Why You Should Use A Wedding Photographer

Planning your wedding is a huge task with a million things to think about…and to pay for. As the costs start to mount up, it’s natural for most couples to look at how they can trim their costs. But when it comes to capturing your magical day, are cheap wedding photographers really worth the savings? Let’s look at the difference between cheap wedding photographers v’s professional ones:

It’s The Most Important Day of Your Life

Your wedding is a very special day, it’s that day when you will look and feel amazing, and you will be celebrating a massive change in your life. Capturing the day, the story of your wedding on film, is so important. I think it’s probably one of the most important things you can do (and I’m not just saying that because I’m a wedding photographer!).  We’ve come a long way from the days of our parents’ weddings when all the photographer did was shoot a ton of group shots in a graveyard. 

For me, it’s about creating a storybook of your day and capturing everything, the beauty, the romance, and the fun.  It will be a collection of photos that will stay with you and your family for a lifetime. I have built up years of experience. I am constantly evolving my techniques, ideas, and style to ensure I create the very best memories for my couples. After all, this isn’t a dress rehearsal, this day will not be repeated, so there’s no margin for error.  Can cheap wedding photographers offer you that same sense of reassurance?

Good Photography is So Much More Than Just Having an Expensive Camera

There’s so much more to good photography than having a good camera. I think of a wedding photographer as a creative artist, and the camera is just one of the tools of the trade. The process of creating your wedding story begins with the camera and capturing a huge selection of images. Of course, this piece of the jigsaw isn’t as easy as it sounds. You need someone who understands how to work with different lighting conditions and how to compose a shot.  This can make the difference between a  “meh” photo and a shot that is stunning.

The next component, where the wizardry of great photography happens, is at the editing stage. This element takes time, patience, and a good understanding of the editing tools.  This is the ‘hidden’ cost of a professional wedding photographer. Nonetheless, it is a key piece of the process before handing you your finished collection. This takes a lot of experience and knowledge, something cheap wedding photographers may be lacking.

A Well-Meaning Friend or Relative

A professional wedding photographer understands the dynamics of a wedding. This means being able to anticipate when and where the best shots can be taken, how to organise and manage group shots, and to quickly seek out the best places for beautiful couple shots of the bride and groom. They’ll understand how to capture the funny, quirky moments that happen at every wedding, especially as the evening unfolds and people start to let their hair down; they will also know how to use artificial light if needed.

A well-meaning friend or family member may well start to feel overwhelmed by the pressure. They are likely to have little experience of thinking ahead, for the next shot. Consequently, you could be left frustrated by the final images, because they have missed special moments.

A good wedding photographer will help make your day run smoothly.  It takes experience to understand the flow of weddings. Even a talented amateur photographer, no matter how well-meaning, is unlikely to know how a wedding works. The result for you could well be a few lucky shots at best and a lot of shots that aren’t going to set your world on fire.

In addition to this, professional wedding photographers will come prepared for every eventuality – spare cameras, memory cards, batteries, and enough photography kit to cope with any situation.  I cannot say the same for cheap wedding photographers.

It’s All You Have at The End of the Day

When your wedding day has been and gone, there’s a sense of anticipation and excitement about seeing your photographs. It’s a chance to relive the day again and share the happy, beautiful, and fun moments that have been captured with friends and family. When you engage a professional wedding photographer, you can have confidence that the quality will be there.

Your photos, whether you store them online, have them printed, or make them into a beautiful album, will stay with you for a lifetime. Imagine having a collection of photographs that just leaves you disappointed? Compare that to a set so beautifully crafted, they tell the story of your wedding perfectly. You will look at them time and again, and in 10, 20, 30 years’ time, you’ll still have that lovely warm emotion that comes from happy memories?

It’s That Old Saying

I hate to talk cliches, but when it comes to wedding photography, you get what you pay for. I appreciate, now more than ever, that budgets are tight. However, think carefully before you book your photographer. Cheap wedding photographers could leave you wanting and sour the memories of what should be one of the best days of your life.

If you would like to have a chat about your wedding photography plans with me, please drop me a message. I’d love to help capture your day.