Many people these days are trying to stick to a budget for their wedding but there is one thing above all else that should not be compromised, the photography. Without decent photos of your day, how are you going to remember the details and ambience that only a professional photographer will capture. Or for that cosy winter wedding, what happens if the light level drops because you were later getting out of the church than you anticipated. Do you want all your photos to be either dark or blurry because your friend used the auto setting on the camera. I say these things not to scare you but because I have personally seen these things happen over the years I have been photographing weddings and other events. At one wedding I attended as a videographer, the groom’s friend took such bad photos after the church, I was asked to print photos from my video tape grabs because my exposure and composition was so much better than his and back then it wasn’t even digital video!
A professional is affordable even if if you are on a budget. They can help you make the most of the money you have allocated to photos. Moments that are fleeting and easily missed like the first time the groom sees his bride, that first kiss…. Can you trust these things where timing and instinct are crucial to an amateur? There are some moments that need skill and experience to capture and the right equipment. A good professional wedding photographer has the skill to capture candid, intimate moments whilst being unobstrusive and subtle.
Your friend or family member may be able to take sharp photos and may have an expensive camera but chances are he/she lacks the creativity to capture an event such as this if they photograph weddings occasionally rather than a professional who has had years of experience and hundreds of weddings to their credit. The friend is usually the one who captures the same stiff poses albeit sharp and framed well. There is a difference between a Candid shot and a set up shot. A professional photographer can usually blur the line to make a set up shot look candid or natural photo. They are at ease and know what they are doing technically, not fumbling around with dials and exposures so they can make you feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera as possible.
Remember nothing can change the disappointment you will feel having lost a moment that can never be recaptured.
Also if something goes wrong why put your friendship at risk just to save a few dollars. You will appreciate the quality long after the cost is forgotten. A professional photographer is affordable just maybe not for the whole day but at least for the most important moments.
Ultimately, you get what you pay for, a wedding photo is something that is displayed, celebrated and look at often, by friends and family now, but also by the family you will have in the future.
