This is why you need to hire a professional photographer for your wedding!
You wouldn't believe the crazy stuff that happens at weddings. Really, you wouldn't.
But one thing that everyone KNOWS happens at weddings is... the unexpected.
Stay with me here...
Let's pretend you have a cousin who has a cool camera with a couple removable lenses. He takes pretty cool photos of his laptop on his back deck (the ones where the grass behind it is all blurry - so cool!). Your cousin says he'll photograph your wedding for free (or worse, he charges you). You might think you're getting a great deal and you're super excited to see your photos, and then - bam - it happens. You hate them. How did this happen? He's so good at the blurry-grass photos. Cue the sad music.
Chances are that things happened at the wedding that he didn't expect. We've been shooting weddings for YEARS and things STILL happen that we don't expect. It's knowing how to handle those unexpected things that makes or breaks you. Or in this case, breaks your wedding. Ouch.
What could possibly go wrong?
Even when things go right... 100% right and we have everything under control... Things happen that we aren't prepared for. For instance... I shot a wedding that was flawless. No trouble, no mistakes... it was perfect. Check out this little issue: Limos are tight spaces that hold a lot of people. This wedding party was big and they were having so much fun on the limo ride to the reception that I knew the couple would want to remember this ride.
UNEXPECTED: My camera lens is not wide enough to take photos INSIDE the limo. Look at this gorgeous bridal party. I mean, wouldn't it be so cool if I could see all of them???
Well, I *don't* have the equipment (and even if I did own that kind of lens, I wouldn't have had time to switch it out because brides are usually in a huge rush to party!) but what I know I *do* have are some seriously experienced Photoshop skills. I took a series of photos over the course of 3-5 seconds and was able to create this:
Before and After:
Pretty cool, huh?
Could they have done without a photo in the limo? Yes.
Could they have done without ANY photos? Yes.
Could they have done without the limo, the flowers and the dress? Yes.
But couples choose these things for a reason. They LIKE these things. They want to remember these things. Having a good photographer to capture all of the time (and money) that you put into your wedding will allow you to relive these moments as they actually happened... online, in albums and hanging on your walls in gorgeous prints and canvases... not squinting through blurry and off-color photos on some unprofessional cousin's SD card that he gave you in a Ziplock-baggy. Get it?
What I'm trying to say is this...
When you are hiring someone to be with you on your wedding day, you are trusting them with moments that you can't ever get back. You can't ever recreate or relive these moments... don't just think about price! In fact, price should be the LAST thing you think of.
How do I find a good professional?
Google. Go to page 2. Hey, go to page 10 if you have to! Find a few photographers that fit your style and your personality... reach out to them. Talk to them. Find people you TRUST. And then narrow it down by what you have for an investment.
When all is said and done, you're left with 4 really awesome things from your wedding:
1. Your spouse <3
2. Your rings
3. The memories in your head
4. The memories in your photo album that can be shared for lifetimes
Portland Photo Co.
