Before You Hire a Social Media Photographer Read This

"In the early days of Twitter and Instagram, many photographers had, for the first time in the history of photography, unfettered access to brands, event managers, and the public looking to hire a photographer. No longer were potential contracts limited by a photographer's ad budget, marketing reach, or even a formal portfolio."

""My fiancé and I are doing something a little different - we're skipping the traditional photographer and going with a content creator instead. We're just not the super-posed, Instagram-perfect couple. The forced smiles, stiff poses, and "tilt your chin, hold his hand like this" shots aren't our vibe. We want the real stuff: unfiltered laughs, little bits of chaos, and the perfectly imperfect moments you can't stage.""

"On its face, this individual's post suggests a lack of knowledge/information around not only the various genres of photography that exist, but also what a photographer brings to the table. Additionally, u/GlobalTumbleweed561 came to their decision to forego hiring a traditional photographer out of budget concerns - as a former wedding photographer myself, I can assure you that you will never remember the dinner from the wedding, but those photos will be there for a lifetime - a valid concern, but one that could open one up for heartache."

Social media platforms opened unprecedented direct access for photographers to brands, event managers, and the public, reducing reliance on ad budgets, marketing reach, or formal portfolios. The line between professional photographers and content creators blurred as clients increasingly prioritize candid, 'perfectly imperfect' moments and budget considerations. Some clients choose content creators to avoid posed, Instagram-perfect imagery, seeking unfiltered laughs and chaotic moments. Budget-driven decisions can lead to long-term regret because photographs outlast transient memories. A bridesmaid named 'Desi' experienced a friend's wedding designed for social-media virality, exemplifying risks when social-media priorities displace comprehensive photographic coverage.

Read at The Phoblographer