Why a Professional Photographer?
by Sara Valenti
It seems that nowadays, in the digital age, everyone has a friend or family member that dabbles in photography and will offer to photograph your wedding for free or much less than hiring a professional. With the price of wedding photography and having a wedding budget it can be tempting to go this route. Now imagine you do go this route, and hire an amateur photographer for your wedding. This allows you to spend more on food, music, décor, flowers etc. Seems great right? Well then imagine after your wedding, when all is said and done, that you don’t have the quality you wanted in the photos that document your day.
We’ve heard countless stories from couples who had no photos because their photographer’s camera “malfunctioned”or they lost all the digital files because they did not back them up adequately. Or maybe they did get their photos but they were no better than snapshots shot by everyone else. Not that anything is wrong with snapshots, but they won’t ever be what a good professional will deliver. Imagine that the reception photos are dark because the photographer did not know how to handle the dark lighting situation, portraits blurry or poorly composed, formal family photos with glowing red eyes. You get the idea. Good wedding photographers know that your wedding day will only happen once and those photos are the one thing that will live on after all is said and done. They know how to prepare for the unexpected. They know how to work with inconsistent circumstances (lighting, movement, locations), unlike studio photographers who are in a controlled setting. They know how to work in dark reception areas or bright mid day sun. They know which lenses to use, and how to use a mix of flash and natural light. They know how to get the shot while fading into the background and being unnoticed.
Good wedding photographers will recognize and capture all those little details that went into all your planning. They will see when both your parents cry. They will capture that glance when you see your bride or groom for the first time on your wedding day. Often times, we hear that couples are so overwhelmed on their wedding day that they themselves overlooked a lot of things. Not until they see their wedding photos do they notice how great the flowers looked, or how great they looked even! With all the excitement and emotions going on a lot of times people forget everything that went on. When clients see the photos all the memories and emotions come right back and last forever. Good wedding photographers also have a trained eye for composition. Anyone can buy a pro camera, but that does not make them professionals. A pro quality camera (high resolution photo) alone, won’t make up for unprofessional composition. A tree sprouting out of someone’s head, unflattering portraits, and awkward cropping are just a few examples of things pro photographers are trained to see. Wedding photography is an art and it requires skill and planning. Although the wedding photographer should know what photographs to capture, it is sometimes impossible for a wedding photographer to get each an every photo wanted. This is due to reasons beyond the photographer’s control, and because the laws of physics do not allow a person to be in more than one place at any given time. A truly professional photographer understands this and uses the best judgment to get the most valuable shots to each and every individual client!
Why is professional wedding photography so expensive?
by Sara Valenti
Many people ask why wedding photography is so expensive? The most common misconception is that it’s just a days work. There is a lot more that goes into it than most people realize. I’m going to try to break it down and explain why wedding photographers charge as much as they do.
Equipment Cost:
The cost of professional cameras, lenses, flashes, computers, software, media cards, etc. is very high. Photographers are constantly repairing and upgrading their equipment and computers. Image editing software is expensive and has to be upgraded when new versions come out.
Education:
Many photographers have formal photography training and photography degrees. Some spend years assisting other photographers and learning from them before working on their own. Photographers spend years developing and mastering their craft. Many photographers belong to photo associations that have yearly dues. They continually attend seminars, classes, and conferences to keep up with the latest and greatest in the industry.
Commitment to the client:
When a wedding photographer books with the clients there is a lot of planning and preparing for the wedding day. They don’t just show up and hope for the best. Most times, if the ceremony and reception site can be viewed beforehand and if it’s local, the photographer will make a trip to see the location. This helps them plan where they could do the family formals, and couples portraits. They will decide what lenses and lighting they will need, and any other preparations they may need to create the best images possible. The photographer will meet with the client(s) several times before the wedding day to discuss details and planning. They will take the time to answer questions and discuss any concerns. On the wedding day the photographer may have to travel to multiple locations if the ceremony and reception are in different places, or if the “getting ready” shots will be in a different location. Photographers take a beating on the day of the wedding. They have to be on their toes constantly, and ready for anything.
Post Production:
Then there’s the work that goes into after the wedding. The photographer must back up all the files into at least two different locations. This requires costly hard drives or services that provide remote backup. Editing can take two to four hours, depending on the wedding. After editing comes digital post production.This includes digital processing, color correcting each and every image, and any retouching that is necessary. Post production takes a minimum of 5 hours for the smallest wedding, up to 40 hours! Album designs take an additional 5-10 hours and are designed custom for each client. There is then the time involved in actually delivering the images to the client.
Cost of Running a Business:
Just as with any business there is cost involved. Photographers carry liability insurance as well as insurance to cover the cost of their equipment. Websites have to be designed and constantly updated. Listing their services in directories and advertising so clients can find them is extremely expensive. Oh, and don’t forget those accounting costs, taxes, marketing materials, etc.
