I’ve been meeting with a lot of great brides and grooms lately (along with some mother’s of the bride and sisters!) and it’s been great to get to know each of you and hear about your big days! It’s always really fun to hear about people’s different ideas and locations. So I just wanted to start out saying thank you all for meeting with me, it’s been really fun!
Now on to the nitty gritty! I am asked quite frequently why someone should hire a professional photographer for their wedding when ‘my friend can just take the pictures – they have a really nice camera!’ OR ‘my Uncle just bought a camera with two different lenses and he said he could shoot my wedding and just give me all the pictures on a disk.”
Okay…
1. If your friend really is a photographer and that is what they do, then by all means book them! That is what they do!
2. I get that everyone has a budget. I may or may not fit into someone’s budget and I understand that. I do believe that there is a photographer out there that can fit into everyone’s budget and I do believe that it’s important to hire someone professional no matter how much money you have to work with.
3. For some, photography doesn’t rank too high on the list. I don’t understand why that is, but I do understand that some people feel that way. When it comes down to it, the photographs are what you have to remember your day. The dress gets put away, the decorations are thrown out, the flowers die and the food and cake are eaten. Here’s a little story that a photographer named Daniel Lane told once….
A bride claimed she would save thousands by having a friend take pictures of her wedding day. So I asked her if she wanted to save thousands more. Of course she would! I suggested that she have everyone bring a covered dish to the reception rather than hire caterers. Since the caterer is certainly as expensive, if not more so than the photography, she could double her savings! The bride did not think that was a good idea. So I asked her another question. I asked her to tell me what she had for dinner on her 10th birthday. She didn’t remember.
So I asked her why the food for one evening is more important than the ability to share quality photographs of her wedding with her daughter 25 years from now.
Who do you believe will most likely be able to capture the beauty and emotions of the day? A professional hired for that specific task or a guest whose real job is to socialize and celebrate the day?
**BRIDES & GROOMS: DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND HIRE A PROFESSIONAL
Most clients don’t realize how much professional photographers who really care about their clients have invested into their photographic education. I am constantly reading and learning about new techniques and products to better serve you. This is what I love to do and it is my passion!
Remember: You get what you pay for!!
