Blog – Why Bother With A Wedding Photographer?

If there’s one issue that comes up time and time again when doing wedding photography it’s “why do we need one?” Especially as she’s already blown your entire initial budget on the venue, dress and little bit of paper and bows that the uses of which are beyond comprehension.

Everybody knows someone who has a camera and is a bit of an “enthusiast” so why can’t he do it? Well, for starters, he may want to come as a guest and have a drink or two…. But most importantly, you’re spending a fortune on probably one of the biggest days of your life, so surely it’s a good idea to make sure you have a great record of the day? According to estimates 10% of your total wedding budget should go on the photographer.

So what makes the difference between a bloke with a nifty camera and a professional wedding photographer?

Pointing and taking a snap is pretty easy, especially these days when you can see the outcome right away. But what if it doesn’t come out right and it’s an important part? Walking down the aisle, exchanging rings, that kiss as you’re declared married. Yes, people will have cameras on the day and, yes, there will be some amateur photos taken at the wedding that are acceptable, but do you really want to leave capturing such an important event to chance?!

Whoever you choose as your photographer, you should have met before the big day, a rapport is important so that they understand exactly what you want from your photographer on the day. You should find them personable and approachable, you’re paying them a lot of money to give you the images you want, so you want someone who you get on with, there’s nothing worse than a prima-donna wedding photographer prancing around like a drama queen screaming instructions at everyone.

What you get with a professional is a photographer who carries professional equipment and knows how to use it properly. He or she will have backup gear often with a (lovely) assistant, will be aware of what happens when during the day, be allowed by the church, registrar and venue to shoot from a special position. Every moment from entering the church to leaving for the honeymoon will be captured. You won’t have to worry about whether someone is getting those pictures.

A professional photographer is trained to capture those moments. That means your first dance, cutting the cake, throwing the bouquet, the garter toss and everything up to (but not including) when you retire or get too drunk to care is recorded, ready for your wedding album or to be hidden away forever….but at least you have everything you’ll need.

All of the above separates a professional from the guests-with cameras at your wedding. Professional wedding photographers depend on satisfied clients to refer future work to them for their livelihood and therefore take the wedding business very seriously. There’s the pre-preparation work, meeting with the bride and groom, visiting the venue with them. All the preparation combined with industry knowledge and experience, allow a professional photographer to arrive on wedding day and be prepared for torrential rain, late brides, hungover grooms, missing rings, missing best men with rings or other challenging obstacles on the day.

Things can go wrong at weddings and often do, so you want a calm professional to take it all in their stride, ease your stress and from the resulting image, make you wonder if those problems really happened at all.

So why should you pay so much to have a professional wedding photographer cover your wedding? Because you can’t afford not to..

Carl O’Connell is principal photographer for Landmark Art

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