Event Photography is all about Memories

I’m going to kind of spoil the point of this one ahead of time, because I think it’s important that you know the biggest detail of choosing a Minneapolis Event Photographer right off the bat.

Events are about memories. They’re about people. About YOU. About the people you love. So when you’re looking for an event photographer, the biggest thing you need to do? Is look for someone who gets that. Who understands connection. Who understands that you are the focus, and not their portfolio. YOUR needs. Your people. Your way.

That’s the biggest thing you need to look for. But… let’s break down a little bit more because there are other factors involved. That’s just the most important one, at least according to me! It also happens to be a really difficult one to judge… and the others are more straightforward.

Choosing Your Event Photographer is a Big Decision!

It’s a big decision choosing the photographer who’s going to document your event, because with events, unlike something like a family photo session, you only get “one go”. It’s one try. Because after the event is over… the event is… well, over. You’re not going to have two birthday parties, two anniversary parties – two elopements, or two company galas. Well, I mean you will have more than one of those in your LIFEtime, but you’re following me here, one a YEAR. One instance of THAT specific event, that you’ve hired the photographer for. (Just trying to be clear!! Haha…)

So my point here, is since you only get one attempt at this, you should choose carefully.

Think about Budget, Timing, and Location

The first elements to think about when you’re hiring a Minneapolis event photographer, is the little list of logistics. These aren’t the most exciting things on the planet, but they’re pretty heavily deciding-factors. Budget, timing, and location can weed out a lot of the photographers who are either not a good fit because of their travel radius, or because they’re not available in the season you need.

When you’re looking for an event photographer, I recommend keeping your budget a little “open” because if you find someone amazing who’s just a little bit outside the budget you originally planned, it might be worth stretching the plans a little! But keeping the budget open doesn’t mean flexing infinitely, like, there are limits! So making sure that the photographer you plan to work with falls within your expected budget range means no surprises down the line! I’m super transparent with my event pricing (and all of my photography pricing, for that matter!) but not all photographers list their pricing on their website.

If the Minneapolis Event Photographer you’re looking at working with doesn’t have their prices listed, just reach out!! Don’t assume that they’ll be out of your budget just because it’s not listed, even though that’s a simple assumption to make. You might be pleasantly surprised!

What kind of Tone do you want your Event Photography to Have?

Once you’ve gotten the boring parts out of the way, it’s important to start thinking about things like “tone”! For sessions like a party or an elopement/micro-wedding, the “tone” is really the “style.” Actually, that’s what it refers to for all types of event sessions, but in the context of business events (company galas, award ceremonies, charity events) I tend to use the term “tone” because it relates more closely to branding and headshot photography, since those are edited to match up with the brand’s tones internal to the business they’re for.

But overarchingly, my point is you need to make sure that the “tone” or “style” your chosen event photographer uses when they’re editing lines up with the expectations you have for your package of photos! There are so many styles, from “bright and airy” to “dark and moody” and some photographers work in multiple styles for different types of work.

To get a good idea of whether your photographer has one prevailing style, or whether you could talk to them and request a specific style for your session that lines up with your vision, check out their portfolio. You’ll be able to see pretty quickly whether they can match the tone you’re looking for!

Make Sure You Think About Package Turnaround!

One of the elements you should look at when you’re choosing an event photographer, is their package turnaround. Not all photographers will have it listed on their website, but if you ask, they’ll be able to give you an idea of their turnaround times! Mine range from 24 hours to a week, but MOST initial session galleries are delivered within 24 hours of the session so you can see your images SUPER quickly and choose what to include in your final edited images!

But sometimes it works a bit differently for events, because they vary so widely. Sometimes, when there are a huge number of images for a multi-hour event, it takes a couple of days to get them pulled together! When you’re booking your Minneapolis Event Photography session though, we can talk about the likely timeline for YOUR event, so that you know exactly what to expect.

Always Check Out Their Reviews!!

Finally, no matter what session type you’re booking, and who you’re booking it with, you should check out their reviews. Even if they’ve been recommended to you, reading their reviews will help make sure you know what to expect when you’re working with them, and you can kind of make sure that your friend didn’t just have a good experience as a one-off. I’m not saying that’s a common thing that happens, but hey, doing your due diligence can help prevent headaches down the line!!

So take a look at the Google reviews, or even the standard reviews for the photographer you want to work with. Make sure they’ve had repeat positive client experiences, that way you don’t have to worry!

When in Doubt… Reach Out!!

Booking an event photographer for your Minneapolis event is a big decision, like I said. But hopefully this little list will help you choose a photographer who’s right for you! If you’re still looking for someone to photograph your Minneapolis micro-wedding, corporate event, or otherwise… reach out! Let’s talk about your needs, what you want from your package, and see whether getting you on the calendar with Jessica Strobel Photography is the next best decision you’ll make!!