{"id":3726,"date":"2019-08-15T02:42:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-15T01:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pathedits.com\/blog\/how-hire-product-photographer-commercial-freelance\/"},"modified":"2024-11-29T12:58:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-29T12:58:35","slug":"how-hire-product-photographer-commercial-freelance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pathedits.com\/blogs\/tips\/how-hire-product-photographer-commercial-freelance","title":{"rendered":"How to Hire a Product Photographer: 11 Questions You Need to Ask"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For online shoppers, price is the main driving factor to make a purchase. But that doesn\u2019t mean you should be quick to discount the importance of your product\u2019s photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

78% of those online shoppers<\/a> want to see products brought to life through imagery. Yet, retailers aren\u2019t delivering. More than three-fourths of consumers want more photos \u2014 at least three photos<\/a>, to be exact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could<\/em> go the DIY route, but poor-quality images might do your brand more of a disservice than no photos at all. That\u2019s why many online retailers hire professional product photographers to capture high-quality images, in hopes to sell more product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hiring a freelance photographer is no joke. Depending on where you do business, a qualified, professional product photographer could cost you thousands of dollars (sometimes tens of thousands!) That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to hire the right person (the first<\/em> time) so you can feel confident in your investment \u2014 and have photos that will impact your bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of your vetting process should focus on thoroughly examining potential photographers\u2019 portfolios and testimonials. But there are several questions you can ask to help you make the right choice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What type of equipment do you use?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A hired photographer should have appropriate equipment to accomplish the job and capture the photos you need. Obviously, you want a photographer who owns a high-quality camera and lens, but they should be prepared with more than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\"Behind-the-scenes\n\n\n\n

The right equipment goes beyond the camera \u2014 you need a photographer who will take care of lighting, props and staging the photos. Plus, once you know a photographer\u2019s capabilities, you can also determine which items you\u2019ll need to put on your to-do list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How many photos can we expect to get?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the \u201chow much bang do I get for my buck?\u201d question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the right answer depends on the task at hand. For straightforward, white-background product photos, you should expect more, whereas a shot with models may yield fewer photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To determine the \u201cright\u201d answer to this question, ask it to each of your candidates. You\u2019ll be able to compare answers and figure out a reasonable range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there, you can take that number and divide it by their rate to calculate the per-image cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at a few examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

Photographer A\u2019s day rate is $1,500, and they can promise 50 images during that day of shooting.<\/div>\n
$1,500 \/ 50 = $30 per image<\/div>\n
Photographer B charges $200\/hour, and they can deliver 5 images per hour.<\/div>\n
$200 \/ 5 = $40 per image<\/div>\n
Photographer C\u2019s day rate is $1,200, and they can shoot 30 images in a day.<\/div>\n
$1,200 \/ 30 = $40 per image<\/div>\n\n\n\"Comparison\n\n\n\n

Generally, more photos is better \u2014 especially if you\u2019re shooting for digital use. It\u2019s always better to have a wide variety of shots to choose from (even if they\u2019re unedited) and create synergy across channels with similarly shot images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nPro tip: <\/strong>Don\u2019t hire a photographer solely on the per-image rate. No matter how low the prices, no retailer can afford to purchase poor-quality product photos.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Are you insured?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The short answer here should be \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a photographer answers \u201cno\u201d to this question, that\u2019s a red flag. Should an injury, damaged equipment or other costly accidents occur during the shoot, you could find yourself in an unwanted legal situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s your background and credentials?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If a photographer hasn\u2019t had formal training or education, and hasn\u2019t earned any accolades, that doesn\u2019t mean you need to write them off completely. Again, the photographer\u2019s portfolio should do most of the talking, but this question can help you feel more comfortable in your decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To determine a photographer\u2019s background and credentials, ask these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n