Why Should You Hire A Pro Photographer For Your Wedding ,Event Or Brand Photography?
This is the million dollar question of the photography world!! Well, in a nutshell….it all depends on how much you value looking at and using quality produced images! We’ve all seen great photographs that were taken by non-professionals, so you’re probably thinking why even bother? And….quite simply the answer boils down to CONSISTENCY! Anyone can strike it lucky and create a good looking image every now and then, but if you want consistent good imagery, it’s time to hire a pro. Don’t get me wrong, there are heaps of amazing amateur photographers, some can even be as good as if not better than a pro, but finding these guys is like mining for gold. It’s also likely that these guys won’t have the sufficient insurance to cover them. They also won’t be able to quickly adapt to changeable situations, such as change in light etc. As a pro photographer I have experience capturing weddings and know what shots to take and when. You can have confidence knowing that I will be getting on with the job whilst you can go ahead worry free and enjoy your day. The need for still photography in this day and age has become an increasing necessity for both personal clients and businesses alike. It’s estimated that 80% of marketers use visual in their social media marketing, with 35% saying that this is the most important part of their marketing campaigns. As a professional alternative documentary photographer, I have the teccy knowhow and familiarity for the job requirements.
Why Skills Matter
I’ve often said that there are 2 different types of photographers. There’s the technical ones and then there’s the creative ones, but in reality, to be creative you need to know the technical. You need to understand how your camera can make your photography work for you. It’s about understanding how the camera sees in comparison to the eye, and a good photographer will be able to execute their vision effectively. I very rarely have to worry about making technical decisions, because I have already subconsciously done this. This in turn, leaves me free to focus on what I want to focus on. Less skilled photographers will not be so adaptable if a unexpected variation at your event occurs. The skilled dudes will be able to pull off excellent images regardless of the variables of your event. You could even describe it as a ‘visual solution provider’. Every photography service has challenges, and hiring a professional photographer will provide a solution to your photography to make it work for you.
Painting With Light
PHOTOGRAPHY translated is literally painting with light. You wouldn’t pick up a paintbrush for the first time and be expected to create a masterpiece, so learning to use a camera is pretty much the same. One of the key elements here is understanding light in all forms (natural, artificial, low light etc). It can change literally in the blink of an eye. When photographing weddings, more often than not, you are not allowed to use flash in the church, so we need equipment and knowhow that can allow to capture images without the use of flash so that it doesn’t result in a blurry or dark image. If you’re shooting products/subjects in the studio, again, understanding the light is a must so that you don’t take images that end up creating casting shadows etc. This is a combo of technical knowhow and professional grade equipment. It takes time, training and lots of artistic knowledge of both equipment and creativity to produce the finest quality images. I can also anticipate what will happen next. When shooting weddings I understand how the day flows, so you can be at total ease knowing that I have already sussed out the perfect location for the bride and groom portraits.
Strike a pose
Most people will say at some point ‘I don’t like having my photo taken’, this is not uncommon. This is why couples like my relaxed alternative documentary style of photography. Most of it is natural and un-posed, but there will be parts of the day that require slightly more formal images to be taken and this is also fine. I want you to feel at total ease with me, I aim to make you feel so comfortable that you’ll almost forget that I’m there to do a job. Portraits don’t have to be stiff and formal, I aim to make them fun and enjoyable, and if you are at ease, this should be reflected in your images.
Investment
Great photography shouldn’t be viewed as an expense, but rather an investment. Once your wedding or event is over you still have the excitement that is viewing your images for the first time. This will give you the chance to re-live your day all over again and will make your event/service look the amazing ‘do’ it truly was. For businesses It will take your company and show it in the best light. You only have to look at all the well known brands and their imagery. They spend thousands upon thousands on their images simply because they know it works!
You know you’re on to a winning combo when….
Both you and your photographer get totally excited talking about all the small details of your day. Upon first meeting, I instantly know if I ‘click’ with my couples which is great. I love to chat about everything weddings, so feel free to tell me everything about your plans for your big day. After all, the more I know about your wedding the more prepared I will be to capture all the details. At the end of the day though, you need to go with your initial gut feelings, so If you have any slight niggles, you really must contact your photographer. This all goes back to feeling at ease, and if you’re feeling at ease, you’ll have lots of wonderful images.
Questions to ask the photographer
If you’re thinking of hiring a specific photographer its best to do a little bit of research and stalking on their previous work galleries. You should ask to check out their previous events and decide if their style suits your needs. Choosing the wrong photographer could result in you making decisions that aren’t always in keeping with your original ideas for your big day or personal branding for businesses. After all, you will potentially be paying for their services and it won’t be through any fault of the photographer themselves if you’re not both working on the same page. You should also ask the essential what if’s, like what if I fall ill (its never happened yet!) or there’s an emergency, or maybe the hard drive fails??I ALWAYS have a plan B. You can check out my FAQ’s to find out some answers to these types of questions www.dollfacefoto.com/FAQ
