Why, how and for how much can you hire a photographer when traveling? Well, you’re about to find out! I hired a photographer when traveling in Italy, and it was such a brilliant idea, that I now recommend everyone to hire a vacation photographer.
For some of y’all (the Westerners) this may sound like something extravagant. Like, why would I spend money on getting myself photographed?
In the West we tend to hire one for massive events ONLY. Events like weddings, big birthdays, or for a newborn baby. Not for ourselves as such. Is this because in our culture getting oneself photographed just for the fun of it is linked to being too “proud”, arrogant, even self-centered in some way?
Read also: The Difficulty of Prioritizing Yourself & How To Get Over It
Anyways, in the East they hire photographers for anything and everything!
- “Today is a good hair-day, I’ll hire a photographer to document this.”
- “Wow, what a beautiful day for a picnic, let’s get a photographer in as well!”
- There’s nothing that’s considered too ‘insignificant’ to be recorded in professional photos.
And let’s be honest here, no matter how gifted you are at taking selfies, one’s face covering the Colosseum isn’t anywhere near professional quality. Let alone even a good travel photo now, is it?!
So, what is the point to hire a photographer when traveling, what are the potential perks? I shall tell you! And I shall also tell you where and how you can hire a photographer when you travel to document your next vacation in the best possible manner.
Why You Should Hire a Photographer When Traveling?
Hiring a photographer when traveling might at first sound like a waste of money. But actually if you think about it for a second, you might see the light.
We all take photos when traveling, right? Some of us only travel to document the fact that they’ve stood next to the Eiffel tower without actually even seeing it themselves because all they focused on was taking THE photo. Know someone like this? Yeah, I thought so.
- Instead, hiring a photographer obviously ensures that you get professional photographic memories of your holiday.
- In addition, you get to actually see the sights, because it’s not your responsibility to ensure the best angles.
The biggest difference between a professional photographer and the quick snaps a fellow tourist takes of you at a famous sight is that in the professional photos you actually look good. And there will be more of you in the photo than just the tip of your forehead…
Also, hiring a self-employed photographer means that you are supporting a small business or a solopreneur. Which is always a better option than pouring money into the hands of massive companies that don’t deserve your pennies in the first place?
But what are the perks for you when you hire a photographer when traveling? Let’s take a look!
Perks of hiring a vacation photographer
Photography is a brilliant job due to its flexibility, and the interesting clientele, which in this case is us. Any big city in Europe is a fruitful place to hire a vacation photographer. This is because there are so many of them, just as there are incredible locations for photoshoots.
The photographer I hired in Rome (Katerina Z.) was absolutely brilliant; she gave me very clear directions, made sure my hair looked good, and obviously knew the best spots and angles.
We ventured from Altare della Patria to the Capitol Hill and down to Forum Romanum. All of this in just one hour! And the results speak for themselves, don’t they?
So, some basic perks that should give you an idea why hiring a photographer when traveling might be a good idea:
- Locals know the best places for photos and how to avoid the crowds
- A professional photographer directs you on how to pose to get the best angles (doesn’t matter how awkward you are, they will make you look good)
- The photos aren’t just your face, but also the sights, views and monuments
- A photographer makes sure your hair isn’t sticking to every direction, or that your skirt isn’t stuck in your knickers
- You can get your photos fully edited by a professional on the same go
- The result is a bunch of photos worthy of framing on a wall to remember that one vacation
As a blogger it isn’t such a big deal for me to hire a photographer while traveling. And as I’m traveling solo, any opportunity to meet new people is always welcome!
But in case random, private photoshoots aren’t your thang, there’s plenty of other reasons to get a vacation photographer for your next trip. Here are couple ideas:
Different kinds of photoshoots while traveling
So, as we’ve covered, for those working in any sort of content creation, or who even just have a website or social media presence, hiring a photographer while traveling is a sure way to stand out from the crowd.
Imagine having a LinkedIn profile photo with the Eiffel Tower in the background! That stands out, right?
But in addition to personal photoshoots for branding reasons or just for the fun of it, there are certain occasions while traveling that deserve to be properly documented.
Proposals:
If you are planning to propose to someone, it would be an absolutely brilliant idea to hire a photographer! These people are professionals, so they can show up where you need them, and document everything at its most genuine without you even noticing.
Family vacations:
We all have them, stacks of photos from family vacations that were forcibly shown to everyone and then forgotten about. If you go on a family vacation that you really think is worth remembering, hire a photographer.
That way you get proper, edited photos that you can prop on your mantelpiece for everyone to admire when they visit your house.
Friendcation:
Is there anything better than a vacation with your friends? No, there isn’t! So why not document this amazigness with the help of a professional that makes sure you ALL look good in the photos? Imagine going back to those memories through the photos when y’all are in your 60’s or 70’s.
Weddings:
Okay, this is a bit of a no-brainer. It does sort of require you to be getting married abroad though. Which is actually not unlikely at this day and age.
Or even if you get married in your home country, ship dem wedding clothes to your holiday and get a set of wedding photos done that are much more interesting than the ones taken in your home hoods.
How to hire a photographer when traveling?
There is a plethora of ways to hire a photographer while traveling, and all of those ways can be found on the Internet. The number one thing that you’d probably do is to google photographers wherever you’re heading. This comes with its own set of problems though;
- Google gives you thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of options.
- If you’re not working in the content creation world, it may be hard to recognize real talent from hobbyists.
- In addition, the first results on Google can often be those who pay to be on top of the search results. This often means that their services are also much pricier.
Instead of Google I’ve used AirBnB to locate affordable photographers! Did you know that AirBnB has much more to offer than just accommodation?
Well, now you know they also offer Experiences. No matter if you’re looking for a pub crawl with other travelers, guided tours, or a photographer, AirBnB Experiences has them!
The availability of photographers obviously depends on where you’re traveling. For example I was surprised to see that in Athens the selection was much larger than in Rome.
When you find a photographer of your liking, you either book a session, or email them to enquire their availability and prices. And talking about prices!
What does it cost to hire a photographer abroad?
As mentioned earlier, if you look for a vacation photographer on Google, you’ll probably find established professionals. This is not a bad thing, but it often means that their prices are quite high.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, I would recommend looking on AirBnB. The prices that photographers offer for sessions on AirBnB are (in general) lower than the ones I found on Google.
Quality-wise they’re not any different, though. They may use more affordable editing tools than actual professional photographers, but the point is that you get good photos regardless.
- The 2 cities where I checked different options for photographers were Athens and Rome.
- And on AirBnB I found photographers for 30€ – 70€ per hour or session.
- On Google the photoshoot prices I checked out started from 150€ and up. That’s quite a difference.
Notice also, that the prices will differ according to what kind of a package you want. For example, I edit my photos myself, which obviously saves the photographer a lot of time.
I also asked to get all of the photos, because I like to share the ‘failed’ shots on my Instagram for balance as well. This, again, saves the photographer time and effort, which is reflected to the price.
Final Thoughts
And there we have it: the why, how and for how much you can hire a photographer when traveling. What do you think, could this be something you’d consider on your next trip?
Imagine the sigh of relief your partner would let out when they realize they are off the hook! ♥
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