As an event photographer for over ten years, here are some tips I would like to share to potential clients to see if a photographer has the right experience for the job or you might want to find other options.
1. They Must Deliver Good Photo Colours
Have you ever been shown event photos that just look too yellow? Or having a very strong blue, green or purple tint and you just feel that the photo is totally unnatural? This can be a symptom of an unexperienced photographer who do not know how to do proper white balance settings on their camera or when editing. It also happens when you get a photographer who did not tune their monitor to the proper settings to ensure it produces accurate colour representation of their photographs or even due to a colour blind photographer who may have trouble with certain colours.
Here is a photo I took in 2011 when I was just starting out. I had a DSLR and a flash (which was a big deal at that time) and went to my first corporate event shoot (it was an unpaid event so no client was harmed!). Compare this with my latest work, and you can see what 14 years of experience can do. Even today you may get people claiming to be a photographer just because they own a big camera and flash, but remember just because a person own an expensive stove doesn’t mean make them a chef.
At Joshua Khoo Photography, our monitors are all meticulously calibrated using the latest SpyderX Pro equipment to ensure proper colour representation and our principal photographer is very particular about making sure photos look as natural as possible especially in skin tones. This is because we know our clients are not looking for artistic interpretation of the photographer, rather our job is to ensure we provide the clients with how the actual event happened and we do that through the most natural true to colour form always.
2. They Must Know How to Take Control of the Lighting
Another consideration when looking at a photographer’s portfolio is how they handle lighting. This may be a little more subtle than colour, but you it becomes obvious when you look for it. Consider the two photos below. In the first one, the background looks overexposed and the people do not look properly lit and if you zoom in you will see lots of noise in the photo while the second looks natural and the subjects the focus of the light.
This is due to the use of a flash which really makes a difference in event photography. If a photographer says they prefer natural light than to use a flash, it’s likely an excuse for their lack of knowledge on controlling light with a flash.
The lack of using a flash is even more apparent in very difficult lighting as you can see in the photo below. This is a typical hotel dinner with purple lights in a dark room, and if you have ever tried to take a photo with your phone in this lighting, you would know it’s just impossible to get a nice photo without a professional photographer.
3. They Must Be Able to Share Same Day Photos
Being able to get event photos to social media or the press on the same day is crucial to many of our clients. We can accommodate to provide a wide selection of photos within any interval you may need it. Here’s an example of our client and their social media post which we shared photos every 3 hours to ensure they have the freshest news to share with their followers.
4. They Must Be Able to Provide Professional On-Ground Portraits When Needed
Backdrops are ubiquitous in any corporate event. Why settle for just boring photos on backdrops when you can make your attendees feel like they are attending the Oscar? Can your photographer accommodate to this if you need it? We definitely can.
5. They Must Make Your Life Easier
You want to make sure your photographer is reliable and can communicate well with you to fully understand your brief and requirements. Having worked with many international clients, we can have pre-event briefings via email, Zoom, Google Meet, WhatsApp or even having us to drop by to meet up. Whatever is most convenient for you. You want one less thing to worry about especially if you are across the globe and you need to organise an event in a foreign land. It’s really these little things that adds up.
We also understand that your photographer represents you, your company and your brand because it is ultimately your decision.
But why just hear it from me, when our client can speak for us.
In conclusion, you want to hire a professional photographer who is not just skilled in photography but also in communication. They often may not be the cheapest option, but if your event is an important one, you should consider the cost of the risk of not just bad photos but even hurting your company and brand.
If you are still looking for a photographer for your next event in Malaysia (or even in Asia), drop us a message and we’ll be happy to discuss with you!