The Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Pro Photographer

Posted on April 14, 2010

There has been a lot of talk lately about DIY weddings and the expense of hiring high quality vendors. It seems that more and more couples are opting to recruit a friend or family member to be their photographer. And, while I am a professional photographer, I will do my best to address this serious issue without bias. That being said, here are the top 10 reasons to hire a professional wedding photographer:

#10. We know weddings. We see so many weddings every year that we know what to expect. We know the best angles for the cake cutting, the bouquet toss, the first dance. We know what lenses to have ready and where to be to get the shots that mean the most to you. A friend or family member most likely does not know any of these.

#9. A guest is a guest! Let your friend or family member enjoy your wedding and not have to be a nervous mess. They will be working hard, doing something they most likely have never done before…and you have given them a huge responsibility. Is that fair to them?

#8. It’s all in the bag, baby! Photography is a very expensive contact sport. Us professionals have amassed a significant investment in top of the line cameras, storage, lenses, lighting, you name it. We have them repaired and maintained by the manufacturer. We have the sensors cleaned. We also have redundant equipment to cover us in the event of an equipment failure.

#7. We know our gear. As a professional, I am always shooting! Remember the stories about the high school football coach that made his players carry a football for an entire month? They could never set it down. The reason? It became an extension of them. My cameras are an extension of me and I can grab it, fire it up, make a change and get the shot in seconds. Most people that do not live photography will not have the same results and will miss “the” shot.

#6. It’s our business. While the devil may be in the details, we know the important stuff to cover with you. I always have a printed out time line that I bring to the wedding and will engage your vendors so we are all on the same page. We have liability insurance in the event someone is injured. I will call you and email you during the weeks before the wedding to ensure everything is crystal clear and we are all comfortable.

#5. The best computers. Most people think photographers only care about cameras. What good are the best cameras and lenses if my computer dies and I lose all your wedding images? Most photographers have redundant external drives, online storage, and offsite backups to protect YOUR images. I currently use a RAID5 array and 10 external drives (plus off site drives) to protect your images. Most people never think about this. Neither will your Uncle Bob.

#4. We have a network. Another element most people do not consider is the reach of the photographer. I have contracted with you to be there on your wedding. But what happens if I am in a car accident on the way? What if I am hospitalized? Most professionals have a diverse network of other professionals that are friends that will always ensure you are covered.

#3. Standards. Okay, so your high school friend is going to shoot your wedding. He shoots all day and gives you a DVD of your images…but they are in a RAW Nikon format and you cannot do anything with them…or maybe his monitor is not calibrated and they all look yellow…or maybe they are exported JPEGs at a small resolution and look horrible when printed. Professionals have all this stuff covered for you.

#2. We like to edit. When you think about price, you are probably thinking “well they are only going to be there for 8 hours…why are they so expensive?” Most people don’t think about the time to email, setup meetings, research the venues, shoot the wedding, download and backup the images, edit the images, burn the assets, design layouts and albums, place orders, receive orders, ship items, and follow up. It’s a lot more than 8 hours! I typically spend a week after the wedding on edits and organizational tasks.

#1. It’s your best day. You were so excited when you said yes…the feeling of that ring on your finger. You have thought of this day since you were a little kid, and now it is approaching. Why would you settle on a non-pro to document it? As a professional, nothing bothers me more than hearing from people that say “our wedding images were horrible…we thought we’d save some money.” Basically, those memories are just that…

So, I know this sounds all doom and gloom. It doesn’t have to! Here are a couple of solutions to the problem:

1. Wait. If you cannot afford professionals, wait. Save your money and do the wedding thing right.

2. Hire a wedding planner. Most people think they are a luxury they cannot afford…but in reality they can save you a lot of money, guide you through some decisions, and be invaluable on the wedding day.

3. Remember about retainers! When you hire a professional, you will be asked to pay a retainer. This is typically 50% of the commission fee. So, think of it as a payment plan. 50% down, and 50% in the next several months. When broken down into these smaller chunks, it is often much easier to plan and afford.

I hope these help you make the right choices when thinking about professionals for your wedding. As always, contact me with any questions!

Scott




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