Photography Resources
Where To Hire A Professional Photographer
Below are some great resources to use when looking for photography for your project.
Search Professional Photographer Directories:
Workbook (Our Favorite)
This is a free open directory with a long history. There's a lot of real photographers on this list. It's a great place to start.
Wonderful Machine Listings
Photographers on this list have to be vetted and then pay a lot of money to be a part of it. This is a top tier list and probably the priciest.
Photographer Central
This simplifies the task in finding the right photographer for you, with complete and visual profiles of photographers in your specific area to make your decision easier.
At Edge
Great place to find inspiration for projects. You can find photographers from around the world here.
Smart Shoot
Online platform where you can connect with great freelance photographers and videographers.
Search Commercial Photographer Organizations:
After film went out of style trade organizations became a thing of the past. However, the communities that remain are a tight-knit group of industry veterans.
ASMP: https://asmp.org/find-a-photographer
American Society Of Media Photographers has a strong west coast presence.
APA: http://apanational.org/find-a-member
American Photograph Artists has a very strong midwest rep and presence.
PPA: https://www.ppa.com/findaphotographer/
Professional Photographers of America has a strong presence in the US.
Produce Your Own Photoshoot
As a small business owner myself, I've DIY'ed things that I probably shouldn't have mostly because I had no choice. There's nothing wrong with that and you should go for it. Below is a list of elements to consider when putting it together.
- Photographer
- Model
- Clothing
- Hair/Makeup
- Location
- Props
- Retouching/Image Processing
Treat each role and requirement as important and look for new and enthusiastic talent to fill the roles. You may need to dig deep into the internet to find people to fill these roles at a high level of quality (and at a discount), but you can do it.
Search Location Finders:
500 PX
Great for browsing for inspiration for your perfect location.
Production Paradise
Online directory for finding the right location for your project.
Search For Models:
Ford Models Agency
Headquartered in New York, but has locations globally.
BMG Model Agency
Headquartered in Chicago and offices in Miami, New York, Orlando, and Los Angeles.
Search For Stylists:
Johanna Brannan Lowe
Food & Prep stylist - Top in the industry and based out of Chicago.
HB Heather Brooks
Fashion, Wardrobe & Prep Stylist - Leader in the industry & located in Chicago.
When it comes to finding great inspiration for your photos, Instagram is a wonderful tool to use.
Instagram has housed some of the most amazing photography around, and it is just one click away. That being said, it is a great place to find inspiration for photography for you or even find a local Instagram photographer for your next project.
All you need to do is go to your Instagram account and search your city and photographer, there you will be able to see the selection of photographs and photographer that best fit your needs.
DIY Photography
When you find yourself in need for Do It Yourself Photography, here are some helpful tips on how to make the most of it on a budget.
There are lots of techniques for shooting successful product photos, but the one I’m going to show you is commonly known as The Window Light Technique. From someone who photographs products every day, this tutorial has been specifically crafted for business owners on a budget. It’s designed to be simple while producing excellent, high-quality results for most product types.
