Top 3 Reasons To Hire A Professional Photographer Over A Friend With A ‘Nice’ Camera

During a wedding, I have a lot of people walk up to me, just to tell me this: “I wish I had hired a professional photographer at my wedding. We had <insert family member here> do our photos, and while they tried their best, the photos aren’t what we hoped for.”

Every. Wedding. 

And even to this day, I have people inquire about booking us, and then write back saying, “My friend said she’d take some! We are tight on the budget, so we’re going with her!”

My bells and whistles go off. Not because I’m upset we lost a client — but because I don’t want them to be disappointed in the photos that capture one of the most important days of their lives. Cutting corners when it comes to a photographer is a big mistake!

And, really, this applies to any photoshoot. A family shoot. An engagement shoot. A boudoir shoot. I’ve literally heard this reiterated hundreds of times — and every time they come back saying they wish they hadn’t.

But for this post — let’s focus on weddings.

Can your friend or family member produce results like this?

You tell us — which of the two below was taken by Kansas City Photography? If it was your friend with a nice camera that had taken the second one, would you have been satisfied?

Having a nice camera does not equal being a great photographer.

Just like owning nice cookware doesn’t make you a chef.

Does your friend know how to play with lighting? Could they give you something like this?

Or would it end up looking more like this?

Here are our top 3 reasons to hire a professional over a friend:

1. Above all else, you should want your friend to enjoy your wedding. Taking photographs is work, and it’s a lot of pressure. It’s one of the most important days of your life! If you end up not liking the photos, your friendship will be strained, or possibly even ruined, as well.
2. Just because your friend owns a nice camera does not make them a professional. Sure, maybe they’ve tinkered a bit. Maybe they have even taken some shots at weddings before as a guest. Have they ever opened Photoshop? Do they have examples of their work you can see? Will your teeth be white, and your eyes be bright? Have they spent thousands of hours studying photography and Photoshop? Do they have a backup camera if something goes wrong?
3. You have guarantees when you hire a professional. You should have a contract that guarantees certain things — the amount of time you have the photographer. A guarantee they know what they’re doing. A guarantee they will show up. A timeframe on when you’ll have your photos back. Your photographer should have wedding experience. If something goes awry, or if we get behind on time — a professional doesn’t fold under pressure.

Your wedding happens once. I have people come up to me who recount stories of regret — a regret that lasts years, a lifetime! Moments missed, than can never be re-captured.

You don’t want to be the victim to awful wedding photos, like this.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook! And, for the love of all that is holy, hire a professional to shoot your wedding day!