How to Hire a Product Photographer for Your Website
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Your website portrays your brand, and great photography can be the key to establishing your credibility. While you have the option of using the free photos available online, there is a great chance that most of your competitors do the same. Therefore, to stand out and give yourself a
competitive edge, it is a smart move to use original image content through the help of a product photographer. In line with this, below are the steps that you need to take in hiring a product photographer for your website.
Come up with an Overall Design Layout
One of the primary things that you need to do even before hiring a product photographer for your website is deciding on the overall direction of your site layout. This includes thinking about how the images are going to be integrated into the pages in your site, as well as whether the photos should look modern, hip, or functional. At this stage, you must involve your web designer because you may also need to add photos to the other components of your website.
Consider Your Budget
As soon as you have decided on the overall design layout of your site, the next thing that you need to think about is the money that you are willing to spend on the services of a photographer. Generally, the size of your project can dictate the cost that you need to spend to integrate superb images into your site. In case you intend to use the photos in other media such as posters, then this can also add up to your cost.
Reach out to Product Photographers
After defining the design of your website and the budget that you have to get it accomplished,
the next step is for you to explore and reach out to product photographers. In doing so, make sure to ask them about the details listed below.
Editing Skills and Experience
You would want to look for a product photographer with ample experience in taking tabletop product images. Those who are already experts in tabletop product photography will have a
deep understanding of how to position and use lights and props to highlight a subject because of their years of experience in working with several product categories. In this case, they can effortlessly adjust their lighting for different products. They also have what it takes to balance image quality with production needs should they be asked to photograph hundreds of products within a day. Alongside this, seasoned photographers will already have extensive experience in editing images using different software available.
The Equipment They Use and Their Photographic Style
The photographer that you should hire should be someone who has the appropriate equipment essential to get the job done. Aside from a quality camera and lens, they should also have the lights and the props needed to capture the photos that you need for your site. It is also a good idea to ask them about their photographic style because this will give you a good insight into whether their style will match your brand. Otherwise, you can ask for their portfolio, which summarizes their success in their previous projects. This is where you will be able to point out specific images that you would want for your website as well.
Professional Skills
Apart from their editing skills and experience, you also need to evaluate a photographer’s professional skills. In this case, it is best to look for a photographer who demonstrates their ability not only to work under pressure but to address issues along the way as well. In parallel to this, they should also have great communication skills, being able to effortlessly collaborate with various project resources at different organizational levels. It is a plus if they have management experience, particularly in supervising product assistants for the shoot.
Number of Photos They Can Deliver and the Turnaround Time
Based on the budget that you have set earlier, it is fine to ask the photographer regarding the number of images that you can expect for the fee that you are willing to pay. For instance, a straightforward shoot with white-background photos may yield you with more images compared to a more detailed shoot. Generally, the more photos that you can have, the better. However, it is also not a wise decision to solely base your hiring decision on the number of photos that they can deliver because the image quality is of equal importance.
You also need to ask the photographer about their turnaround time, particularly if the release of your website is dependent on when they will be able to deliver the images. You may find photographers who can deliver their orders right away, while others may require a certain allowance between the shoot date and the delivery. In case you are eyeing to go with the latter, make sure that they provide periodic and specific updates about the progress of their work. It is also noteworthy to ask a photographer if they have a backup plan when it comes to their staff and equipment in case they feel under the weather or their equipment gets damaged.
Before you hire a product photographer, make sure that you already have an established direction in terms of what you want to achieve with your overall website design layout. Alongside this, you need to consider the amount of money that you are willing to spend on the services of the photographer. From there, keep in mind to garner specific details about the photographer, such as their editing skills and experience, as well as the equipment they use and their photographic style. There is a great chance that you will be able to find these by checking out their portfolio.
It is also important that you observe their professional skills, confirming the number of photos that can deliver and the turnaround time. Coordinate with them about backups and photo rights as well before you end up asking about their fee structure. All these are geared towards ensuring that you hire the perfect product photographer who will enhance your brand through the images integrated into your site.