| Working with a professional photographer should be | | | | developed and natural 'people' skills that helps set |
| a happy and pleasurable experience yet so many | | | | their clients at ease and form a good rapport. Within |
| clients I speak to talk of a stressful unproductive | | | | this industry you'll discover a wealth of different |
| business. In order to avoid a bad experience I would | | | | styles and approaches from the traditional through to |
| suggest that choosing the right kind of photographer | | | | the more gritty reportage photojournalist feel. |
| to shoot your brief is an essential part of selecting a | | | | The Commercial Sector. A totally different industry |
| one. | | | | to the more 'domestic' one highlighted above and one |
| The photographic industry has become a massively | | | | that is predominantly concerned with serving the |
| bloated place, full of thousands of photographers | | | | needs of the business sector, whether this be |
| each one claiming to be perfect for you and your | | | | through a design/advertising agency or via the |
| brief. The truth is that this industry is broken down | | | | business direct. Not an industry that the general public |
| into many unique genres and although some of these | | | | will come into contact with that often unless of |
| photographers may claim to be Jack of all trades, | | | | course you are either involved in the creative |
| precious few if any can truly claim to be master of | | | | industry or are responsible for the marketing of your |
| every niche market. Not only is it necessary for each | | | | company. Within this commercial sector exists a |
| of these trades to possess a very unique skill set but | | | | myriad of sub-genres and niches and within that |
| even the photographic equipment that they must | | | | countless different styles and approaches. Corporate |
| invest and become proficient in varies immensely. | | | | Portraiture, Celeb Portraits, Music industry, Paparazzi |
| Also the photographers personal attributes play a | | | | Press, Landscape, Illustration, Photojournalism |
| huge role in determining what kind of specialism they | | | | Documentary, Sports, Wildlife, Fashion/Beauty, Under |
| opt for. For example a wedding or family portrait | | | | Water, Lifestyle, Aerial, Cars and of course Still Life |
| photographer must be naturally tolerant, sociable and | | | | (encompassing Product Photography, Pack Shots and |
| exude a natural warmth that is just not necessary | | | | Food and Drink). |
| within the commercial sector. Here professionalism | | | | There are plenty more areas of specialism and of |
| and an acute understanding of commercial needs | | | | course inevitably many of these specialisms will |
| such as design implications, time demands and | | | | cross-over and indeed some fields may even have |
| budgets are absolutely essential. | | | | precise sub-genres within them. For example a sports |
| Before under going the practical side of researching a | | | | photographer may decide to specialize in just rugby, |
| suitable photographer for your brief it is therefore | | | | football or motorsport. A landscape photographer |
| recommended that you try to at least roughly | | | | might choose just to concentrate on urban |
| pinpoint the area of specialism that you require. The | | | | landscapes or the more traditional rural scenery. A |
| two main areas of professional photography and their | | | | product photographer may only photograph jewellery |
| related sub fields are as follows: | | | | etc etc. In general terms though it is fair to say that |
| Wedding Photographers and Family Portrait Studios. | | | | when looking for a photographer it is best to try and |
| By far the most widespread form of professional | | | | find one that best fits your brief. At the very least |
| photography and one that most members of the | | | | try to select a photographer that either deals with a |
| general public will have contact with at some stage in | | | | 'domestic' or 'commercial' client base, as the two |
| their life. These photographers are skilled at dealing | | | | industries require very different skills. |
| with this 'domestic' market are should possess well | | | | |