Richard Hartog Photography

Credentials

FAQs

• What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
  When I get hired through Thumbtack, my client is getting a great deal. Because I'm directly competing with other photographers on the platform, my rates have to be competitive. I reduce my rates to compete with the other photographers on Thumbtack. If a customer finds me through a Google search or a referral from an event planner, etc., my quotes are a lot higher.
• What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
  When a new client sees my work and reviews on Thumbtack they know they're in good hands. They're hiring me for my eye and I will always come up with great photo ideas. At the same time, I look at my shoots as a collaboration. I have no ego and my goal is to get you the photos YOU want. I won't be happy unless you're happy. I love when my customers are proactive. If you have a specific requests or an idea for a photo, I definitely want to hear about it and we'll make it happen!
• What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
  I took my first very photography class in high school. I continued my interest in photography at UCLA where I took photo classes and I also worked at the college newspaper, the Daily Bruin. From there I was able to build up my portfolio and get a couple of paid newspaper internships while I was still a student. After college, I was offered a full-time Staff Photography job at The Outlook/Daily Breeze newspapers in the Santa Monica and South Bay areas. I worked at the medium size newspaper chain for ten years and I earned an amazing wealth of experience while at the same time working on my portfolio and building up my reputation within the photojournalism community. I joined the the Los Angeles times as a Staff Photographer and I worked there full-time for over ten years. I left the Los Angeles Times in 2008 and I've been running by own full-time photography business since then.