Hiring A Photographer On A Limited Budget

I need a photographer but my budget is limited. What should I do?

Let’s consider Julie (fictitious name) who needs engagement pictures. Her budget is X dollars but photographers with experience and strong résumés charge X+Y. What will Julie do? The tendency is to default to cost as the determinant factor in Julie’s decision-making.

*Pictures in this article were for promotional use.

How Much?

When “how much” becomes the primary question that Julie asks, she’s already putting herself at risk of hiring the wrong photographer. Often, it goes like this: “I know who’s affordable!” Julie’s friend exclaims. “Bill’s Photography (fictitious) took our office pictures. He’s new with the camera but he did fine.”

• Julie checks out Bill’s Instagram page which features head shots, and images of baseball games
• Julie figures that if Bill can take those images, he can do the same with her engagement pictures

What’s The Risk?

While Bill may take good pictures of a pitcher on the mound and also do nice head shots, creating pictures of a couple is an entirely different skill set. Sports in progress does not involve posing and poses for business are very different to poses that make a couple look connected with each other, in love, romantic, fun. There’s specific body language that conveys all of this and more! Directing poses for couples takes special training either on-the-job or through courses. As such, just because Bill does fine event and business photography, it does not automatically mean that Bill can also create captivating engagement pictures.

Solution

Specialization. That’s the answer. Julie should consider the specialization of a photographer first, fee second. Now, specialization is not always synonymous with expertise. One can be a beginner AND already be in the process of specializing in a specific skill. In this case, the specialization that a beginner should be pursuing would include photographing couples.

It’s best for Julie to keep the photographer’s specialty at the top of her criteria. Now, her limited budget still excludes the experienced photographer. Therefore, Julie’s pool of photographers resides among the beginners. So, she should research beginners who are already specializing in shooting couples. A beginner photographer who’s social media already features couples will tend to have better insight into posing Julie and her fiancé then the beginner event photographer.

Conclusion

While it’s recommended to hire a “specialist,” it doesn’t mean that Julie should never try working out a shoot with Bill or anyone else who doesn’t focus on couples photography. Contracting a specialist simply puts the odds on your favor you’ll get what you want, especially when it comes to hiring beginners. That’s because beginners are not yet experienced in shooting a variety of genres.

By hiring a beginner who’s specializing in the type of pictures that Julie needs, Julie will help this new photographer advance his or her craft while Julie gets the photos she needs. Of course, it’s ideal to contract an expert but when one’s budget doesn’t allow it, then, one can be happy with the pictures and beginner can create while also having agency in the development of someone’s career.

If you hired a beginner, what did you enjoy and appreciate most about the experience? Share below.