US author Seth Godin recently wrote a post titled Working with a designer (four paths). Since my web site is about business photography, I will steal adapt Godin’s post:
Working with a photographer (four paths)
All of us want to look good online, need some web site photos and maybe even a portrait of ourselves. More and more individuals and companies are learning that they need to hire a professional photographer.
It comes down to doing your homework. Be clear with yourself before you spend a nickel or a minute with a photographer. This difficult internal conversation will save you endless frustration and heartache later.
Here are four postures to consider when working with a good photographer:
• You know what you want. Bring your vision, your goals and your collection of sample pictures. Be very specific. The more you describe the look and feel of the photos you want and the more you know what needs to be photographed, the more likely you’ll get exactly what you’re hoping for.
• You’re not exactly sure but you know what it rhymes with. Gather all the sample pictures you like. These might include portraits, fashion photos, advertisements and any other pictures that caught your eye. You sort of know what you want but you definitely know what you don’t want. Don’t tell the photographer what to shoot but be really clear about the message you want to send with your photos. Originality isn’t the primary goal of your photos but the message is.
• You’re not a photographer but you understand the importance of photography. Do you want your photos to increase trust? Credibility? Who is your audience? If you can be really clear about what the photography is for, then hire a photographer you trust and give them the freedom to make pictures that will communicate your message.
• You’ll know it when you see it. Please don’t do this unless you have a lot of money and a lot of time (and a very patient photographer). This demand for telepathy is for amateurs.
