After reading this article, the benefits will be clear if having lasting memories of your wedding day that you can share and cherish the rest of your lives togheter is important to you this is an easy decision. Hiring a professional photographer ensures you get the best quality pictures using the best quality equipment. Cameras are only a very small part of the equation in capturing the perfect photograph.

1. Camera Equipment Knowledge

Sure anyone can purchase a DSLR | Nice Camera, but only those experienced professionals unlock its full potential. You want to hire a pro wedding photographer because of their skill and as equally important because of the equipment they use. Your amateur cousin might have a nice SLR with a zoom lens, but usually, they will be restrained by not having a variety of lenses and not being of the professional caliber. The type of equipment is just as important as is the person behind the camera. You want the top of the line equipment and the top of the line photographer who has the knowledge of how to use that equipment.

2. The Photographers Role

Another huge reason to hire a professional wedding photographer and not let your novice photographer family member is less distraction. A family member will want to also celebrate along with everyone else. This leads to shots being missed because they are chit chatting with other relatives they have not seen in awhile, or because they are too busy eating or dancing. Another thing to think about is other guests are more likely to step out of the way for a professional photographer because they know they are getting paid and are not part of the family, so the roles are defined. If you have your cousin the amateur shooting everyone there will step in front of them and not respect the role that they are supposed to be playing in the day.

3. Photography Style

Hire a professional whose style matches yours and who will create the type of pictures you want. If you were to ask an amateur photographer what kind of style you wanted they are most likely not going to understand the difference between modern, fine art, traditional, photojournalist, or candid pictures. Can they deliver you what you exactly want? Most likely not. Think this through thoroughly and make sure your wedding photographer matches your style and go with the professional who immediately understands what you are talking about when you say what you want.

4. Communication and Reliability

Due to the importance of the photographer as pointed out above. The photographer needs to be a professional and not an amateur relative or friend. You need someone who has years of experience dealing with all the hiccups that come with the day. A professional will know how to communicate with the wedding party at where they need to be at and when they need to be there without making the wedding party feel like they are in the way or not part of this big day. No amateur, no matter how good will be able to maintain the distance and impartiality needed while still offering the intimacy/support needed and still get the shot.

5. Wedding Photographer Provide More

On your wedding day, there is no person you will be spending more time with than your photographer from the getting ready shots to the departure. The one constant around you is the professional photographer that you have hired to catch every memory and every moment without being noticed. The photographer is the one who will notice the little details such as lipstick on the teeth or boutonnieres being put on upside down. They will let you know and help try to fix it. Even if you have a wedding planner they will not be your shadow all day but your photographer will. The photographer will be the one organizing the wedding party to go to where they need to be and keeping everyone calm when anxiety/emotions arise.

6. Patience

You need to hire a professional that you, the couple, are comfortable with. Think about the amount of time you will be spending with this person on one of the most important days of your life. The professional photographer needs to be the best combination of experience and patience with understanding. They need to jive with your personality and be able to make your personality shine brightly on the wedding day. You need a professional that will remain calm with things that may go a different direction than originally planned for, someone who is flexible and goes with the flow of the day but yet keep some structure in tack.

For small budget events, photography can sometimes fall onto the back burner.

However, it is possible to capture great images that highlight your event without spending hundreds of dollars on a professional photographer.

This being said, you will need to know a few tricks of the trade in order to make it happen.

1. Develop a Shot List

If you have a staff member or volunteer taking photos at the event create a list of images you want them to capture. Be as detailed as possible and include anything you might want for future publications or promotion. This will help your photographer to stay on track and gather all of the images you need.

Photos of signage, décor, full room views or candid photos often fall by the wayside for amateur photographers. By adding these items to a shot list they are sure to be captured by whoever has take on the role of photographer for your event.

2. Check Your Lighting

Lighting is huge when it comes to producing high quality images. If your venue is dimly lit you may struggle to gather great images without using external lighting elements. If it is a very bright day and your event is taking place outside you can obtain lens filters or study the direction of the sun to avoid unsightly shadows.

Some lighting issues can be corrected when you are processing the photos, but ideally you want a well-lit image to being with. Do some research on the front end and be prepared for what you might encounter.

3. Highlight Key Players

In addition to a shot list, you should be sure to point out the VIP players at your event and make sure the person taking photos knows when to capture images of these important people.

Are there awards being handed out or groups of VIPs that should be photographed mingling during cocktail hour? Information like this should be passed along to ensure you get the pictures you need. Important guests may ask for photos following the event and you would never want to respond with “we unfortunately didn’t capture an image of you at the event”.

4. Embrace Both Candid and Staged Shots

No matter how you plan to utilize the photos initially, it is always great to have both candid and staged or formal photos. Even if you are planning to frame the formal photos, you may use the candid shots for future marketing publications or social media messaging. Having a large number of images shot in a variety of styles will always be better than not having enough of an assortment.

5. Convey the Event Theme

Photos will remain long after the event is gone. You want the images them to capture the essence of the event in every way. Whoever is taking your photos should know the feeling that you want your event to evoke. Take photos of the table scape, the venue and the overall décor. Perhaps guests have themed attire or seasonal food is being served. Whatever theme you provide at the event should also be communicated in your photos.

6. Communicate The Plan for Your Photos

If you are planning to take photos at your event, you have some idea in mind on how you plan to utilize the images. Make sure your photographer has the inside scoop on your agenda, as this should impact the photos that they try to capture.

Perhaps you plan to use the images in promotional materials for next year’s event. If so, you want your photos to capture many different attendees and activities in order for the marketing efforts to show diversity. The format has a huge impact on the photos you will target, however as we mentioned before, having a variety is always a great thing!

7. Hire a Professional

At the end of the day the best way to get high quality images of your event is to spend the money and hire an experienced professional. Photographers have the equipment and training that will best highlight your fantastic event.