Agency or photographer platform for your event: what changes and how to choose
The differences between hiring a photo and video agency and booking a photographer through an online platform for a company event, and what to ask first.
By Juanjo Vega Santa-Cruz · Noomadik
There are two common ways to hire photography for a company event: an agency that prepares and covers the event with its own team, or an online platform where you book one of their photographers from a package. Both make sense, but for different jobs. This guide helps you decide quickly.
What each option is
- Photographer platform (for example, Splento or Shootday): you choose a package of hours, give the location and the platform assigns one of its photographers. It is quick and easy to book.
- Photo and video agency: you talk to one person who prepares the event with you, proposes the team it needs (photographers, videographers, content creators) and takes responsibility for the result from start to finish.
When each one fits
| Situation | Usually fits better |
|---|---|
| A short, simple session: a few portraits, a meeting, a small awards presentation | Platform or agency |
| A full-day event with talks, networking and dinner | Agency |
| Several rooms or activities at the same time | Agency |
| Coordinated photo and video, with a same-day express photo selection | Agency |
| A multi-day trade show or conference with daily delivery for the press | Agency |
| An event abroad with a travelling team | Agency |
What usually changes
Each platform’s terms are different and change over time, so always check them on their website before booking. These are the differences you notice most in practice:
- Point of contact: with an agency you talk to the same person from the first email to delivery. With a platform, contact is usually with the service and the photographer is assigned later.
- Preparation: an event goes well when the photographer knows the run of show, the key people and the key moments. Ask whether you can speak to whoever is covering it before the day.
- Team: if several people are needed, at an agency they work together on the same plan. Videographers are a different profile from photographers, and they should be coordinated.
- Editing: ask how many photos are delivered, how they are edited and whether the selection is designed for how your company will use it: press release, LinkedIn, website and internal communications.
- Turnaround: ask when the full gallery arrives and whether a same-day express selection is available.
- Usage rights: ask what you can use the images for (website, social media, advertising, press) and whether there are limits.
- The unexpected: if someone falls ill or the programme changes, who sorts it out and how?
How we work at Noomadik
We are a corporate photo and video agency in Barcelona, founded in 2010, with our own team. A single point of contact prepares the event with you, coordinates photographers, videographers and content creators, and is responsible for the result. Editing is designed around how you will use the images, and delivery is organised by the moments of the event. If you need photos on the day, we plan it from the start.
We always work with a fixed quote, tailored to the hours and the team each event needs. Reference prices are in our guide to event photographer prices in Barcelona.
Before you decide
Ask for two quotes with the same things included (hours, number of people, editing, turnaround and rights) and compare them. If the event has several parts, our guide to how many photographers your event needs will help, and to prepare the brief, use our event photographer brief template.
If you would like us to look at your event, see our corporate event photography in Barcelona page or get in touch. We will send you a fixed quote within 24-48 hours.
