Experts hire experts for a reason
Experts hire experts for a reason.
They specialize in solving your specific problem.
I was on the phone with a colleague the other day and he shared a story that I’ve heard far too many times.
He was set to be on the cover of a trade magazine and needed a photo to submit for print.
No problem! The publisher set him up with a local photographer and all he needed to do was show up.
Except, there was a problem…
The photographer hired for the session specialized in weddings, not portraits.
Why is that a problem?
Well, according to my colleague, the photo session turned into a dumpster fire of biblical proportions.
The photos were completely unusable because the style, look and aesthetic of the photos felt misaligned with the goal of capturing a cover photo portrait.
And that makes total sense to me.
Think of it this way: when you need your sink fixed, you don’t call an electrician.
The same common sense approach applies to photography.
I’ve been asked on countless occasions to shoot colleagues’ weddings, and I’ve politely said no each and every time.
Why?
Contrary to popular belief, everyone with a professional camera does not have the expertise to shoot every type of photo under the sun. Or desire to, for that matter.
For me, the idea of shooting a wedding freaks me out in a not good way.
Experts hire experts for a reason.
They are passionate, knowledgeable and are able to provide a great experience that produces premium quality because they specialize in solving hyper-specific problems.
When you hire a jack-of-all-tradesperson, you run the risk of missing the mark on what could’ve been…
Not because the person isn’t wonderful or well-meaning, but because they simply don’t have the expertise that you need them to have.
And, what’s the point of investing in close enough?
Keep this in mind the next time you look to hire a professional photographer for your next portrait session.
Be sure to qualify whether they have the experience of working with someone like you. They have an understanding of your business model. They know the types of image assets you require.
And, their style and aesthetic aligns with your personality and brand.
Otherwise, you could have a dumpster fire on your hands.
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