So your getting married and you have done your homework. You have picked your caterer, the venue, the cake, the centerpieces, the dresses, and everything is going just as planned. Now it is time to pick your wedding photographer, the person who will capture the moments you will cherish for a lifetime in pictures. Maybe you could ask your cousin who is an amateur photographer. He will do it for free, and you could save some money.

Why is this not a good idea? Why do you want to hire a professional wedding photographer for your wedding day? There is an enormous benefit to having a professional photographer for your wedding and these benefits far outweigh what you save in your budget by having your cousin do it for free. These pictures are the memories of your wedding day that only happens once, and that will never fade away.

The North Carolina Arboretum Engagement Photo location. Girl dressed as princess sitting on stairs

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Whom is the Professional Described Above

We are, Forge Mountain Photography, Will + Julie! We are all these things and more as described above for the professional photographer. We know all of this because of our first-hand experience with dealing with these situations. We have been the ones to help guide the couple to figure out what style they are into and what time is the best lighting for the day. We have handled those crisis’s that arise from bride forgetting her bouquet to the minister not showing up. That is all just a part of being a great professional photographer. To be helpful, flexible, and give guidance to the most important day of your new life.