What are you paying for when you hire a photographer?

To hire, or not to hire a photographer, that is the question. We all have cameras in our pockets or handbags these days, and we take a lot more photographs of things that we do, love, and enjoy. The degree and competency we do it is what differs. Some love it. Some hate it. And some would prefer someone else takes on that duty or responsibility, and does it competently, all night so that they can enjoy the night without having to worry about taking photos and the responsibility that ensues.

The latter best sums it all up. If and when you choose to hire a photographer, there are three things you are paying them to do that you or your other guests are not prepared to do. What you are paying for when you hire a photographer, is listed below, and is in no particular order:

1. Toil
2. Brains and
3. Responsibility
   
   We will look at these individually below.
   
   

1. Toil relates to the physical labour that is involved in the process of capturing images. It may involve preproduction, production, and postproduction. Toil is the effort it takes to get the job done. This is the sweat on the brow of the hired labour. Travelling is also included. It is the beast of burden end of business. If you think, it is best to hire a photographer near me, it makes sense because it will decrease the toil and what you will have to pay. The less travelling your photographer does, the better. This is why local photographers near you are the best provided they can provide the services you require.
   
   Toil involves picking things up and putting them down. It may also cover the physical aspects of packing their gear, setting it up, and carrying it around for the duration of your event whether that is two hours, four, six, or twelves hours plus at weddings.
   
   Such exertion takes a physical toll on the human body. For an example, this may involve the carrying and setting up of tripods, lightstands, umbrellas, strobes, multiple cameras and lenses, and numerous other accessories, and running around capturing candid photos of the guests, and hosts.
   
2. Brains covers the talent and technical skills required to perform the task competently and to a high standard. In other words, we are talking about expertise. This is skill that goes beyond pointing a camera phone and pressing the shutter. In short, we are talking about the smartest person in the room who understands everything about photography from the theory to the history, composition, white balance, exposure triangle, technical aspects of lighting, and troubleshooting.
   
   
   
   In business, good ideas are worth more money than bad ones. And good ideas will make you money, save you money and time, or improve your reputation and brand. The adage that knowledge is power applies to why you hire a wedding photographer, or an event photographer to photograph your event. You pay them to figure out how to do it efficiently to get the best images out of the available light or they may have to provide supplementary light.
   
   You hire them because they solve problems that you do not anticipate or even known if they exist. They are professionals and their speciality is taking photographs unlike a lot of people who love taking photographs of themselves and exploits on their phones but do not do it for a living.
   
   Professional photographers have spent years like other professionals studying to master their profession. And they are always training like athletes to stay in peak condition, and to develop their muscle memory. Like most professionals, they have to engage in continuous learning and professional development to ensure they stay abreast of changes in legislation, technology, and everything photography related to ensure that their practise remains relevant, current, and cutting edge.
   
   
   
3. Responsibility is the last but not the least of the three reasons you hire a photographer. The buck stops with them. As they are in charge of producing images of the events, they are legally liable if they breach the contract and do not deliver the images as agreed contractually. They own the duty of capturing images to a competent level.
   
   Therefore, unlike a guest just taking photos at the event, they can be blamed if the photos they take are blurry, underexposed and people’s limbs are cut off. Professional photographers for hire on the other hand assume the state or fact of being responsible, answerable, or accountable for something within their power, control, or management.
   
   
   
   Consequently, if things go wrong, they are accountable and owe the client answers for the mishap. This could include a lawsuit or claim for compensation if there is a breach of contract. In any event, most self employed photographers will have insurance to cover such mishaps from injury to loss of images which means clients are covered in any eventuality. These will mainly be General Business (Liability Insurance), and or Professional Liability Insurance.

Toil, brains, and responsibility are the reasons you hire a professional photographer. That is what you are paying for. Those are the same reasons you hire any other professional like a builder, plumber, lawyer, doctor, architect, etc. They are specialists in their field of expertise. Treat them as such, and do not insult their intellect by asking if you can pay them in exposure because it does not compensate them for their labour, expertise, and the responsibility you are asking them to assume. They are more than button clickers. Photographers are consummate professionals in their own right.