Houston Photographer Mike Ortega

If you are seeking an architectural photographer in Houston, Texas, Mike Ortega is available to talk about your project and can often be on location the next day for many projects. Mike has worked with designers, architects, art directors, publishers, and corporate clients to create content for magazines, websites, marketing collateral, and customer displays. His broad skill set allows him to capture digital files or shoot traditional film assignments using 4x5 large format. This is why he is the ideal architectural photographer. He is fluent in Spanish, can often process images on the road and, if necessary, deliver his photographs while on location. He also provides a wide variety of digital post-production services such as film scanning and prepress services.


Location & Travel
His studio is just five minutes from downtown Houston so he is available for last minute assignments anywhere in the Harris County area. Local assignments are considered within an hour of Houston, and adjacent areas such as Katy, Conroe and Kemah, NASA, and Galveston are within a day's round trip travel. Locations such as Austin, San Antonio and Dallas are close and do not add significantly to costs.

Considerations When Hiring
Buying photography doesn't have to be complicated. By developing an ongoing relationship with the appropriate photographers, you can negotiate price in an informed and cooperative atmosphere.

Before you look - define your needs. By identifying your communications, marketing or advertising goals you will make your search for the right person easier. If you perform portfolio reviews and interviews with photographers regularly, you will be aware of the available talent and can avoid stressful, last minute hiring decisions.

Discuss your needs when you meet to review his/her portfolio. Good photographers should be receptive and articulate, offer suggestions, and respond to your concerns. Also, aside from the quality of his work, it is important to consider his experience, professionalism, dependability and compatibility.

Hire someone whose skills fit your needs. For instance, if you are looking for a photojournalist in Houston make sure his or her work is of the caliber you need and they are based in South Texas. Most have websites with their work posted but you can also ask for references or to see a hard copy portfolio. By matching your needs with the photographer's strengths you will create the greatest possibility for success.

Pricing the Assignment
When you've selected the person with whom you feel comfortable, you can begin to evaluate the costs. It is a good idea to discuss fees initially, but knowing his "day rate" or "creative fee" can be misleading because it won't tell you what the total cost of the job is. Day rates often don't include expenses nor do they reflect the rights being licensed.

The fees will vary greatly depending on his talent, stature, and expertise; but it is misleading to shop price exclusively instead of looking for value. The experience that a photographer brings to your job, or the equipment and capabilities that he/she has available to properly execute your assignment, represent value which may more than compensate for the differences in price.

Estimate or Bid
When seeking an estimate or a bid make it clear to him which one you are asking for.

An estimate is just that - an honest appraisal of what the job should cost based upon the information provided. Usually, it is given in a non-competitive situation and may be flexible depending upon the nature of the job.

There are two types of bids: competitive and comparative. In a competitive bid there are two or more bids being considered only on price. A comparative bid encompasses additional aspects like style, existing working relationship, availability, etc. In either situation, all parties should have the same information and assignment criteria.

Unlike an estimate, once a bid is accepted, the price is fixed - but so are the job parameters. Even small changes may incur additional charges. In these situations many commercial photographers require changes to be approved in writing during the shoot.