Say Cheese!
Should you spend the cheddar to get a vacation photographer?
If you find your vacation photos consist primarily of a few lowquality selfies or family photos short one person, you might want to hire a vacation photographer. Here’s what to consider before deciding:
1 QUALITY
Vacations usually involve a lot of planning, money and great moments. “The problem is, the photos don’t always match that marvelous time they’re having,” said Flytographer founder and CEO Nicole Smith. The company is one of a growing number of online services that help travelers find and hire photographers during vacations.
2 INCLUSION
Travel photos often involve two undesirable choices: a selfie stick or handing your camera to a stranger in hopes they take a decent shot of everybody. It’s the reason Dana Ardell, a professional photographer, hired another vacation photographer for trips to Amsterdam and Glasgow, Scotland. “I know, personally, even as a photographer, if my husband and I are on vacation, we end up getting solo shots of each other or arm’s-length selfies that aren’t very flattering,” she said.
3 INSIGHT
Photographers who live in your destination know where and when to shoot — when the light is most favorable and where you won’t be jostling with other tourists during busy times at landmarks.
4 COST
It’s not cheap – sessions are priced based on length of time. Flytographer shoots start at 30 minutes for $250, although an hourlong session with 30 photos for $350 is more common. At Local Lens, another booking service, pricing varies by city but generally is about $200 for a half-hour to around $500 for two hours. Another service, Localgrapher, says its most popular package is one hour, which includes 35 photos for $350. But compare that to the thousands you dish out for a vacation. If you decide to call in the pros, do your homework. Research the photographer to make sure you like their style and get information on the timing of photo delivery and what format they will be in. Find out about refund policies and quality guarantees as well.