how to choose the best incentive trip photographer: 5 questions every planner should ask
incentive trips come with high expectations and often vip scrutiny. a photographer without the proper skill set can miss moments, deliver inconsistent images, or add stress to your event instead of minimizing it. these questions will help you eliminate that risk and hire the right photographer with confidence. once you’ve narrowed down candidates, these are the next questions to ask when choosing the right event or incentive trip photographer to who is a perfect fit for your program.
1. do you have experience working with corporate incentive travel groups (not just events)?
this may sound obvious, but having experience shooting this exact type of photography is very important. awards trips have a high level of executive expectations with many internal vips in attendance. knowing how corporations use incentive trip photography for maximum return on equity takes a photographer from a vendor to a true partner.
pro tip question to ask: how many incentive travel trips have you photographed?
2. does your portfolio illustrate the full emotional range of an event (not just pretty photos)?
when you’re looking at a photographer’s portfolio, don’t just scan for pretty images. a portfolio is a demonstration of their capability to tell stories successfully every single time. on stage, well lit musicians performing at the peak of their setlist is much easier than the spontaneous high fives between leadership on stage. a successful demonstration of capturing the emotions of an event should include the in between moments that round out the story, not just the hero shots. other things to look for include: consistent color across multiple days and locations, high energy that is authentic (not just everyone raising their hands for a group photo), and narrative storytelling.
pro tip question to ask: can you show me 200 images from one incentive travel event?
3. do you have international travel experience?
having international travel experience to lean on is very important. a photographer with experience traveling internationally - preferably solo - shows a high level of comfort with planning, logistics, and fluidity that will be important on all incentive trips. a photographer who has LIVED abroad makes them even more comfortable problem solving in another culture or language. the photographer should have the ability to pivot quickly, shoot in every type of lighting (or create their own), maintain quality over multiple days, and keep up with the group for every activity.
pro tip question to ask: can you share with me what international locations you have shot in the past three years?
4. do you have experience working with high profile individuals?
my mentor - jim marshall - (the godfather of rock and roll) once gave me the best advice i have ever received. he said,
“treat every day people like rock stars, and rock stars like every day people.”
blending in with vip’s is the quickest way to get the trust and approval of everyone at an event. reading the room and making people forget the camera is there is a skill that takes years to perfect. often photographers are asked to match the energy of the event, from high adrenaline bungee jumping, to quiet golf tee shots, to intimate speeches. getting genuine, flattering images in each of those environments elevates the story past the glory moments and sets others at ease that you will confidently get the shot.
pro tip question: name three high profile ceos you have worked with who would recognize you if they saw your photo?
5. what is your workflow on site?
a fast, reliable workflow is a constant evolution for most photographers, but is absolutely mandatory when far away from any help when needed. the ability to edit on the fly and produce editorial ready images on the spot is a requirement. a bullet proof backup system provides a safety net in the event something goes wrong (food for thought: not many photographers have a dry bag when they go on a boat). having software to edit and display the final slideshow/ video montage often makes the trip for those attendees who have worked so hard to earn a seat.
pro tip question to ask: what does your backup system look like on a trip like this? do you carry travel insurance? do you have gear redundancy or backups?