3 Hidden Reasons to Hire A Professional Wedding Photographer
So you are getting married. YES!!!
But, as many of us do, you are trying to save money and cut corners where you can. DIY'ing your decor, getting your wedding shoes on clearance, having your sister do your hair. And then you remember that your uncle just got a new DSLR camera - well he can just take your wedding pictures, right?
NO!
Hiring a wedding photographer should be one of the most important decisions you will make for your wedding day - other than marrying the love of your life. So I decided to outline 3 reasons you should really consider asking Uncle Joe to leave his camera at home and hire an actual photographer.
Reason #1: Pictures are the one thing that lasts.
Ask anyone who knows me - I literally have the worst memory in the entire world. Ask me a question about anything that happened in the past, and you'll probably get blank stare. Photos hold a special place in my heart because they help capture those moments I desperately want to remember. Your wedding day is going to be crazy. You are putting all of your favorite people in a room together and celebrating one of the most joyful moments of your lives. The day will run past like a blur, and you will most likely forget what your decorations looked like, everyone's reactions when you walk down the aisle, and how goofy you and your friends got on the dance floor. You are going to be so excited to sit down, a few weeks after your wedding, and get to relive the entire thing through your pictures. Plus, when you have kids, they probably want to see how funny Mom and Dad's hair looked on their wedding day.
Reason #2: You are hiring a professional storyteller.
People love stories. We communicate through stories, life experiences, and metaphors. Wedding photographers have trained themselves to look for every side of a story. Not only do they grab traditional photos (bride walking down the aisle, the kiss, the first dance), they also capture the actual emotions of the day. They look for the laughter, the gazes in awe, and the pure joy that announces itself on the wedding day. Every detail will not be lost - from the actual details of rings and decorations to the first taste of cake (or cake face-smashing) to the grand sparkler exit at the end of the night. As you look through your wedding photos, you will be transported back to your wedding day and get to see the story unfold, pictures by picture.
Reason #3: You've gained a friend and life-cheerleader.
The one thing wedding photographers love more than taking photos is the people in them. These people honestly LOVE you, and are filled with joy when they get to celebrate such an exciting and monumental day in your life. They will laugh with you, cry with you (honestly, I think I've cried at every Father-Daughter dance I've witnessed), all while working to make your day the best that they can. They will meet all of your weird family members and best friends and make sure they are having the time of their lives. After the wedding, they'll keep up with you, celebrating with you in new steps and surprises, and always loving you truly as a person and not just a client. Plus, if you ever need a photographer, they'll probably drop everything to get the chance to catch up and spend time with you again.
So hopefully I have swayed you a bit more into understanding why hiring a professional photographer is something that shouldn't be skipped for your wedding. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go cry and reminisce over my past couples I've gotten to photograph.
Want to talk more about wedding photography? Send me a quick message on my contact page :) I'd love to hear from you!
Wondering who the photographers in these photos are? Check out my lovely friends and wedding photographers, Caitlin and Luke, here!