How to choose a photography company in Rwanda

Before you compare photographers, write down what the photographs are for. Images for an annual report, a donor update, a press release and social media each need something different: different framing, different timing and different file sizes.

A clear purpose also makes quotes easier to compare. A good company will ask about the audience, the key moments and the deadline before it talks about price.

Ask to see full galleries from recent assignments, not just a highlight reel. A full gallery shows whether the team captures every speaker, every key moment and the atmosphere of the day, or only a handful of strong images.

Check that the portfolio contains work in settings like yours. A ministerial launch, a UN field visit and a corporate gala each call for different skills.

• Official events with protocol and security
• Field work in communities and health centres
• Portraits of leaders and speakers
• Fast delivery for media and social channels

In Rwanda, personal data is protected under Law No. 058/2021 relating to the protection of personal data and privacy, and we treat photographs of identifiable people as personal data. A professional company should explain how it collects consent, in which languages, and how it stores the forms.¹

If your work involves children or vulnerable people, ask how their identities are protected. UNICEF asks for permission from both the child and the guardian, and Dóchas notes that many organisations choose not to name children even when consent is given.²³

In our view, written consent and careful framing should be standard practice, not an extra.

Government and UN events have rules about where photographers can stand, who can be photographed and when. A team that already knows how to work with protocol officers, security and communications staff will capture more while causing less disruption.

Agree the delivery plan before the event. For conferences and launches, edited photos shared during each session let your team publish while the event is still running.

Ask how files will be named and captioned. Correct names and titles in every caption save your team hours and prevent public mistakes.

Make sure the contract says how you may use the photographs: in print, online, in reports and in campaigns, and for how long. Ask who keeps the copyright and whether the photographer may use the images in a portfolio.

• Can we see two full galleries from similar events?
• How do you collect and store consent?
• Who will be on the team, and is there a backup photographer?
• When will we receive edited images, and in what format?
• How are captions written and checked?
• What exactly can we do with the photographs, and for how long?

• No written contract or quote
• No clear consent process
• Stock or AI-generated images mixed into the portfolio
• Vague answers about delivery times
• No backup equipment or second photographer for large events