Top Reasons Why You Should Hire a Wedding Photographer

So why should you get a professional photographer for your wedding day?

Worst case scenario - you will be taking your own photos at the wedding. Obviously this really should not happen. You, the host of the event, the main reason people are there, are busy taking snap shots of your wedding party. You will simply have your hands to full to capture the whole essence of your wedding day.

Okay, so that first example may not be a really practical example. A real example would be if you knew someone, someone who isn't really a professional photographer, but someone who was enthusiastic with a camera, who did it as a hobby?

Well sure, you can assign Cousin Al or Uncle Harry to do the honors and be the official photographer for your engagement. Sure they can pull off an event like yours: 150 guests minimum, reception, the ceremony at the church, some casual shots at the beach or by the bay with the sunset in the background. Perhaps.

Consider this: what kind of photography do they do in their spare time? They may do still-life photography. Or studio photography. Or portrait photography. Or maybe only landscape photography and maybe even shoot the occasional social party. Do you know what I'm getting at?

You have to check and know what they do. Ask if they are up to the challenge. Weddings are a whole different ball game.

Wedding photographers are a whole different breed to your usual hobbyist, glamour, still-life, studio, commercial and landscape photographer. They even speak a different language.

So what is the difference then?

The difference is in the equipment they carry, the planning needed to carry out your mission (your wedding) and their attitude and enthusiasm about the job.

Weddings offer a dynamic environment to which the wedding photographer must conquer and evolve within a short period of time. They have to make the best of different locations and different lighting conditions as well as weather concerns. A good successful wedding photographer can do all these (and more!)

Different locations and lighting conditions - that's simple, you say, just whip out the camera and press the button.

No it isn't. Photography is all about lighting. Photography is lighting. Photography comes from a root word that means 'light painting.' Wedding photographers must be the masters of light in all different situations at different locations. It's not simply point and shoot.