Couples who are getting married often ask “is wedding photography worth it?” It’s understandable that when it comes to wedding planning you start totting up the costs involved, you start to look at what to prioritise in terms of where to spend your budget.

However when it comes to capturing your wedding day, there are some very good reasons why wedding photography isn’t the place to skimp. Whilst a friend or relative might have offered to take some photos with their fancy new camera, there are numerous reasons why hiring a professional wedding photographer is really important. And in the end, might save you time and a lot of disappointment.

The benefits of hiring a wedding photographer

1. There is more to wedding photography than an expensive camera

A well-meaning friend might have offered to cover your wedding photography for you. They’ve recently bought an expensive new camera and can’t wait to try it out, while saving you some money into the bargain! However, this is one of those scenarios where if something sounds too good to be true, it generally is.

Remember that In the same way an artist uses a brush, the camera is just the tool: the important thing is how the person uses it, and that is what makes all the difference. You probably wouldn’t allow your friend who enjoys a bit of DIY to build your house: instead you’d look for someone with years of experience and a lot of good reviews. The same applies to wedding photography: whilst your friend might mean well, the biggest day of your life isn’t the time to start leaving things in the hands of amateurs. You want someone who not only knows how to use a camera, but who also understands lighting conditions, shooting in different weather, how to get the best out of their subjects, how to help you pose, and how to execute and compose different shots. This is
where the knowledge and experience of a professional wedding photographer really comes into its own.

Also, remember that the photography on the day is only one part of a wedding photographer’s job: afterwards comes the selecting, editing, and creating your album. Again, the best person to do this for you (with stunning results) is a professional wedding photographer.

2. Wedding photographers make people feel at ease

Professional wedding photographers have years of experience when it comes to making people feel at ease, and this is such an important part in capturing the best possible photos of people. We take time to get to know the couple and make sure we’re all on the same page in terms of photography style, the important people you want to capture, and the moments of the day that mean the most to you. A wedding photographer will also take time to understand your personality- if you’re shy in front of the camera or have any concerns, we will always do our best to put you at ease.

A professional wedding photographer is also an expert when it comes to dealing with your guests. We know how to get the best out of people and are logistical organisers as well as photo takers! We’ll help ensure that all those special people are captured enjoying your day, and we’ll make you all feel comfortable and natural: no stiff and awkward photos here!

When you and your guests feel at ease with your wedding photographer, you will relax and enjoy your day more. And this will come across in your photos too.

3. A professional wedding photographer takes the hard work away from you

From getting to know your venue to understanding the running order of your day, a wedding photographer’s skills extend far beyond just pointing a camera.

We do our homework when it comes to your venue: we may already know it well from having worked there in the past, but even if we don’t we will take the time to find the best settings, backdrops, and angles, all of which is so important when it comes to capturing stunning photos.

We’ll also take time to understand the running order of your day to make sure we capture all the key moments so you don’t miss a thing.

Having confidence in your photographer is so important: you won’t want to be having to find them every time a key moment is happening- you need someone who understands your day and how to get the very best images possible of everything that is happening. If you opt to use an amateur photographer instead, the chances are you’ll end up running around trying to organise everything yourself, which is the last thing you want on your wedding day!

4. Your wedding photography is the lasting memory of your day

Once the wedding is over there is then the excitement about seeing your wedding photos, a chance to relive it all again while seeing moments of the day you may have missed. You don’t want to risk being disappointed when you see your photos for the first time. 

When the big day is over, your wedding photography is the lasting memory of your day- the photos you’ll show to your friends, children, and grandchildren. It’s important that you’re happy with these memories, and they make you smile every time you look at them. This is why choosing the right wedding photographer is so important: you don’t want to look back and wish you spent a bit more on a professional photographer whose work you really loved. 

Think of your wedding photographer as more of an investment. Whilst your cake will be eaten and your flowers will die, your wedding photography will last forever. When you see your beautiful wedding photos for the first time and relive your special day, you’ll know it was worth hiring a professional wedding photographer.

5. You only have one chance to capture your special day

Probably the most important point of all: you only have one chance to capture your wedding day. If the person doing your wedding photography misses important moments, makes a mistake, or even worse doesn’t turn up at all, then you don’t have a second chance to capture those all important photos.

If you reduced the budget on your cake or your favours, it’s unlikely that anyone would notice. But your wedding photos are the memories that will last a lifetime, and you’ll never have a chance to recreate those special moments again. With this in mind, make sure you hire a professional wedding photographer who you can rely on to create the stunning images you deserve.

If you have any questions about hiring a professional wedding photographer, I would be more than happy to have a chat and help in any way I can. I’m a wedding photographer in Cheshire and North Wales, and my aim is always to make your day as perfect as I can.