First of all, what is commercial photography? This is mostly done for advertising or promotional purposes, and you would hire a professional commercial photographer to ensure that you get the best results that draw in more clients for your business. Media that the commercial photographs could suit include brochures, posters, restaurant menus, and website images.
If you are interested in hiring a commercial or advertising photographer, here are some steps you could take to help you in inquiring about their quotes and rates:
Determine your purpose for hiring a commercial photographer. In order to get the most accurate quotes, you’d have to be as specific as possible as to what you’d need the commercial photographer to do. Give yourself some time to write down the details of your commercial photographs: what would you like to have photographed? What would be the background colors and designs? How many different angles/photos/scenes do you require? What media or file types would you need the photographs to be taken in? When would you expect the finished product to be delivered? The more specific you could be with regards to your needs, the more accurate the quotation the photographer could give you.
Specify other services that you might need. You may also require other types of services apart from the basic shots that the photographer will take. This might include renting commercial studios, having someone style the subject to produce better photos, or having equipment such as a helicopter for aerial photography. Inquire if the studio would take care of procuring those needed items (ask if they offer discounts) or if you need to obtain them yourself.
Do some comparison shopping. Visit some local photography studios in your area and inquire about their rates. Take into consideration the services included with those rates; if a certain package seems more expensive than another studio’s, it may be because the services included are more extensive. You could ask to view samples of their previous work to see if their style appeals to you; inquire if they could give you a test shoot for free (or at least for a very minimal fee) to determine if their brand and quality of work is just what you would require.
Also, try to check for rates as early as possible; as a guideline, the closer you are to the deadline the higher the photographers’ quotations would be, especially if you’re working within a peak season. Another advantage to obtaining quotations early is that you can make decisions more clear-headedly if you know that you have plenty of time to make your final decisions. The key here is to make sure you have enough time to choose the best studio with the best quotes, and not to have to settle for second-rate just because you’re in a hurry to meet your deadline.
Work with the photographer during the shoot. Once you have chosen your photographer, make sure that you exchange ideas as to how to do the shoot. Present your plans but be open-minded. Your photographer could offer his professional insights on how to improve the shoot’s workability and aesthetic quality. Make sure also to be present during the shoot, to oversee whether the plans will be sufficiently carried out. If you are satisfied with the photographer’s work, then keep his business card and consider him for future projects; he might present you with lower rates and special discounts next time.
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