Total Pageviews

Monday 12 March 2012

choosing a photographar or camera man

Do not overlook the importance of selecting the right photographer  or cameraman. It's important to remember that the photographer you choose will be responsible for capturing the moments and memories of what may be the most important for the feature film or any kind or movie you working for. With this in mind, you'll want to take great care in selecting a photographer/cameraman  considering there are no second chances. because acting as well as weather and time will not give you second chance to shoot for the scenes you like or called best shots.

As you might imagine, movie photography is one of the most challenging types of professional photography. The photographer/cameraman has to make everyone look beautiful, shooting in a multitude of locations in all kinds of weather conditions--and accomplish all this in minimum amount of time. At the same time, your photographer should have the personality to complement you on your most hardest day. Take your time and follow some of the simple suggestions discussed below, and you will most certainly be satisfied with the outcome.

Where Do You Begin?

Personal referrals or asking friends, relatives and co-workers for suggestions, is a great place to start. Typically, people who have had positive experiences with movie makers are more than willing to share that information. In addition, you'll already have some insight about the camera man's personality before you actually meet. After compiling a preliminary list, visit each camera man's web site and thoughtfully review his or her online portfolio. If a portfolio looks appealing you, chances are, that photographer/camera man might be a good fit. Next, call or email each photographer on your list. Through this initial contact, you can determine the photographer's availability, the type of work they specialize in (candid or traditional) as well as an estimate of the cost and what you'll receive for that fee.

Schedule appointments with the photographers who seem most appropriate and ask to view their portfolios in person and discuss more details. Ask each of them to show you a complete portfolio of any events --this will give you a much clearer sense of what you can expect than a collection of choice shots or footage  from several different events. Pay attention to whether the photographer is adept at portraying individual expressions and personalities as well as understand the scene - sequence and frames included into the movie 

What Questions Should You Ask?

Be sure to write down all of your questions beforehand, and take thorough notes during the meetings. Although most professional photographers/cameraman  will provide you with a clear outline of their services and fees prior to your meeting, you will, in all likelihood, still have a large number of questions to ask. Remember, the more information you have, the more confident and relaxed you'll feel on your work

The following are some questions, courtesy of http://www.iqphoto.com, you may wish to consider asking:

•How will you show me pictures for selection (e.g., electronic, proofs, contact sheets, online gallery, etc.)?
•Will you help me choose the final pictures?

•What are the costs of the various levels of coverage?
•Are there different degrees of coverage?
•What is your photography style; photojournalistic, traditional, mixed, etc.?
•What's your time frame for preparing the pictures for my selection?
•How long do I have to make up my mind as to which pictures I want and how many?
•How long have you been in business?
•What kind of guarantee comes with my hiring you?
•What's your philosophy for photographing ?
•Will you have an assistant?
•Do you have travel fees?
•How much is your overtime fee?
•Do you have a backup?
•Will you be shooting personally?
•Will you use film or digital?
•What's your payment policy?
•Do you give any guarantees on your services and photographs?
•What is the possibility of the pictures fading?

How Much Will It Cost?

The following are some points,  that will help prepare you for what you might expect to pay for your job an to allocate a significant portion of your  budget to ensure photographs are perfect. Expect to spend at least  Other extras that may increase your bottom line include additional hours, additional camera man . Add on too many extras – and your photography budget could quickly creep to limit and beyond!

•Cut the extras and turn them as a  package from a skilled cameraman. By paying for the photographer's expertise only, you will ensure great works –

•Enter the digital age with digital photography. It's less costly than film, and with technological advances in equipment – digital images are no longer a sacrifice in quality. Many photographers have taken the digital plunge – which results in savings for you!

•Cut the timeline…the longer your event, the more it will cost to document it. Since photographers often charge based on the number of hours they will spend at your job, a shorter/smaller duration will yield big savings in your photography budget.

Making a Commitment

At this point, you should have a relatively clear idea of which photographer is best suited to capture your . Once you have made a decision, be prepared to leave a deposit to reserve the date. You may still wish to reassure yourself by asking about a few final details. For example, find out what the photographer's policy for date changes is and what the alternatives are if he or she is not available on the backup date. Also, ask about their policy for an unexpected cancellation. If you feel the photographer is right for you, then relax and make the commitment with the confidence that you've made a well-formed, intelligent decision in planning the most important day of your life.


No comments:

Post a Comment