your project, you're going to have to figure out what type of photographer your assignment will require. If we take the example of watches and jewelry above, you're going to need a product photographer. If you're taking inside shots of a house, you might need a real-estate photographer.

Whatever it is, you should be sure to find the right person for the right job. If you should fail to do so, you will end up wasting your own time and likely theirs as well. When you waste time, you also waste money, especially if you could have been working on something else.

Compare Prices

While it is true that not all photographers are created equal, it is also true that some will overprice themselves based on their experience. Sometimes, you have to spend money in order to get quality. Other times, hiring someone that is still proving themselves can net you quality work at a budget price. You are the one that has to make that decision based on the project requirements.

Services

Be sure the photographer provides all the services you need and meets all your requirements. Sometimes, you need something specific with the project, or you need it done at a certain time when the person might not even be available.

Some photographers may not offer digital copies of their work, which sounds ridiculous, but they're definitely out there. Carefully define the guidelines of your project and ensure any prospective candidate is able to meet them.

When you make contact, be certain to provide a detailed description of the project and the services you require to potential photographers. Do this in advance and be certain to ask if there are any conflicts.

Portfolios

Once you’ve found some candidates within the proper category, take a look at their stuff! Their current photos are sure to inform the kind of work they will be able to provide for you. If there are issues with quality or the style just isn’t something you’re looking for, you may want to move on straight away. This is likely to save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

Be certain to look at the photographer's website as well as their Instagram. Just keep in mind that they generally post their absolute best shots on these, so don't necessarily expect every picture they take for you to be an award-winning photo.

Reviews

In today’s world, you no longer have to hire blindly. You can now find any company or business online and read detailed reviews on their overall quality. Be certain to read reviews in detail and ascertain both quality and level of service that former customers have received.

You are going to want someone that behaves professionally and produces quality work.

Knowledge

This depends entirely upon your niche, but it is sometimes advisable to find a photographer that specializes in the niche you are working with. Again, let’s look at the above watch and jewelry example. You’d need a product photographer for those things, but it would probably be better if you found someone knowledgeable about those specific products.

Generally, people that have photographed something specific in the past will know all the tricks to make that item look its best.

Now that you’re armed with this information, we hope you can find the photographer you’re looking for in the least painful way possible. Good luck!