Business owners and newlyweds alike are faced with the same question: what makes a good photographer? Is it the ability to use Adobe Photoshop to retouch images? Is it the ability to find the right lighting and pose so that images don't need editing to begin with? Is there any specific thing that makes a good photographer? Unfortunately, there is not one specific skill that makes one photographer more skilled than another.
The prowess of a photographer is "in the eye of the beholder" just like any other art form.
There are skills that can make a photographer more effective for your business, however.
Artistic Eye, or Pure Luck? It's rare to find a photographer in the UK that doesn't have this skill, but there are still people who will advertise as freelance photographers while not being able to find the right shot for love or money.
Some photographers will scrutinize every available shots and angles before ever taking a picture, others will snap thousands of photos expecting two or three to turn out just right.
Technical Skill Photographers in the UK can be found using cameras that are either digital, or film.
Many will claim that film is still the best method available, others will scoff at the notion.
What are the advantages? Most cameras have been created to give a "film" look to digital photos, allowing the user to attach their own lenses for distance and close-range shots, giving more interactivity.
Still, the look of a digital photo does have a subtle difference from the look of a film photo.
However, most non-photographers will never see those differences, so this may not be something to worry about.
Editing The Pictures to Perfection If you choose to go with a digital photographer, something else comes into play: Adobe Photoshop, or similar programs such as GIMP.
These programs are used with one single-minded idea, to remove imperfections and highlight what works.
If a photographer takes a photo of your building and finds when they review the image the walls look dingy, they should be able to subtly alter the walls so that the dinginess is either gone or less noticeable.
That's the key when it comes to photo editing: subtle.
If the average person can take a look at a photo and immediately tell it's been "photoshopped" (and you don't want them to be able to tell, meaning you didn't hand them a photo with you sitting on top of the Pyramid of Giza) the photographer's technical skills aren't passable.
Not every photographer in the UK has editing in their repertoire.
And while this is usually a sought skill, it's very possible that a photographer may be absolutely excellent and their lack of editing skills won't break the deal.
It is possible to hire a photo editor on the side for touch-ups.
What Good is a Photographer? For basic things, such as staff photos for a small business, you may not want to go with a professional photographer.
In some cases, you may not even want to pay for a professional to get photos of your building.
However, for "stock" images - such as the peaceful forest, or the flying birds that give a sense of serenity to a site, you may get a better result from a professional.
Also, you absolutely need a professional photographer for pictures of your products if you have an online store, and restaurants should never put photographs of food on their menu that haven't been taken with a professional photographer - it takes a great eye to make every dish on the menu look appealing.
Price As with almost every freelance position available there is not a solid rate per hour that you can expect to pay, it varies by the photographer themselves.
Generally, a photographer that has to travel quite a distance, bringing massive amounts of expensive equipment, is likely to request a higher rate than your neighbor with their Nikon.
If you've seen this photographer's work before and it impresses you, there's no reason not to pay a little more for a photographer in the UK with a powerful portfolio and great eye.
The prowess of a photographer is "in the eye of the beholder" just like any other art form.
There are skills that can make a photographer more effective for your business, however.
Artistic Eye, or Pure Luck? It's rare to find a photographer in the UK that doesn't have this skill, but there are still people who will advertise as freelance photographers while not being able to find the right shot for love or money.
Some photographers will scrutinize every available shots and angles before ever taking a picture, others will snap thousands of photos expecting two or three to turn out just right.
Technical Skill Photographers in the UK can be found using cameras that are either digital, or film.
Many will claim that film is still the best method available, others will scoff at the notion.
What are the advantages? Most cameras have been created to give a "film" look to digital photos, allowing the user to attach their own lenses for distance and close-range shots, giving more interactivity.
Still, the look of a digital photo does have a subtle difference from the look of a film photo.
However, most non-photographers will never see those differences, so this may not be something to worry about.
Editing The Pictures to Perfection If you choose to go with a digital photographer, something else comes into play: Adobe Photoshop, or similar programs such as GIMP.
These programs are used with one single-minded idea, to remove imperfections and highlight what works.
If a photographer takes a photo of your building and finds when they review the image the walls look dingy, they should be able to subtly alter the walls so that the dinginess is either gone or less noticeable.
That's the key when it comes to photo editing: subtle.
If the average person can take a look at a photo and immediately tell it's been "photoshopped" (and you don't want them to be able to tell, meaning you didn't hand them a photo with you sitting on top of the Pyramid of Giza) the photographer's technical skills aren't passable.
Not every photographer in the UK has editing in their repertoire.
And while this is usually a sought skill, it's very possible that a photographer may be absolutely excellent and their lack of editing skills won't break the deal.
It is possible to hire a photo editor on the side for touch-ups.
What Good is a Photographer? For basic things, such as staff photos for a small business, you may not want to go with a professional photographer.
In some cases, you may not even want to pay for a professional to get photos of your building.
However, for "stock" images - such as the peaceful forest, or the flying birds that give a sense of serenity to a site, you may get a better result from a professional.
Also, you absolutely need a professional photographer for pictures of your products if you have an online store, and restaurants should never put photographs of food on their menu that haven't been taken with a professional photographer - it takes a great eye to make every dish on the menu look appealing.
Price As with almost every freelance position available there is not a solid rate per hour that you can expect to pay, it varies by the photographer themselves.
Generally, a photographer that has to travel quite a distance, bringing massive amounts of expensive equipment, is likely to request a higher rate than your neighbor with their Nikon.
If you've seen this photographer's work before and it impresses you, there's no reason not to pay a little more for a photographer in the UK with a powerful portfolio and great eye.