Guide to Choosing a Prom Photographer :: part one

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a professional event photographer for your prom. Here I will try to shed a little light on the subject.

You need to decide the type of prom photography you want. Do you want candid shots of the entire event? While this isn't very common, some high schools do choose to have a candid photographer at their prom. The most common type of prom photographer in San Diego will have a studio setup to take posed shots of the couples and their friends.

The majority of prom photographers have this type of setup because they can control the conditions of the lighting, backgrounds, etc.

Next, you need to decide if you want on-site printing. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. With on-site printing you won't have to receive your photos. Additionally, you can preview the images before they are printed, although most good prom photographers allow you to do that either way. If you have a good photographer, they will let you preview the images regardless of if they are printing on-site.

Cost

Many event photographers will charge you a booking fee. While some only do this for really small proms, others charge this no matter what. It is a good idea to get everything up front on paper so there are no surprises come prom night. If you are a large school looking for a prom photographer you should be able to find a good company without paying a booking fee. Also, take a look at the photographers website to see the types of event they cover. This also gives you an idea of what to expect as far as their style. If you find a company that does a lot of formal events, like military balls and other events like these, they will have the experience you are looking for.

Booking a Prom Photographer

Once you have chosen your prom photographer you need to keep a few things in mind to make sure you have a successful prom night. If you have a prom committee, make sure you have a main point of contact that will be communicating with the photographer before the prom. This is why it is good to have everything on paper ahead of time. I have actually seen it where 2 photographers show up for the same event...not pretty.

Things the Prom Photographer Needs to be Aware of prior to the Prom

Your chosen prom photographer should have an information form that they ask you to complete. If they do not, you need to make sure they are getting the right information. Here are a few of the common items needed:

• Prom date and as well as the setup time and end time
• Name and address of the prom location
• Estimated number of people at the prom
• Main point of contact at the prom

First and foremost, you need to know where the photographer will setup. They will most likely need power for their lights and definitely for their computers and printers if they are printing on-site. Ideally you should have a place that isn't on top of the dance floor but still close enough for everyone to see the photographers.

You need to make sure to tell your prom photographer the amount of space they will have to shoot. The more space available the more people that can be in a group shot. Lastly, make sure they are not blocking any fire exits. It is a huge pain if the photographers get all setup and later have to move because someone realizes they are setup in the wrong spot.

If you keep these things in mind when choosing your prom photographer in San Diego or anywhere you are looking and you will help make sure you have a successful prom as far as the pictures are concerned.