How to Find a Good Photographer Without Wasting Time

You might be wondering how and where to go to find the right photographer for your business, wedding or project – and we have the tips for you to get started without wasting time, losing your mind, or affecting your budget.

Whilst finding photographers is no challenging task, the real test lies in finding a good photographer that checks all the right boxes. With the right approach, you can streamline your search and avoid unnecessary stress.

So, how do you do it? How do you find a photographer that meets all your standards?

The magic lies in a few simple tips and tricks. Keep on reading as we help you find the best photographer, centred around making your search-experience a successful one!

1. Know what you are looking for

The first tip to help you find the best photographer is the same as anything else in life. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you will have a hard time finding it.

Make a list and figure out what the outcome of the shoot should be, and what vibe the photographer should express.

This is also relevant when determining the duration of the project and its budget. Set your negotiables and non-negotiables.

What should you outline before looking for a photographer? Here’s a checklist:

• Type of Shoot: Fashion, beauty, documentary, still life, etc.
• Desired Outcome: What should the images convey?
• Duration and Timing: How long will the shoot last, and when should it take place?
• Experience Level: Do you need an amateur, up-and-coming, or professional photographer?
• Location: Where will the shoot happen?
• Post-Production Needs: Will you need extensive editing?

2. Do your research

After determining what you want, you are ready to research. When you are glancing at the portfolios of various photographers you will see if they can mirror your vision or not, and on to the next – saving you time and energy.

Search Online: A simple Google search like ‘wedding photographer near me’ won’t always nail it to find your perfect photography match. You have to be patient and try different keywords focused on the specialty that you require.

Social Media: You should be open to find a photographer on Instagram or Tiktok as well, which makes it sometimes easier to spot the style and skills you are looking for.

Leverage photographer services:

You can use websites like Cherrydeck to find a photographer more easily. Instead of spending time searching, you get the right talent delivered to you!

By simply posting your job on Cherrydeck with your budget, location and desired dates, available professional photographers will pitch for your project – no matter the category. Wedding, fashion, personal shoots, or corporate getaway…

This saves you time, energy, and effort in finding the right talent.

3. Set a realistic budget and review costs

At this point, you know what you want – but how much is it gonna cost you? Understand that your budget will affect the quality and scope of your project.

In order to support the vision you have in mind, it is important to understand that the budget can vary drastically depending on different factors including the photographer themselves.

Factors influencing your photographer cost include:

• The category of the shoot: Commercial campaigns, a fashion and beauty shoots, videographers, etc. vary in cost. Wedding photography being one of the most expensive to book.
• The photographer’s expertise: The rate of a photographer is influenced by the skillset they bring to the shoot. Their hourly fees can vary from low to high hundreds depending on the duration of the shoot.
• Travel expenses: If you find your perfect match in a different country, you may or may not have to cover travel expenses for the photographer as well.
• Models: If there is a demand for models, prices can quickly skyrocket. Amateur models will be less costly but with less experienced, and agency fees for professional models could be quite high. Depending on the type of shoot, photographers may be able to reach out to their network for models.
• Raw Images: Most photographers don’t give out RAW images as they are not the ‘final product’. If you are looking to get all photos from your project with edits and without, make sure to let your photographer know. Some photographers might charge and some might give them out for free under certain conditions.

Instead of cutting corners on the photographer, balance your budget by prioritizing essential elements and cutting costs on non-essentials.

Clearly determine the amount of images that are required, as well as the mean of the photos – will they be digital or print? It goes without saying, the more photos you require, the more time will be invested, and the more you will have to pay. And accordingly, their licenses for use.

If a great deal of post-production is required, then it would be recommended to work with a photographer who has knowledge on this. Time and money will be saved because the images won’t have to be sent back and forth.

3.1 Be open to work with local photographers

Local photographers are not only familiar with the local area, but they often times know hidden spots which will add a level of uniqueness to your project.

For instance, why should you fly in a photographer to South Africa for your summer campaign, when you can source someone from there?

A further perk is that the chance of you staying within a moderate budget is upheld, as no heavy travel expenses are required. Meaning less money for travel, and more money for creativity!

Through reaching out to local photographers you can find a better mean of communicating to your target group, especially if they are based in the same region.

Read more about the Top 5 Advantages Of Working With Local Creatives

4. Check the photographers credentials

You did it! You may have found one or more potential photographers. Take a glance at their technical proficiency, education or previous clients.

Technical Proficiency: Look at their education and previous work.

Client Reviews: Check testimonials and feedback from previous clients.

Portfolio: Review their past projects to see if their style matches your vision.

5. Evaluate their editing style

Not only is it important to check a photographer’s credentials in terms of seeing their technical know-how, but to know more about their post-production steps aka their editing style.

Hiring a photographer for a project that has a post-production style that fits your requirements will help you maintain your budget and, possibly, keep the project within its set timeframe. And, will lead you to happier end results!

When it comes to shoots like weddings, it is crucial that you are informed on your chosen photographer’s editing style to avoid problems with the final photographs. And for commercial shoots, is not so different. For instance, if you are looking for a y2k vibe for your shoot, you should make sure you photographer knows how to edit as such.

Bonus: Find photographers on Cherrydeck

Once you were able to draw out the determinants which you want to place the most value on, its all about figuring out how to do it. Well, have no fear – Cherrydeck is here!

Cherrydeck offers a convenient way to find photographers:

Step 1: Head to Cherrydeck’s photographer search to begin your journey.

Step 2: Here you can apply the features that are relevant for your upcoming project to narrow down the possible photographers.

The filters include:

• Location
• Photography Categories
  • Fashion & Beauty  
  • Architecture & Interior
  • Fine Arts
  • Nature & Animals
  • Business & Corporate
  • Editorial & Documentary
  • Sports & Cars
  • Events
  • People & Lifestyle
  • Travel & Landscape
  • Conceptual & Advertising
• Number of Followers (Ranged from minimum to maximum)
• Level of Expertise
• Studio Vacancy
• Post-production availability
• Availability of videography expertise

Once all the categories have been selected, you have the chance of finding photographers which match by clicking ‘Show Results’. By clicking ‘Editors’ Choice’, only selected photographers from the Cherrydeck Editorial Team will be shown.

Step 3: The system has shortlisted photographers matching your categorized preferences. Now, the fun part begins – scrolling through the possible photographers.

Once you have stumbled across a photographer who seems appealing, you can access their full profile simply by clicking the ‘Profile’ button – there you see their bio, contact options, sample photos, project portfolios, and their Instagram account.

Click the ‘save’ button to review portfolios later or compare them more easily. You’ll be able to find them again, as well as other photographers you have saved in the Menu bar under ‘Saved Profiles‘.

By following these tips to help you find the best photographer, your project or campaign is sure to be a success.

Rather have someone else invest their time into finding the perfect fit? Tell us what you need and let photographers pitch for your project. You can also reach out to our Cherrydeck Team and we’ll be in touch!

---