Rumor has it that the wedding photographer
is the most overpaid wedding vendor out there, so they say. I mean the
camera's expensive but everything is digital so where is the expense? Okay so
you do have to buy those fancy photo albums to slip your photos in but what
else? Why do photographers cost soooo much? Couldn't Cousin Billy Bob take some
pretty good photos and we could save that money for something else,
right?! You know what I think? I think "they" are wrong. A
successful photographer doesn't just point and shoot. They spend time getting
to know their surroundings and framing the photo. The more they do it the
faster they are at putting it all together and capturing the gorgeous photo
that makes you FEEL what the couple is feeling at that very moment in time. Its
part gift, part talent and part experience and it's a big part of what you pay
for when you hire your photographer. But what else? Why is it that Billy Bob
even with a good camera has a tough time capturing these moments that you want
to relive day after day?
No matter how hard Billy Bob tries he will rarely
think of the composition. He doesn't walk into the room or location and
begin envisioning the art that he will be creating. Billy Bob (or
Sally Mae for that matter) walks in and starts chatting with his buddy or
distant relative and talking about old times and "how's your mama? It's
been so long..." well you get the point. When you ask your _____(fill in
the blank)____ cousin/buddy/aunt to photograph your wedding they have more on
their mind than their new job. So they become distracted and the opportunity to
breathe in the environment and plan the photos is lost.
And that is just the beginning of the process.
What happens when the party gets started? The music is kicking and everyone is out
on the dance floor laughing and having a wonderful time. You know Billy Bob is
a guest too, I mean he has a job but he wants to have a good time too and you
want that as well, right? So who could blame him when he puts the camera down
to shake a leg for a few songs? Well unfortunately he missed this shot. Even if
he decided to pick up the camera at the right time his position would be on the
floor looking straight on or maybe up and the feeling would be lost.
The professional has spent the entire time since
he stepped out of his (or her) car planning what shots to take and where. He may
have even photographed a wedding at this particular location and knows where and how to
get the best shots. But while your buddy is doing his thing the professional is
capturing every piece of your wedding. The stationery, the entrance, the
bouquets, the table settings all the little details that make your wedding yours.
You don’t know this now but the day after your wedding or maybe a few weeks
later you’ll find yourself wondering hmmm, what did the little flowers I so
painstakingly chose, end up looking like? Those detail shots the pro will take will be
priceless later on.
So
now we know some of the downfalls of hiring a friend or relative to take your
photos to help document the best day of your life. But what else separates the
professional from the amateur photographer?
The
amateur when completed will then upload the images at shutterfly, picasa or
some like location so when you want you can order your photos. He, or she, is
done. They did their job. Ta Da!!! The professional on the other hand will go
back to their studio and spend hours and hours editing the images. Perfecting colors,
removing flaws, all sorts of things that make them the wonderful pieces of art
that we see here. And those couples that bite the bullet and spend the money on
a talented photographer are rewarded each and every time they look at the art created
by a professional.
