1. Understand the process and what you are paying for

Think of paying for photography like a professional Baker to make your cake

You won’t tell the Baker you will just take the batter and bake it yourself, since you have an Oven at home and have a made cake before, and especially wouldn’t ask for a discount for doing so.

2. Do not ask for more photos then were delivered

Really just don’t

Photographer doesn’t gain by keeping wonderful photos from you or RAW files if they were not included there is a reason.  Also maybe you are paid for a certain amount of pictures and asking for more than that is also, well rude.

3. Don’t expect free photography

Unless it’s offered

Unless it’s offered just don’t even consider asking, it puts people in an uncomfortable situation.

You don’t expect free service or product from any other professional so, why would you expect from a photographer. Even if you think it is just digital. Your photographer’s time is food on the family table a session doesn’t end when you are done taking picture power into the post-production.

4. Do not ever Crop out the watermark

Stop Insulting the art

One of the easiest ways your photographer never wants to work with you again. Cropping a photo in any ways destroys the composition that the photographer chooses carefully and with purpose. Photographers are an artist and their photograph is their art. Would you spend thousands of Dollar on painting and use the scissors to cut off the artist signature?

You are taking away their credit. If you pay for non-watermark file for print do not disrespect the artist by posting them online.

5. Do not edit the pictures you received.

You are destroying it.

By applying some filter or desaturating everything but your kid’s eyes, you have destroyed the artist finished piece. if anyone sees that filter picture they are not seeing work that represents the artist vision. If you don’t like the style they use to edit pictures find a different photographer, it is insulting to change an artist work.

6. Do not hire your friend as a photographer for any reason other than absolutely loving their work.

But especially don’t have them just because you expect a discount if you don’t like their work style for their editing please don’t have them to save a few bucks

7. Unless they offer don’t ask them to do types of photography they don’t do

Ask them about the type of services.

Not all photography is the same, chances are if you ask a newborn photographer to product for your website or a pet photographer to shoot your corporate event neither of you or he will be happy with the result

8. Give their proper credit on social media

Facebook, Instagram or the website. Word of mouth is a photographer livelihood

You didn’t take the photographs of yourself. Tag the person that did. It is really that simple. Professional photographers have a Facebook page, Instagram and the website and it only takes a few seconds to tag them. Word of mouth is a photographer livelihood.

9. Don’t invite them places with the intention of taking photos

We all hate it

Believe it or not, photography is hard work your photographer doesn’t get to enjoy your event when you have to cover it. Ans it really hurts a person feels to think they have been invited to relax as a guest only to find the host disappointed didn’t come ready to work for free.

10. Know that the camera doesn’t make the image

Respect the years of education and practice

Saying things like no wonder your picture is so great I wish if I had that camera that’s nice. It is a compliment to their camera and it’s an insult to the years of education practice sweat blood and tears your photographers have dedicated to learning their trade. Saying the camera is the reason the photos look so nice is like telling a printer if you had more expensive paint you could be as good as them

Image Credits Facebook: @Kat Sink