IOP - Commercial Photographers - North-West - Midlands - UK Wide - Europe
Tel 07831 344 722
Advice On Commissioning Commercial Photography
However if there are any specific questions that you would prefer to ask us directly, please contact us, we like to chat and are happy take the time to discuss your needs without any obligation on your part.
Why Do You Need a Professional Photographer?
However, promotional material is often the first impression a potential customer has of your business and while Fred might be an ace warehouse supervisor, do you really want to rely on his creative skills to successfully promote your business and commercial over and above your competitors.
If you really want to make a positive statement, use a professional photographer with direct experience in your industry.
To quote 'Red Adair' “If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur”.
Can’t I just use images from the internet?
However ‘BE AWARE’ the majority of internet images will be copyright protected. It is a criminal offence to use these images without permission and potentially makes you liable for payment of a fee or compensation to the copyright holder.
This may sound dramatic, but as with being ‘found in procession of stolen goods’ this liability is not mitigated by ignorance of the law or, whether the image was received by you in good faith, for instance supplied by your web designer!
The bottom line is that it pays to ’do your homework’ and ensure you have a right to use all images on your website and if you don't recognise an image, check where it came from.
For your own protection ensure that your designer can prove that the images are either 'copyright free' or that permission has been granted by the copyright holder, otherwise it could end up costing a lot more than if you had simply paid a modest image-usage fee. Remember it will be YOU the web owner that will be legally deemed to be in breach of copyright and legally responsible for all website content, not your advertising agency or website designers.
What about stock photography?
The first type is called ‘royalty free’. Typically, you purchase a disc of images on a particular subject, which you can then use as many times as you wish for no additional fee. The problem with this type of photography is that they are usually bargain-basement generic images, similar to buying cheap one-size-fits-all clothing from a street vendor.
The second type of stock photography involves paying a fee! These are higher quality and available on a wider range of subject matter, to be likened to better quality off-the-peg clothing. However fee-paying stock photography can be expensive, especially at the ‘quality’ end! These images will also certainly carry restrictions in regard to, for how long you can use them for (typically one - two years), in what form (web use, brochure, poster, exhibition, TV), and where you publish images (UK, Europe, USA, World-Wide)!
Unlike commissioned commercial photography, both types of stock images are by their nature, generic and widely used, possibly even by your direct competitors. These images can not represent your company in the same way as tailored-to-fit bespoke images.
Do photography qualifications mean anything?
We all live in the real world and have met qualified professionals in all fields who ‘fall-well-short of the mark’. Nether-the-less if a photographer holds qualifications from a recognised professional body* and has won awards competing against other qualified professionals, it has to mean something!
However be warned there are some photographic organisations who allow their members to use impressive looking ‘letters after their name’ by virtue of simply paying a membership fee, these are NOT recognised qualifications bodies!
The two main UK bodies that assess standards and grade professional membership are the British Institute of Professional Photography BIPP* and The Association of Photographers AOP*.
Do photography professional photography awards mean anything?
That said, most professional photographic awards are administrated by qualifying professional bodies such as the BIPP, FEP, and judged by established experienced members of the profession.
Awards such as these should carry more credence, for a list of the awards won by Bernard O’Sullivan the proprietor of IOP, visit our awards page.
How long will the photography take?
Will my deadline be met?
As with everything in life, quality work takes time!
Please remember that there is also an onus on you the client, to allow sufficient time for the photographer to do the job to the highest standard, this includes allowing for bad weather, or delays in your supply chain.
Do I need a photographer experienced in my industry?
Will standards be maintained on future commissions?
Unfortunately; we have all experienced a wonderful first visit to a restaurant, followed by a disappointing second visit, usually after you have sung-their-praises to all your friends.
Inside Out Photography is passionate about constantly pushing our professional standards, we treat each shoot as if it were the most important client and commission we have so far dealt with. We truly believe if we are not moving forwards, then we are DEFINITELY moving backwards!
To us each job is an opportunity, and reflects on us personally.
Does it matter what equipment a photographer uses?
Whilst images for web use, do not require high-resolution equipment, it is worthwhile remembering that at a later date, you may want to use those same images for reception display prints or exhibition panels. It is reasonable therefore, if not vital, to expect a high professional standard of equipment.
Ensure your chosen photographer has a suitable high-resolution professional camera system with associated high quality camera optics, necessary for BIG images with plenty of sharp detail.
Aren't camera phones good enough?
If the ’claimed’ resolution of mobile telephones actually produced top quality large scale images, working photographers would not invest many thousands of pounds on high-resolution camera bodies (typically around £3.500.00 plus) and an extensive range of specific professional lenses (typically around £1600.00 each), not to mention specialist perspective-control optics.
Are photography lights needed these days?
Almost all subjects benefit greatly from the knowledge of where to add lighting to control what people notice using sophisticated lighting techniques and a myriad of light shaping accessories to make your products come alive.
It is therefore in our view simply unprofessional to turn up to a shoot at a high tech factory with a hand-held camera and using on-camera flash, it will not help to showcase your company at its best.
IOP always carry supplementary lighting, using up to Nine lighting heads varying in power and coupled with over Forty years of professional experience.
What sort of work can you do?
How many people work at Inside Out?
When you book Inside Out Photography you get the benefit of Forty years award-winning professional experience from Bernard O’Sullivan personally.
How much do you charge for photography?
Having said that, IOP do have a starting-point day rate for photography between £650.00 & £750.00 (+ VAT). This rate can be modified for larger projects.
