You have an agricultural activity and you need quality images to illustrate and communicate on your work, your production? The choice of an agricultural photographer specializing in agricultural professions adapted to your expectations is not an easy thing and you must go through a few selection stages in order to identify the professional who will be able to highlight your activity with his Pictures.
Do you need a photographer from your area?
To this question, I would be divided, let me explain: It is true that in an ecological concern, it is better to call on a local contractor in addition, we will have less or no travel costs, which is important for your budget.
But you have to keep in mind that you are looking for a provider who is unique in his work, that is to say that you will not have the same result from one photographer to another.
If you are seduced by the portfolio of a distant photographer in your region, if his light writing, his vision of your profession fits perfectly with what you want as communication images, well, another local photographer will not be able to provide the same result, because it will not be the same person behind the camera.
I’m not saying that the local photographer will be less good, no, but his work will be different.
Each photographer has a personal style, whether he watches it or not, and it is often difficult to get rid of it.
Just as it is quite difficult to imitate the work of others.
Don’t forget that you are looking for a professional photographer specializing in agriculture and that there are not many of us in France who have a real specialty and experience in this field, the likely photographers in agriculture are not legion and it is sometimes complicated to have one or one in his area.
The photographer’s portfolio is important
The most important part in my eyes, for your choice, is the portfolio of the agricultural photographer. It is necessary that you can see the full extent of his work and understand that he is a specialist in agriculture, that there are no other photos in his portfolio.
If you have wedding photos alongside photographs of cats and in the middle of all that some photos of cows, it may be better to seek more information about this professional if you like the style or go to next.
Ideally, if you work in arable farming or livestock, it is to find a photographer who has already worked in your field of activity, because it will be easier.
If you don’t see photographs that fit perfectly with what you’re doing, don’t panic, if these photographs, by the color, the angles of view, the framing appealed to you, that you like his work, the lights are green to ask him for a quote.
The seniority of the photographer is also important, because during the mission that you will entrust to this photographer, there may be an imponderable, a technical problem or you will have a last minute request, whatever -I… Well, an experienced photographer will be able to adapt and provide one or more satisfactory responses to changes in the mission.
An experienced photographer, who will have already worked for a company in your sector, will have relevant questions and remarks, he will make proposals completely adapted to your activity. For breeding, he will know how to behave with the animals, he will also be in compliance with the wearing of the necessary PPE.
Telephone interview before the quote
After requesting a quote or information by email from the selected photographer, a telephone interview is not too much to get to know each other. Already, the verbal exchange will allow everyone to set up a dialogue and see if the natural current is flowing or not. In general, after the first email, it is good that the photographer calls himself to go fishing for information, that’s what I do. But you can also call if you don’t hear back or are in a hurry.
Ask for the delivery time of the photos after the report and by what means the photos will be delivered, physically, by USB key or remotely such as by Wetransfer or DropBox or FTP.
Also ask for the size of the images delivered, enough to ensure that they are in high definition.
This telephone exchange is essential, because you will be able to gauge the approach of the photographer in relation to your request and see if he is really a specialist or not. Don’t hesitate to ask how he bills, by photo, by time spent, if there are travel costs, usage rights fees and over how long, postproduction costs…
If you need a service with a drone, ask if it has all the necessary authorizations for this practice.
It is essential that the photographer is someone who listens, who lets you talk about your project, your expectations and not someone who constantly cuts you off to talk about his memories and experiences without interest. Pay attention to this, because a person who knows how to listen and hear his client is better able to respond to your request, unlike those who listen to themselves speak.
Should I compare prices?
It is obvious that you have a budget allocated to your communication, your marketing and that you cannot exceed it. Yes, you have to look at the price of the service offered on the estimate, but don’t forget that you are not buying tin cans, you want quality photographs with a particular light writing and that, there will be no not many photographers able to offer it to you.
It is then up to you to arbitrate in these different choices. An experienced and specialized photographer will tend to be more expensive, but as they say, the price is forgotten and the quality remains.
The quality of these images will extend and accentuate your brand image, creating a positive first glance at your work or your website.
If, on the other hand, your major concern is the price, you risk having an average result and having an average image in the eyes of your prospects.
An experienced photographer will be able to take high quality photographs for you while optimizing the time spent, on site and in front of the computer, it will save time and money. For my part, I invoice and currency my services to the time spent, I do not count the photos to be taken, it is “unlimited”.
If I made an estimate for a day and we did everything in 1/2 day, I will make an invoice for 1/2 day, I invoice pro rata temporis and the estimate is free.
Finally, I invite you not to ask too many quotes, because too many quotes kill the quote by making the selection complicated for you. I think three to four quotes is the maximum.
What material will he use?
A photographer has an obligation of result and not an obligation of means, that is to say that as long as the customer is satisfied with the photographs delivered, that everything complies with the service requested and executed, the equipment used does not matter.
In fact, I can take photos with a smartphone, as long as the images delivered are of sufficient size, that the exposure and the colors are correct and that the customer is satisfied, the material does not matter.
That’s the theory, in practice, the photographer must use equipment adapted to the demand of his customers, both in terms of photo equipment, cameras, lenses and additional light if necessary.
The professional photographer, like any craftsman, must be properly equipped so that the result is the full and complete satisfaction of the customer.
Sometimes the photographer will need power supply points if they are going to use mains powered lights. For my part, I chose battery-powered lighting equipment, which makes me free to move anywhere without constraints, no need to unroll 300m or more extension cords to get light…
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