Choosing a commercial photographer

Follow the steps below to help you choose the best commercial photographer for your business or project:

- Is the photographer professionally qualified?

Look for the letters LBIPP, ABIPP or FBIPP after the photographer's name.
These are indications of BIPP qualifications. Each level reflects an increasing level of experience, skill and achievement, starting with LBIPP and finishing with FBIPP.

- Do you like the style of photography?

Have a look at a wide selection of the photographer's portfolios.

- Can the photographer meet your deadlines?

If you need your photographs within a certain time after the shoot, check that this is feasible for the photographer.

- Don't forget that copyright belongs to the photographer.

This means that clients can only use the photographs in ways that were agreed at the time the photographs were commissioned. With simple images that are unlikely to have no wider commercial value, such as a pack-shot of a recognisable product, some photographers will be happy to assign copyright to their client. But where the picture is more creative, or has further economic potential, such as a library stock shot, then it is essential that copyright remain with the photographer.

Ensure you specify (preferably in writing) the uses to which images will be used when briefing the photographer and requesting a quotation. This agreement then forms part of the contract. It should cover how the work will be used, where (geographically) it will be used and for how long it will be used.

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