Warwickshire Photographer
This is a short article on my philosophy on wedding photography and why I think photography is very important. Henri Cartier-Bresson a noted photographer in the 1930s through 1950s summed it up for me perfectly;
“We photographers deal in things which are constantly vanishing, and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. We cannot develop and print a memory.”
Groomsmen at Weddington Church
Do I even need a photographer?
In the digital age, photography is so accessible, cameras are available everywhere, on our phones, tiny ones that will fit in our pockets and consumer cameras are more advanced than ever. Some couples ask themselves “Do I need a professional wedding photographer?”, my answer to this is categorically yes.
Of course I would say that, I am a photographer, so let me explain why it is so important.
Why do I need a photographer?
For most of us, our wedding costs more than anything else in our life, short of buying a house. It takes months of our time to plan, and often our savings to fund. It is normal to spend thousands on a venue, hundreds or in some cases even thousands on a dress. It doesn’t stop there either, there are the suits, food, music, bands, table decorations, flowers, cakes, cars… The list is huge and the expense can be massive.
Photography is often an after thought for many couples, it is often the last thing on the list to arrange. For some it is seen as unnecessary, or one more expense they could do without.
The irony of this is that all those things that have cost so much, and have been planned with such love and energy; the venue, the dress, the beautiful flowers, the table decorations, that first dance are fleeting moments. Once the day is gone, and trust me it will fly by so fast as wonderful days always do, they will almost all be nowhere but in your memory.
Preserve your own history
There are really only two enduring things from your wedding, your marriage and your photographs. Everything else will be gone or put away
I don’t need a professional, I can ask my friend with a camera to help.
Many wedding photographers started by shooting a friends wedding, myself included. Because of this I realise what a huge responsibility and pressure it is. Whilst achieveable there are many reasons why an amateur can never compete with a pro. Pro photographers have advanced equipment that allows them get a higher quality of image as well as the training and experience to ensure the day goes smoothly and your memories are preserved in a visual form. Most photographers have likely to have invested at least £5000 upwards in equipping themselves to ensure they are able to record that fleeting moment in time. Few realise as well that one day of photography can easily require 4 days of editing to get the pictures ready.
Pro printing techniques are also far higher quality, ensuring that prints and albums last a lifetime, as opposed to some high street printers which may be faded within 5 years. Some prefer a CD of images, but again CDs get scratched, technology moves on and is regularly made obsolete in our fast paced advancing world.
So before you make a decision on a wedding photographer ask yourself in 30 years time, would you like for you and your grandchildren be looking at an album of your special day? Reminiscing about the guests, the fashions and how beautiful the flowers were, or will your day be held in memory only? We spend so much on our special day so why let it disappear? I know what I would prefer.
I can add to this excellent post confirming that I too have had friends get an uncle to photograph their wedding with his new digital camera to have them come out blurred. People forget when they ask you to photography a wedding its just not on the day you are working. I spend hours processing images. When you employ a photographer he is in fact working for you for over a week. You just don’t see him sat in front of his colour calibrated computer monitor using hundreds of pounds worth of software and the many hours expereence it has taken to get to be able to do this. The friend above had only three images from a possible 627 photographs that they were able to print. Only then do you realise that you will never really be able to sit down together in the future and see your day.
This is so right, an excellent post which highlights the worth of a true professional photographer.
I was recently asked by someone I vaguely know, if I would photograph their wedding for them. Not having done weddings before I started looking into what’s required to do a professional job.
Before long I called them back and told them for something so important they needed someone with proper experience to do it. I do portrait photography. Weddings require a whole different skill set.
It was clear they just thought all they needed was a bloke with a camera. Which is a bit like deciding you’re going to travel around the world and all you need is a bloke with a landrover and you’ll pay his petrol costs
Really good article Matt. I believe this is the hardest things these days trying to make brides understand the need to hire someone that can do the job Properly.
Thanks Matthew.
I think its a big challenge in the day of digital where the perception is that it’s quick and easy. Photography is a lot more work than people realise and taking a photo is easy, taking a great photo isn’t so easy. Taking lot’s of great photos takes skill, experience and training. I always try to explain that, some people get the concept, others never seem to.
I have never got married myself but it must be a horrible realisation after the day has passed if the photographs aren’t what you expected. I know if I ever get married (hope so) that I will make good photography a priority over cheapest price.
Don’t get me wrong either, I am still relatively new, with only a few years experience so I am careful to explain that. I have even helped couples find the right photographer where I didn’t feel we were “right for each other”.