5 reasons to hire a professional wedding photographer for your big day

It may seem obvious, but hiring a professional wedding photographer for your big day that you have researched and whose work you love, ensures quality service as well as stunning images of your day.

Despite this, I know and understand that this service, like the entire wedding itself, is an important expense that, for most, must be budgeted. Thus, it can be tempting to hire an amateur photographer or maybe your uncle who has an old camera and offers his services for a hundred dollars.

I do not know your personal situation and i am not here to judge how you decide to invest in your day. However, let me share with you the five reasons why, in my opinion, hiring a professional photographer is such an important investment!

1- A skilled and dedicated person

Photographing a wedding day is definitely an exhilarating experience but also very demanding and complex. It goes far beyond knowing how to take beautiful pictures. We need to be present at every moment to miss nothing, be everywhere at once, manage changing light, know our equipment perfectly, adapt to the weather and the unexpected, sometimes even take on the role of wedding planner, and all this without missing key moments like the first kiss for example. It takes a lot of skill, but above all, experience, that amateur photographers unfortunately have not always had the chance to acquire.

Your photographer will also be fully dedicated, all day long, to doing the job you hired them for, and doing it well. Whereas a family member you may have entrusted with the task, for example, will likely also want to enjoy the wedding and may be distracted by other guests or even by alcohol.

Entrusting this service to a professional prevents you from ending up with, as your only memories, blurry, overexposed or underexposed images, low-resolution shots, poorly framed photos, or even no photos at all.

2- Images that reflect you

A professional photographer can, and should whenever possible, be chosen based on the service they provide and their style. Whether you prefer more documentary and natural images or more posed and editorial ones, it is possible to find a photographer whose work reflects your wishes and needs. A professional will also take the time to get to know you and to discuss your day and expectations in detail in order to capture the essence of your wedding with a vision that is unique and aligned with yours.

3- A support beyond photography

As wedding photographers, we are among the few professionals (along with videographers and wedding planners) who accompany the couple throughout the entire day. Whether during preparations, the first look, the ceremony or the reception, we are there with you every step of the way. We have therefore seen many weddings and gained the experience and expertise to advise you when needed, as well as to help ensure the smooth running of the day. Having a professional by your side allows you to focus fully on your day and avoid any external stress.

To learn more about the full experience a photographer can bring you, i invite you to read the following article:

4- An investment that last over time

The images captured on your wedding day will be the only tangible memories left of this very important day. If you invest in a photographer you truly love, every time you open your wedding album or gallery you will be able to relive the joy and emotions of your big day.

Once again, I refer you to my article do I really need a wedding photographer? which goes into detail about this aspect.

5- A reassuring insurance

A wedding day is not something that can be repeated and, with a professional photographer, you are protected by a legal contract. In most cases, this will ensure you a service guarantee. For example, in my case, I make sure, as much as possible of course, to provide the service even if, for an exceptional reason (serious injury, illness, etc.), I cannot be present to photograph your wedding. I would then ensure to hire a replacement photographer. This also gives you assurance regarding the delivery of your images and a recourse in case of problems.

In the end, even though i know budget is a major factor in choosing your photographer, I also believe it is essential to choose a skilled photographer whose style you truly appreciate, in order to have unforgettable memories of your day and to ensure you have no regrets about this investment.