Weddings are an exciting time, but also stressful. There always seems to be more to plan and organise than you expected. Between juggling family, plans, suppliers and your budget, it can be tempting to find some shortcuts.
Some brides try to do their wedding flowers themselves, or even their cake. Other brides wrangle in skilled family members for everything from baking to favours to music and photography.
Photography, especially, is tempting to hand off to family. Perhaps you have a friend or cousin or uncle who takes good photos. And chances are they will do it for free.
However, many brides will tell you that hiring a professional photographer is the best thing you can do for your wedding. Wondering why? Join us as we discuss why you need a professional wedding photographer.
Why Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer?
Your photographs capture beautiful, lasting memories of your day. They are something that you, your family, and your guests will have and cherish for years to come. Hiring a professional photographer ensures you get the best quality pictures, using the best equipment. They train for years to capture you and your family beautifully. From traditional to candid moments, a professional wedding photographer knows how and when to capture the perfect shot that you will love forever.
While anyone can purchase a nice camera, only trained professionals can unlock a camera’s full potential. They have spent years experimenting with and perfecting their techniques, so they can capture incredible, beautiful images. While a family member or guest might have a fantastic, expensive camera, they likely don’t have the full training for everything a wedding day requires. At the end of the day, a camera is only as good as its operator.
The Role of the Wedding Photographer
When you have a family member or guest as your photographer, distractions become a huge issue. After all, this person is important in your life and they want to celebrate your day as well. And they can miss important shots because they are busy celebrating, eating, dancing or chatting with other guests.
Further, guests are more likely to give a professional wedding photographer space to take photos, because they know they’ve been hired to take photographs. However, if you have a friend or family member photographing, people aren’t as likely to give them space, because it is hard to tell that they are the official photographer.
Wedding Photographer Styles
Hiring a professional means you can also find someone who matches your style and how you want to capture the day. A hobby photographer, like a family member or friend, isn’t as likely to know the difference between modern, fine art, traditional photography or candid photos. Which means they might be able to take nice photographs, but not the ones you were hoping for. This is why it is important to consider a professional wedding photographer, who knows how to utilise different photographic styles for your benefit.
Communication with Your Photographer
A wedding photographer needs to be professional and reliable to stay in business. They have years of experience dealing with different people, how to photograph everyone beautifully, and how to work through any hiccups on the day.
Further, a professional photographer can easily communicate with the wedding party and guests where they need to be and when, without anyone feeling like they’re not part of day or in the way. Unfortunately, most hobby photographers won’t have the experience to maintain distance and impartiality which is crucial.
A professional wedding photographer knows what shots to take and when, and how to go with the flow of the day. A friend isn’t likely to be able to anticipate what happens net, or how to choose the best locations. A professional photographer also understands that a wedding is a dynamic event, not a photoshoot, meaning there’s only one chance to capture those special moments.
Finally, a professional wedding photographer is also, generally, more patient and understanding around the stress of a wedding day. They have the flexibility to go with the flow, especially when organising those big family photos.
Professional Wedding Photographer are Reliable
With all their experience, professional photographers know how to plan for emergencies. They will always have a plan B for any of the issues that could crop up on the wedding day, from broken camera lenses to back up plans in case they fall ill. A friend or family member won’t have the connections to ensure you still have a photographer on your big day – and gorgeous photographs to look back on.
The bottom line is that you can reduce your budget for other wedding day items, so you can put the money toward a fantastic photographer. Remember that, after a week, the cake and decorations are gone – but the photographs will always be there. And you want something that you look at with joy, not regret.
Professional wedding photographers do this for a living, so they strive to give you the best possible results. Getting married is one of the most exciting and life changing moments, and you want that day to last forever. Too many brides regret not having a professional wedding photographer on their wedding day – don’t find yourself among them!
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