Choosing a photographer | Novice to Expert | Photography Skills TablePhotography | Novice to Expert
Compare Skill - Hire the Best | Choosing a photographer
Group | Skill | Associated Risks | Risk Likelihood | Quality of Results | Professional Fee
Skills Base Table

Further info at "Best Photographers"
https://www.johngilchrist.com/best-photographers

Choosing a photographer

Choosing professional photographers - Skill set, associated risks, and quality of results - Choices, pro photography factors

Choosing photography values, a comprehensive choice and preferences for client consideration.

Skill set choices: Your photographers abilities could be the all important factor, depending on expectations vs other factors. Choosing risk: The level of acceptable risk or risk likelihood you're prepared to accept. Choosing quality: Where are your boundaries on final results? Choosing costs: The right choice of photographer could be down to budgetary restraints, fees vary considerably. Lets look at wedding photographers as an example.

• Group A: Choosing the expert photographer brings phenomenal results, name your price, enough said!
• Group B: Choosing the high-end photographer, at this level the benefits of professional wedding photographers as a rule of thumb will turn out very good to outstanding results with little risk in nearly all situations and locations. When choosing this option the drawback is the heavy financial outlay, extremely expensive costs are not out of place, at times as much as 10% or more of the wedding budget will be absorbed in photography services. To top that, restrictive copyright/license terms on the photographs usually apply. Normally there are a limited number of photos provided. Suggested for weddings in tricky to photograph settings and appropriate for flush couples where money is not a major concern or for couples willing to put in a significant part of their wedding budget on photography.
• Group B: Choosing the advanced photographer, middle of the road wedding photographers has an upside. The benefits here can be price and value, usually very reasonably priced. Admirable results in most conditions with a liberal license for all images and a generous number of photos provided. The drawback is the risk (no mistake and exclusion insurance in some instances) and cannot perform effectively in some conditions. Suggested for anyone on a budget, however couples have to be willing to accept a little risk in order to receive exceptional value.
• Group C: Choosing the novice to intermediate photographer, a beginner or novice photographer yields potential problems. The benefits here are that it is usually free with no restrictions on photos. The drawback is the significant risk involved, very much dependant on the particular skills/equipment of people taking the photos. This option suggested for anyone with a little or no budget for a wedding photographer, with snapshots from friends and family being the only source of material.

However you embrace your selection process, be as well informed as you can be, hopefully this pragmatic look at skill sets that helps to influence your final decision.

If you are looking to hire, then this is about trying to match-up a service that is best for YOU! Occasionally everyone needs a photographer and weddings can be a mixed bag, sourcing the best photographers out there just means sourcing the wedding photography service that is right for you as a couple, your perfect photographer doesn’t necessarily have to produce the finest images but the service provider must deliver the goods and be your preferred choice for all the right reasons.

I suppose you can apply the reference table to most photography genres, just use the table subjectively!

Aspirations and expectations?

What’s too salty for some won’t be salty enough for others, aligning aspirations with expectations is important. Matching performance alongside expectations and price is a starting point for choosing the best photographer, or at the very least, I hope it will offer some guidance that can point you in a positive direction for the best results. Like all aspects of life what’s good for one won’t be good for another, this is so true with wedding photography, a miss match of expectancies doesn’t benefit anyone.

Getting the balance right

Getting it spot on and choosing the right style of photographer for your Scottish wedding is different for every bride & groom; costs against final expectations play a key role. Maybe the above competency table will offer guidance to couples looking for a little more inside knowledge. Bottom line, try to match your needs with a photographer's strengths. I suppose who and what depends on when!

When you need quality, dig deep! When you want free, tread carefully!

For the best client photographer connection, look for suitable photographers that match well with your own style.