Is post-production and re-touching included?
More complex digital re-touching such as ultra high-resolution product composites, laying Tarmac, removing backgrounds and replacing skies will be itemised separately.
Do you charge for travelling?
However as travelling uses increasingly expensive fuel and occupies potential photography time, we do have a lower hourly charge for travelling distances, as always we are both flexible and reasonable and take into account the overall scale of the project.
How far will you travel?
If you build it, we will come.
What about hidden charges?
However, if extra shots are either requested or present themselves, we will inform you of any additional charges before proceeding.
How much input do I have in the photographs?
IOP strongly believes that a photographic project approached on a 'Think-Tank' basis makes for a better tailor-made result, in the end the only opinion that matters, is the client's.
How many photographs do I get to choose from?
However; we do NOT ‘hedge our bets’, our Forty plus years experience tells us that the message if more effective if we prioritise costly site-time and concentrate on a smaller number of carefully chosen images, and only provide creative alternatives when it genuinely brings something 'extra to the pot'.
The above not withstanding, we are not prima-donnas we will give you the shots you want!
How are my images delivered?
What about copyright?
This can legally restrict how, where, and over what time period images can be used by clients, even after the original invoice is settled. It is important to clarify these copyright issues before you commission any photography.
For our full terms and conditions please follow this link. IOP automatically grant full image-licence of supplied images as long as the invoice(s) are settled in full!
IMPORTANT: Supplied images must NOT be sold or passed on to third parties such as fellow contractors, unless agreed in advance by IOP in writing.
Will you sell my images to others?
IOP will not re-sell your commissioned photography to any third party or include the images in an image library, without your permission. This is conditional on the relevant invoice(s) being settled in full.
However we do request the right to use any non-confidential images for our own publicity purposes.
What about confidentiality?
As commercial photographers we are regularly privy to sensitive information, such as new industrial processes, future business expansion plans, product releases, or new contracts. It is essential that your privileged information remains private. Remember if your chosen photographer is willing to impart information about your competitors to you; it is likely that they will also discuss your plans with your rivals!
IOP usually shoots through a laptop and will always ask if there is anything in the shot that is commercial sensitive before we save it.
IOP respects privileged information, and all industrial or commercial processes observed, and agree not to publish or use in competition, any images which are deemed to be confidential.
What insurance do you have?
In addition to PLI IOP believes that it is also wise to ensure that your chosen photographer has Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII).
Life is unpredictable, and often the delivery of a completed photography project is time sensitive. On those ‘once-in-a-blue-moon’ occasions that something might go wrong, you the client might incur expenses such as industrial fair exhibition stand booking fees or missed brochure printing deadlines. PII accounts for this and protects both parties, but don’t assume all photographers will comply! If you have any doubts, ask for proof!
IOP have never once missed a deadline in Forty years and although PII cannot guarantee your project will be delivered on time, it will financially protect all parties in the event of late or non-delivery, etc.!In compliance with UK law.
Accordingly IOP have public liability insurance to £5 million. In addition to this we also carry professional indemnity insurance of £70,000.
How do I commission you?
Will you keep me informed on my projects progress?
How long do you keep images on file for?
IMPORTANT: If you DO NOT wish us to retain said image(s), you MUST inform IOP by clearly worded email, instructing us to erase/dispose of all files, in this instance.
Note: IOP will not be liable in any form for the subsequent lost of the original images by the commissioning client or their agents.
Ask your chosen photographer about their ‘backing up’ policy!
Are you a member of any professional body?
How do I the client prepare for a photoshoot?
In IOP's experience any early reservations are always dispelled once clients start to view results, see the quality of the resulting images and begin to understand why so much time and effort is worthwhile.
However there are certain things you the client can do in advance to ensure you get the most out of our time on the shoot day.
Exteriors: If you require exterior photographs, please plan your deadlines to allow for possible sustained poor weather. This increases the likelihood of the photographer being able to shoot under optimum lighting conditions.
Site Preparation: Ensure as much as is practical that machines, or areas to be photographed are tidy ahead of the photographers arrival, and remove anything in the subject area and background that you prefer not to show.
This is essential to avoid time-expensive delays waiting for areas to be cleaned and ensure that photography time on site is as efficient as possible.
Staff Availability: When on site IOP aim to be as independent as possible to minimise disruption. However it is vital that any staff with essential knowledge of the processes to be photographed will be present and available on the shoot-date.
These arrangements will avoid any tensions if the photographer requires input or-co-operation from busy staff. Advanced planning by you and your staff will assist the photographer to give you the best results possible capturing exactly what you need to show and will help to keep costs down
Deadlines: In a similar vein, ensure you let your photographer know as early as possible about any deadlines you need to meet as well as any logistical time restrictions regarding when a particular process or person is best photographed.
Having said all of the above IOP is professional to the core and will work within any necessary restrictions.
If you did not find your question listed here, please contact us for free and impartial advice on commissioning professional photography.
Bernard O’Sullivan ABIPP
Proprietor of Inside Out Photography
Past Chairman of the BIPP North West region 2010-2013
Your corporate image is your future: trust it to a true professional!
Inside Out photography are award-winning commercial photographers operating from
Manchester and Tideswell, serving the North West, Midlands, UK wide and central Europe
T 07831 344 722
E info@insideoutphoto.co.uk
Pen-y-Ghent, Manchester Road, Tideswell, Derbyshire, SK17 8LL
Note: We do have a Manchester address for image restoration drop-offs