“Have you heard that the new real estate agent is the photographer?” This was the comment to us by an archtect. It is no suprise in an economy such as this that people are looking for new avenues to support themselves. You can pick up a digital SLR and a few lenses plus flash for a few thousand. But we all know that the real estate did to the market. They flipped homes, increased values, did anything to make a buck, told us what we wanted to hear (like our other friend the mortgage broker); then they left us holding the bag. I say these things because I have a real estate license never really used it except for friends. The reality is that the market crash had to do with everyone involved in the deal, mostly the buyer.

Buyer beware is a valuable lesson right a long with if it sound to good to be true it probably is. In real estate if you signed a loan for 125% of the value of your home, or an interest only loan at some point you had to have said what if.  I meet a lot of people who had that same thought when they were interviewing photographers, had second thoughtsm hired a photographer then were upset with the outcome. We meet both professional and commercial clients that have mentioned this in the past. Some occasions are savable others not so much.

Thus I wanted to discuss some tips on hiring a photographer: (these are meant to be funny HA HA but really sometimes we don’t think common sense when we hire people.)

1. Decide what your philosophy on photography is, stick to it had hire a photographer who holds the same philosophy. If they think they are only there to document but you are type A and want some style input this may not be the photographer for you.
2. If you are a woman and are uncomfortable around a man then a male photographer may not be the photographer for you.
3. If you love candid, photojournalism then a strict portrait photographer may not be the photographer for you.
4. If you hate red eye and you are getting married at night then a photographer with little experience is not right for you.
5. If when you are interviewing your photographer and you think things are a little off then they probably are.
6. Personally I feel that as a professionals  should have all standard equipment that Ithey should need on hand and as a rule only rent speciality equipment on an as needed basis. Thus if your wedding photographer says they have to rent a lens, I would second guess them. Speciality lighting is one thing, an underwater camera is considered a speciality item. A portrait lens (even a fisheye) should be considered standard equipment.