Please Hire a Professional.
“I have a friend with a nice camera. She said she can photograph our wedding as good as any professional because the camera came with a good lens.”
“My mom knows someone who takes pictures for fun.”
“I need a photographer who is reasonably priced.”
“My sister’s friend wants to practice so she said she’ll photograph our wedding for free!”
“I found someone to do our wedding photos for $400! And you get all the photos and rights too!”
These are all real things that I’ve heard/read when talking about photography for a family session or a wedding, and they all make me cringe.
Every. Single. One.
I understand wanting to allow someone you know to practice, or perhaps you’re on a tight budget, but what the heck does “reasonable” mean? Here’s the thing about hiring a photographer to photograph your wedding… it’s not only about taking actual photos. There is SO much more that goes into being a wedding photographer. So I will boldly say this, a professional wedding photographer should be at the TOP of your wedding list. Photos are the only thing you have after your wedding day, so it’s important to make sure you’re hiring someone who not only “takes good photos”, but walks with you through the wedding planning process, calms your nerves and makes you feel at ease, tells your love story well, and someone who is completely reliable.
So before googling “cheap photographers”, I leave you with these thoughts regarding how to pick a wedding photographer:
1.) They should know what they’re doing. I’m going to break this one down into two categories: STYLE and COMMUNICATION. Style: When looking at photographers website or social media, look for a professional who sticks to a specific style and look. Their photos should flow together. If the editing style is drastically different from one photo to the next or if the photos don’t feel like the same person took them, that person may not have the experience to know exactly what they’re doing. One thing I talk to my potential clients about is the style of my photos; they should never be surprised when they receive their photos back because they’ve already seen the flow within my portfolio. Next, communication: A professional will touch base with you on a regular basis to see how things are going (wedding day timeline, family formal lists, update you on where they’re at in the editing process, etc.). They should be reaching out to you, not just you to them. They should be serving you, so it shouldn’t take them weeks to get back to you.
2.) They’re going to use your time (and theirs) wisely. I don’t think I have to elaborate too much on this point… when a professional is hired, they won’t waste your time, and they won’t waste their own. They most likely have other clients they’re working for, so they need to work wisely in order to get everything they need to completed. You can trust that the photographing and editing of your photos will be done in a timely matter, along with the help they give.
3.) They have quality, thought-out equipment. Just because someone owns a DSLR camera doesn’t mean they understand how to use it. Or better yet, how to use it to its full capacity. But a professional will absolutely know how their camera works, they’ll use manual mode (run if someone you’re thinking of hiring uses auto). They’ll switch up their lens during a session (or at least know which one is the best to use for your event), they’ll have backup SD cards, ways to backup photos after the event, they’ll know what lighting is needed in dark situations, etc.
4.) They focus on the details. A professional recognizes that you spent months choosing the colors for your wedding, the table centerpieces, the floral design, the table assignment cards and everything in between, so they will take photos of these things for you. Guests may not notice them or the items will quickly be forgotten, but a professional doesn’t want you to forget anything. A professional will see you whispering into your loved one’s ear during the reception and not hesitate to photograph that intimate moment. And then after the wedding is over and they’re sitting down to edit your photos, they will notice AND FIX anything distracting from the focus of each image (hairs out of place, people in the background, cars, etc).
Lastly, but also, in my opinion, the biggest reason to hire a professional photographer…
5.) They’re going to give you a great experience. They’re working for you, you hired them, and they want you to walk away excited about your experience. They want you to tell your friends and family about it, post on social media, and leave great reviews. In order for a professional photographer to continue making a living, they need their name to be surrounded by positive comments. So in order to receive those comments, they understand that their job requires them to leave their clients excited about working with them. They care about you! It’s not just about taking your photos and moving on. A huge part of a professionals job is to get to know the people they’re photographing. The more they know you, the more they feel they can create an authentic photo of you. They want to walk away feeling like they’ve gained a new friend, and hope you feel the same. Personally, I have many friends today who started off as clients (they legit found me through google, social media or a recommendation from a mutual friend).
Disclaimer: There are always exceptions, I get that, but that is why you do research, ask questions, read reviews, look over contracts, and have a meeting before hiring anyone to see if this person is going to be the photographer for you!
