Why Your Family Photographer Isn't A Commercial Photographer

In this day and age, there are a lot of people who have bought a camera and become a Dallas photographer. Better technology and relatively low startup equipment costs have lowered the bar for entry into the world of photography, and you see this a lot in the areas of family portrait photographers, baby photographers, etc. However, this doesn’t mean that just anyone can become a commercial photographer in Dallas.

Now, let me be clear: I have no desire to rant about people buying cameras, becoming photographers and taking business away from professional photographers. There are plenty of blogs and forums dedicated to that topic. However, what I do want to talk about is the difference there is between the family portrait photographers, and a Dallas commercial photographer.

Just last week, I spoke to two different potential clients, on the same day, about how they previously entrusted a family portrait photographer to do a commercial shoot for their business, and then how everything blew up. That’s why they were calling me.

After hearing that, I decided it was time to talk about the differences between these two fields of photography in the hopes that there may not be as many of these kinds of experiences.

Here are a few key differences between family photographers and commercial photographers to think about:

B2B vs. B2C –

Most family photographers that you meet with are specialized in dealing with consumers, and handle portrait needs such as family portraits, maternity photos, baby photos, etc. So, they are primarily business to consumer.

On the other hand, a Dallas commercial photographer is someone who specializes in a majority of business-to-business transactions, meaning they deal almost exclusively with brands and corporations. They may also work individually with private clients on personal projects as well, but when it comes down to it, a corporate photographer in Dallas is going to have the greater experience with companies.

They know what the needs are for a company and how to work with them to get what they are looking for.

The final product –

As a business, you have an end goal for the images that you need taken. Whether it’s for social media, webpage, advertisements or internal use. This means your photographer needs to have an understanding of how to capture images that fit these purposes, and that they should know what kinds of images will help market your business or brand in the best way possible.

While a family photographer may be able to create beautiful photos to hang up in someone’s home, that doesn’t mean they know how to create the types of compelling images that communicate trust, reliability, or a commitment to service. That’s where you need a professional Dallas commercial photographer to step in.

Quality and lighting -

Finally, there is the difference in approach to how most family photographers approach a shoot, versus a commercial photographer. Many of the family photographers I see shoot in natural light, and rarely utilize a strobe or photographic lighting. Some may not ever use anything but existing light.

While I love natural light, it is not always the best fit for a business. This is particularly true when you are inside of a building where the light is not optimal for photos. You need a photographer who knows how to approach any scenario and create the best light possible. An experienced commercial photographer has many tricks up their sleeves to make their clients look great wherever they are. Also, when it comes to creating marketing materials for your company, you have to have the best quality images possible in order to attract those clients you are looking for. A family photographer may not have the equipment or expertise to achieve the level of quality that you need.

So, in conclusion, there is definitely a time and place to use family photographers. They will help capture memories for you to be sure. However, when it comes to getting the images that make your business shine, it’s time to talk to a commercial photographer. They have the business expertise and skills to make you look great.