Whether you'd like frame-worthy photos in front of the Eiffel Tower, someone to capture a marriage proposal, or you'd just like some pics for your blog or social media pages, I’m going to share how to hire a photographer while on vacation. I’ve worked with vacation photographers and videographers while in Ireland and Morocco, and I came away with stunning images for my website and social media accounts. I can also use them in photo books of our trips! Most recently, I hired an awesome husband-wife team AKA @Stylish.couple & @ShootMyHoliday for a photo shoot in Marrakech. These are some of the photos we took before we headed into the souks of Marrakech!
Outfit details: Jumpsuit (Under $60!) | Earrings | Mules (similar) | Hat
The Benefits of Hiring a Photographer on Vacation
Really quick, before I dive into exactly how to hire a photographer on vacation, I want to point out some of the perks!
They know the best locations
Working with local photographers is great because they tend to know the best locations to shoot. For example, the Moroccan photographers took me to a gorgeous riad (hotel) rooftop owned by their friend which made for a gorgeous shoot! When I said I’d like to shoot with the famous Moroccan lanterns in the market, they knew which shopkeeper would let us shoot there. This insider knowledge made for an efficient shoot with great photos!
You get to meet the locals
This is such a great perk, in my opinion. Doing a shoot on vacation -- especially abroad -- is such a fun cultural exchange. The photographer I worked with in Dublin showed me his favorite lookout points downtown and we enjoyed chatting about the industries in Ireland vs. the USA. The Moroccan couple even took me shopping in the souks and made sure I didn’t get ripped off. Connecting with the locals and getting their local perspective is a great benefit!
Exactly How to Hire a Photographer on Vacation
Let's dive into it! Finding a good photographer while you are traveling is a lot easier than you might think. Here are some ways to approach it.
Where to Find a Photographer When you Travel
Instagram
Instagram is a visual platform, which is great because you can easily see lots of examples of the photographer’s work. To find a photographer on Instagram, you can search hashtags. For example, I found success with the hashtags #dublinphotographer and #marrakechphotographer. This is my favorite way to find photographers! You can also search by location and scroll through for professional-looking images. Bloggers and “Instagrammers” will often mention the photographer of the image in the caption.
ModelMayhem
If you are a fashion or lifestyle blogger, you might find a photographer to collaborate with on Modelmahem.com. This website has been around for years and was created to connect models, photographers, and stylists. You’ll need to create a profile with some of your images to sign up for free. Some photographers will work in a “TFP” (Time for Prints) capacity. This means you do not have to pay them and they will not pay you. Instead, it’s a collaboration where you give your time and they give you photos (AKA prints, but in the digital age you’ll usually just get the files). You should find plenty of photographers looking to build their portfolios.
Vacation Photography Site
Companies have built businesses around the idea that everyone wants to share photos of their trips on social media. There are websites that are strictly made to help you hire a photographer for you vacation such as Shoot my Travel and and Flytographer. These sites make it easy, but will probably be more expensive than contacting a photographer directly.
Hotels
Hotels often have partnerships with photographers for weddings and events, so it’s worth asking your hotel if they have a recommendation. Keep in mind they might get a commission so rates could be higher if you go through a hotel.
Wedding Websites
Wedding websites like TheKnot.com include directories of photographers. You can search by city. Some wedding photographers will do individual shoots during the week or when it's their slow-season. Wedding photographers are great at capturing moments!
Of course, you can do a quick Google search: {name of destination} + photographers. You can discover photographers' websites and even ratings/reviews of photographers in your desired destination.
Get References of Your Vacation Photographer
Once you find a couple of photographers that interest you, then it’s time to investigate! 🙂 I’m usually alone when I shoot with a photographer, so I want to be sure I’m staying safe. If he/she is a legitimate photographer, the person probably has an Instagram account, a website, and maybe some reviews online.
Start digging to make sure these people are reputable and have demonstrated work that aligns with your vision. It’s easy to reach out to references on ModelMayhem because you can see who the photographer has worked with before. On Instagram, I look to see who the photographer tagged in their photos or in the caption. I’ll reach out to one or two of the people they’ve shot with before to ask how the experience was. People have always been kind enough to respond to me.
Contact the Photographer
If you are hiring a photographer for your vacation through Instagram, go ahead and send them a direct message. Tell them what you are looking to shoot, when you’ll be in town, and ask for their rates. Also, ask if they have any other photographer recommendations -- in the event they cannot shoot with you. This gets the conversation going and you can discuss logistics and special requests such as photographing a marriage proposal or shooting at sunset.
Questions to Ask the Photographer
- How much do you charge per hour?
- Do you limit the number of locations, outfits or people in the shoot?
- Which locations do you recommend?
- Do you include basic editing or retouching in your rates?
- How many edited images will I get?
- Will I get the RAW images?
- Which payment methods do you accept?
- How and when will the photos be delivered?
How Much Does it Cost?
Hiring a photographer while on vacation could be free or a couple of hundred dollars. I’ve shot with creatives in a TFP capacity (free), where both parties were allowed to share the images and videos but we could not sell them to third parties. Creative people tend to do this just to be able to create something! However, some photographers will charge you for their time and talents. You could expect to pay as low as $100 per hour with basic edits to the photos to as much as $350 per hour with basic edits. However, you can always try to negotiate!
Make Sure You Get Your Photos
If you are working with a photographer abroad, keep in mind that if things go south, it’ll be much more challenging to reconcile the situation. Since I know how to edit my own photos, I like to have the photos in my possession at the end of the shoot. Whether that means uploading the photos to my laptop or shooting on my own SD card. If you need your photographer to edit the photos, I’d suggest paying half or all of the amount that is owed to them after the photos are delivered. Most people are good people, but this ensures there is an incentive for the photographer to deliver the images. 
Photographed with Malkia of @Stylish.Couple. Her husband, Faissal is behind the lens.
Outfit details: Jumpsuit (Under $60!) | Earrings | Mules (similar) | Hat | My Sunglasses
I hope this post answered all your questions about how to hire a photographer on vacation. Be sure to pin this post, and check out my South African Safari or when I swam with Great White Sharks! Both travel posts include videos!
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