Booking a Photographer
A skilfully photographed wedding album will be one of the most adored and precious items that is kept and loved many years after your wedding day. As well as conveying the emotions, romance and humour of the day, they are a testament to your relationship. Needless to say, such an important part of your lives should be captured by a highly qualified professional wedding photographer.
Why should I even bother booking a photographer when my Uncle Harry has a great camera?
Remember, its not the great camera that takes the photo, its the photographer. Although a friend or family member may be a great amateur photographer, they will not have the experience, equipment or knowledge of a professional photographer. Quality wedding photography does not happen by chance. It is created by a specialised professional who has a creative eye and a genuine love of people and wedding photography. Your photographer will also need to co-ordinate the flow of the day, know all the types of shots that need taking and must be able to do all of this in variable weather and sometimes difficult time constraints.
A specialist wedding photographer can provide a fantastic story telling role and will be able to help you before during and after the day. Before you dismiss the thought of using a professional photographer for financial reasons, perhaps look at ways you may be able to afford one. You may be able to re-prioritise the wedding budget, or you could ask guests to provide money towards the photography as a gift.
Why does wedding photography cost this much?
Professional photography is expensive because of labour and material costs. Good professional photographers also use professional equipment, albums an books and unlike amateur products, these are higher in cost. There is the photographers high overheads and their time to consider. Even though you may only see them for about 15 hours before, during and after the day, they will also spend at least 40 to 60 hours producing your album. You really though, are paying for the value of a photographers style, experience, qualifications and expertise and not just for time, materials and overheads
This information has been supplied by the AIPPs new Certified Professional Photographer program in the interests of better photography.