Compatibility! Are we attuned with each other? Compatible wedding photographers make the day a success. Budget aside, positive wedding photography is not just a one day relationship, it goes deeper. Evan before you draw a line under on your budget you should be thinking about your photographer’s personality. Being well matched goes a long way! After all we are going to be spending lots of time in each other’s company and that’s even before the wedding. Compatibility, photographer and client interactions are so important; that’s why we need to click from the start, you need to feel confident you have chosen wisely.

Hitting it off! The best attributes in any relationship is trust and connectivity. A wedding photographer and client relationship works best when you feel at ease and comfortable from the beginning, knowing your wedding photography is going to receive all the attention it deserves will give you peace of mind, leaving you free to concentrate attention on other aspects of the day.

Which photographer?

Where do you start, finding a suitable photographer needn’t be a daunting experience. I’m guessing most people will probably start to look in the middle, somewhere around the advanced level. I suppose it depends on the individual. To help steer you to an informed choice I offer a detailed "talent table for best photographers", use or discard as you wish.

Budget photographer?

For situations where there is no escaping budget restraint, finding a photographer in Scotland that won’t break the bank may be enough to do the trick. When needs must, a photographer at the lower end of the table will be an option.

Award winning photographers

Some people look for an award winning outcome, in which case a photographer located at the top of the table would be a fitting place to start.

Do skill or quality really matter? a frequently asked question.

• A critical review implicating photography results at different levels, including the significant influences you can’t ignore!
• Skill Level vs Associated Risks Associated risks range from catastrophic to none, the skill level ranks from novice to highest level professional.
• Associated Risks vs Risk Likelihood As the risk likelihood increase from probable to none, the risk likelihood ranks from catastrophic to none.
• Risk Likelihood vs Quality of Results As quality of results increase from poor to excellent, it makes sense that the likelihood of risk ranks from probable to none.
• Quality of Results vs Price Poor to excellent, when quality of results increase for the better; we can now understand that this fee is associated with the outcome.

The pitfalls and highs

Why picking the perfect photographer to cover your wedding is paramount. The pitfalls and highs of weddings, choices, what's right when choosing photographers & where the wrong selection can lead you to. What's right for you won't be right for the next bride, so which direction, how do you go about choosing an appropriate photographer to cover your wedding? Should you be cherry picking or is it more about the bottom line and how much money you can save by disregarding the benefits of a competent photographer’s expertise.

Making that choice

Exactly how much should you be paying for the privilege for your photographer’s capability isn’t an easy choice for some brides. With a high dynamic range no wonder controversy shrouds a confused bridal party. With skill levels ranging from the accommodating novice to the extravagant ranks of the true professional, how does a bride decide for the right outcome? Whether you consider appointing a master of the arts or Uncle Bob you must ask yourself this, what’s the significance of the price difference stretched out over a lifetime of marriage? In twenty five years will you really look upon your wedding photos and remember you saved a few bob hiring Relative Robert and his new-fangled camera. Ask me at your silver wedding what your preferred photographer choice would have been now!

How will your photography choices affect you?

I have to make a critique in the nicest possible way, opting for the novice where the incompetence is astounding may be the only choice for some and likewise hiring master photographers at national level will be out of reach for so many. Realistically the majority of bride and grooms will be in the mid-range, this is where it becomes interesting and no doubt frustrating, so the challenge is on.

Today’s decisions are tomorrows truths, photography choices needn't be complicated but options do come in all shapes and sizes. Just remember the old adage, "good doesn't come cheap and cheap doesn't come good." So what does it all boil down to? Well, when it comes to choosing a photographer, there isn’t really any right or wrong, it’s more about expectations and the balance, trading value with results for a projected outcome. Your choices influence the final result, just be prudent and make decisions wisely, it’s your call! However, don't forget that a good camera does not make a good photographer. I'm sure enough people will continue to recognise this to keep photographers in business, at least for the immediate future.

There will always be amply wedding work for talented wedding photographers and the people who don t want to pay for their skills will get fuzzy photos, it’s that simple.

use for referencing arguments or considerations "for or against" a particular choice of photographer.