Photographers Near Me | Where To Hire A Professional Photographer

Many cities have local professional photographers that offer a variety of services ranging from commercial architecture to real estate to wedding photography and fine art photography. While some photographers are considered generalists and can be competent at multiple styles of photography most professionals tend to specialize one or two defined niches. Have you have ever thought about or wondered "how do I hire photographers near me?" I'll answer your questions in this article along with providing some of my own personal recommendations.

Vineyard Dreams

Vineyard Dreams

Why Hire A Professional Photographer?

The difference between a professional photographer and just any person with a camera is that a professional is capable of consistenly delivering the goods. Anyone can make a good picture or two with enough failures and put it into their portfolio but knowing how to service a client and do so reliably is another story. With the prevalence of $1,000 smartphones and small mirrorless cameras it can be tempting to just contact anyone with a camera but that is a mistake if you need professional results. If quality photography and service is important to you and you don't want to risk being disappointed then I would advise you to hire a professional.

Smugglers' Notch

Smugglers' Notch

Hire The Right Photographer

One of the most common ways to earn a paycheck as a photographer is to shoot weddings. I hear stories all the time about how people's first paid photography work was wedding photography but then they hated it since they only accepted the job for the money. Personally I think it's a mistake to hire a rookie or Uncle Joe to shoot weddings. If you only plan to get married once do you want to take a chance on someone who has never photographed a wedding before nor know how to use strobes? Spray and pray has no place in wedding photography. Again, do your homework and hire a professional.

If you need a photographer for a commercial or editorial assignment and willing to pay for travel expenses then it's best to make sure that their style of photography matches the type of photography that you need. It doesn't make sense to contact a photographer for work that they haven't demonstrated that they can credibly accomplish. Professional photography is all about customer service.

If you are in the market for fine art photography prints then ask the artist questions about their process and make sure they can provide the right level of service for your needs. There are a lot of photographers out there that automate all of their print processes and charge rock bottom prices for their work. I wouldn't consider that to be "fine art" worthy of hanging on your walls. Art worth spending money on should have the artist's input. There are also photographers out there that I know personally who have never even test printed the products that they offer. I on the other hand have spent thousands of dollars testing every print substrate that I offer so that's why I can sleep well at night knowing that my fine art prints are made with best-in-class print production value.

What other things should you look for when deciding on which photographer to work with? Every photographer worth hiring should have a website with detailed information. Read what they have to say; do they sound like they know what they're talking about? The right photographer should be able to adequately answer your questions. If you have further doubts then reach out to them and ask. Those whom are serious about providing customer service should respond within 24 hours ideally. Also look for examples of where their photography has been published. Anyone worth hiring should have some sort of track record at least. For example, here are some places where you can find my work.

VIA Magazine Cover
Budget Travel Magazine Cover
Sierra Heritage Magazine Cover
National Geographic - Quebec City
Visit California - Wind Wolves Preserve
Visit California - UC Berkeley Botanical Garden
Gardens Calendar Cover
Backroads - Camino de Santiago
Vogue - Pasadena City Hall
BBC Earth
CBS News - Pioneer Cabin Tree
Men's Journal - Best Cycling Roads
Office Art Installation in Luxury Kitchen, Berkeley, California

What If There Aren't Any Good Photographers Near Me?

Lets face it. There are a lot of photographers out there but most of the work out there is mediocre or they aren't capable of delivering a professional product. Finding a good professional photographer near you might not always be a realistic or even the best option. If you find yourself in that situation then look outside of your immediate area. The internet has connected the entire world so don't just settle for anyone with a camera. Ask around as well. Word of mouth has and always will be an important referral tool. In fact, I would suggest starting with the list of photographers below.

Dancing Queen

Dancing Queen

List of Recommended Photographers

  • Richard Wong - Alameda, California (Large Museum-Quality Fine Art Photography Prints For Homes, Hospitals & Offices)
  • Ron Niebrugge - Seward, Alaska (Alaska and Antarctica Photo Tours)
  • Peter Bennett - Los Angeles, California (Environmental Photography)
  • Larry Brownstein - Los Angeles, California (Portrait and Editorial Street Photography)
  • Rob Tilley - Bellevue, Washington (Japanese and Architectural Fine Art Photography)
  • Jenn Heflin - Alameda, California (Business Portrait Photography)
  • Brandon Hill - Seattle, Washington (Corporate Assignment Lifestyle Photography)
  • Ryan Beck - Rancho Cucamonga, California (Commercial Architecture Photography)
  • Jennifer Jasso - Burbank, California (Wedding Photography - I hired her for mine!)
  • Christopher Michel - San Francisco, California (Photojournalism)

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