The most precious day of your life is surely your wedding. You want to ensure that every moment of your special day is captured in a unique and beautiful manner. I have heard from many couples after the fact about their poor decision in hiring a friend or family member to do the job. Their failures and inexperience lead to your heart ache and disappointment, and unfortunately you will never be able to capture that moment of time again. You have spent thousands of dollars to have a one-of-a-kind unforgettable wedding and when it’s over you have only your memories and your photos. Don’t you want the assurance that those photos will tell your story – your every special moment – as splendidly as the day was.
So – here are two compelling reasons NOT to hire that family member or friend:
Commitment – Professional photographers won’t flake out on you like a friend or relative, because they are obligated by contract to be there. They have backup systems, cards and batteries. They know that equipment can fail, but that won’t stop them. They are ready for that. They are dedicated to doing a great job for you because they depend on your referrals to pay their bills. Full time professionals are committed to doing the best job possible. Would you hire an amateur to pull a tooth?
Experience – Professionals have spent thousands of hours photographing weddings. They know how to get the best shots even in tricky lighting. Professional photographers in other genre can struggle with weddings – weddings are a beast! It’s a fast pace day, you have to know how to handle tricky situations like Aunt Betty and her I-pad up in the air, and then top in all with amateurs not knowing anything about posing. Professional experience is invaluable. Your friend or relative doesn’t have that “experience” to predict or anticipate a special moment, and they don’t have the dedicated concentration to stay alert for special moments – like a mother’s admiring glance at her daughter getting married.
RESULTS! – That’s what matter. I love when couples look at their photos from a professional and many times they are surprised at the many funny and moving moments the photographer captured that they never witnessed. An amateur isn’t going to capture them, and you’ll never know what you’ve missed.
Your wedding day only happens once! Keep those precious memories and moments alive by NOT compromising on photography. Cut the size of the cake, or the guest list – but keep the professional photographer – because you can savor those images for a lifetime.