My wife’s 40th Birthday party this weekend made me really think about the benefits of hiring a photographer.  We rented a fabulous house on the ocean in Stinson Beach (about an hour north of San Francisco) and invited about 20 of her good friends for a weekend celebration.  Sue prepared a wonderful spread of picnic food and everyone brought drinks and appetizers.  There were kids everywhere and we had great time.

Naturally I brought my camera and had every intention of documenting the event.  I did take a few shots but when I got home, I didn’t have a one that I wanted to save.  I mean there were a couple – but definitely nothing that captured the grandeur of the moment.  This was a once in a life time event after all.

So what happened?  I’m a good photographer and I had good equipment.  The results should have been better.

First off, I didn’t prepare properly.  For any photo shoot, you want to think about what results you want and how you are going to get them.   That means thinking about who the important people are and where and when you are are going to shoot them.  I knew everyone I probably didn’t need a list but I needed to think about how I was going to get the shots.  I should have spent time walking around the house looking for interesting back drops and seeing where the light was and potential reflective areas.

Light is crucial for photography.  Too much or too little can destroy a picture.  Not the right kind makes the picture look flat or washed out.  The point is, when you are on a job, you are constantly looking for light and ways to manipulate it.  I’ll move people around, wait for them to get in the right place, use reflected light from slides, walls, pools and other reflective sources.  And some times, the light only last for a few minutes so the photographer has to anticipate where it will be and how to use it.

But this was my wife’s party.  My priority was taking care of her and our guests, keeping Lucius (our 2 year old) out of danger, and having a good time of course.  Chasing the light was a lower priority and the results showed.  Event photographers don’t have these distractions and can focus of getting the best light and shots.

Maybe there are a few great photographers that can go from party mode to photographer mode but I’m not one of them.  Getting in the mind set of seeing the pictures takes some time and when you are focused on a party you will naturally miss a lot of great pictures.

I should have hired someone to take pictures of the party.  That would have been a couple hundred dollars very well spent.

Most people think of hiring a photographer only for weddings, graduations and those yearly trips to the Sears for the family portrait.  But with prices falling for all things photography related and the abundance of excellent photographers, there is no reason to limit yourself and the possibility of getting some really great images.

A few suggestions…

*  Photo session for visiting family (i.e. Grandparents) – great way to spend a couple hours and will create gifts for years to come.  Do it at a park, playground or someplace where the children and relatives can play together.

*  Calendar project – hire a photographer to come at different times over three to four months.  You get enough photos to create a 12 month calendar with variety.  Another great gift idea.

*  Themed session(s) – What is your child doing right now that you would like to preserve?  A few months back and just prior to his second, my son started to climb, climb, climb.  I was amazed, my wife horrified.  I took a series of shots of him climbing at playgrounds and framed four of them for our living room.  Makes for a nice story about him at a certain time.  Other themes might include walking, reading, swimming, swinging, cooking and really anything else that you child loves to do.  Probably requires multiple photo sessions.

*  Play groups – Chances are you have a 3-5 family play group.  Hire a photographer to shoot one or two of the gatherings.  Kids will be in their best/most animated and you can divide the cost up between the group.  You can also roll this into a Mom’s session.  If your family is anything like mine, you spend as much time with your new playgroup friends as you do with your old friends.  That should be photographed

*  Birthday Parties – Let’s be honest, 1-5 year old birthday parties are getting out of hand.  How many kids really need a bouncy tent or magic show at the party?  But since that sort of money is being spent, why not add a couple hundred more dollars and hire a photographer to document the day?  Works also a gift idea and a group could put it together to divide the cost.

*  Personal Paparazzi – Have a photographer follow you around town for a few hours just like a movie star.  Creates fun, different-then-your-average day shots.  Perfect in conjunction with a hot date.

*  Fashion Shoot – get glammed up and have fun.  Be as naughty or nice as you like.

Overall, keep it simple and have fun.  Ask around about photographers and look at their web sites.  You should be able to find someone willing to do one of these smaller projects.  But don’t demand the world – you aren’t going to get a team with lighting kits, back drops and the entire kit-and-kaboodle.  Go with one person, willing to work with your vision and interested in a spending a few hours with you, your family and friends.

You won’t regret it.

Joey