Congratulations! If you’re reading this, there’s a solid chance that you are engaged and debating whether or not a professional wedding photographer is really worth it! Considering wedding planning is such an extensive process and everyone has a budget in place, questions will start swirling on where you could cut costs. Even though the new iPhones have tremendous image quality or you may have a friend that recently got a new Nikon for Christmas, we’re here today to tell you why a professional wedding photographer is one of the best investments you can make!
Before getting into the specifics, I would like to provide you with a quick introduction. My name is Ian Ramirez and I serve as the venue director at Madera Estates in Conroe, TX. We are a Spanish and European inspired event space that takes pride in making the entire planning process as seamless as possible. Having been in the industry for a few years now, I’ve been honored to have had the opportunity to work with many talented photographers! Seeing them work on-site instantly reveals that wedding photography is more than just an expensive camera. It’s a skill that truly comes from years of experience and hardwork. Not to mention, seeing the breathtaking photos after the weddings also makes that question a no-brainer. With that said, let’s get into a few of the reasons why a professional wedding photographer is a MUST.
Less stress on the big day
Planning a wedding can be stressful! It’s as simple as that! Remember though, if you truly want this to be the best day ever, you can’t let that stress spill into the wedding day itself! Simply put, a professional
wedding photographer will ease a lot of your concerns when it comes to capturing every single moment. With years of experience under their belt, they’ll know what shots make up a perfect wedding album. They will understand where they should be at all times to ensure they can capture these moments and you won’t have to worry about a single thing! You’ll enjoy every minute of your wedding and take their advice on what backdrops or lighting will create those picture-perfect moments!
Knowing the in’s and out’s of camera equipment
Our next point is going to piggyback off something we briefly mentioned in the opening paragraph. “Just because someone has a nice DSLR camera doesn’t necessarily mean they know how to use it.” One of the biggest benefits of hiring a professional is they know how to truly unlock the complete potential of these specialized cameras. Paying for a professional provides you with access to all of this, as well as having someone that has a variety of lenses and other gear in their arsenal. They’ll know what devices will work best in different environments. And when it comes to venues with both outdoor and indoor settings (like Madera Estates), this equipment knowledge is invaluable! All in all, a camera is a tool and it’s the person using it, that truly creates these beautiful works of art!
Just one chance
If you hire an amateur plumber, electrician or any other service provider, you can always correct their mistakes. Yes, it might be an inconvenience and headache at the time, but it can be fixed! When it comes to your wedding day, this is a “one chance” opportunity. If you don’t get a shot of cutting the cake, there’s no do-overs. You have this one chance to capture all of those amazing moments from the big day! Sounds like a lot of pressure, but don’t forget that this is what these professionals do for a living. There’s a reason new couples keep paying them to photograph their weddings. In the end, when selecting your photographer, make sure you have complete confidence in them and have seen some of their prior work. Remember, photos are something you’ll treasure forever!
Back-up plan
Any time you’re dealing with technology, it’s critical to have a back-up plan. Given the point that we just mentioned about this being a “one chance” opportunity, all professional photographers should have a back-up plan for these “what if” scenarios. You never know when a battery will die early, they could drop their camera or anything else that’s technical in nature could go wrong. As I’m sure the awesome team at Melonhead Photo would agree, professional photographers will always have extra cameras, lenses, batteries, memory cards and anything else that goes into their standard gear. With this in mind, it’ll make it much easier for you to relax, knowing that you have plenty of beautiful photos to look forward to!
Personally speaking, this is one of the most incredible qualities I’ve observed from photographers here at Madera. Weddings move quickly and there’s always something going on. Being able to see some of these surprises pop up out of nowhere and noticing how the photographers already know what their next move is continues to amaze me! Preparation is everything!
For example, compare this topic to an amateur photographer. Chances are if a camera were to break mid-wedding, you very well could end up with an album half-filled with iPhone pictures. Probably not what you envisioned?
Let your friends enjoy the celebration
Typically, the alternative to hiring a professional photographer is to have a friend or relative perform these duties. At this point in the article, you’ve likely started to realize putting an amateur in charge of these duties can be a risky choice! Yet another reason arguing for a pro is the fact that you probably want your friends to join in on the celebration too, right? After all, why would you have invited them to your wedding in the first place? In addition, there’s likely going to be some moments where they’re sidetracked chatting with another friend or relative, even though something else is going on that should probably be captured!
In the end, the last thing you want to arise from your wedding day is a strained relationship with one of your closest pals. When hiring a friend, you run the risk of them holding a grudge for working for free or you not being able to tell them that you’re just not happy with the results. Again, not necessarily a win-win situation!
You get what you pay for
We’ve all heard the statement, “you get what you pay for!” Frankly, when it comes to wedding photography, this couldn’t be more spot on! Going with a professional all but ensures you’ll receive amazing results! This can be said for just about every vendor you would hire in the wedding industry. Caterers, florists, videographers, DJ’s, you name it! Yes, it will require an investment. At the same time though, we feel confident in saying it will make a massive difference and be well worth it! Plus, there is a contract involved when working with a professional, so delivering these amazing photos isn’t really an option for them!
Still Need Your Dream Venue?
Did you recently get engaged and are trying to figure out the best first step for planning your dream day? Considering most venues book up more than a few months in advance, we strongly recommend getting some tours scheduled and finalizing your venue early on. This is a perfect way for not only seeing if the venue can match the backdrop you envisioned for your big day, but also provide some suggestions for the other vendors involved in a wedding. If you ever want to take a look around our venue in Conroe, we would be happy to show you the area and answer any questions you may have! Don’t hesitate to book a free champagne tour HERE.
I would like to give you a huge thanks to the awesome team at Melonhead Photo for allowing us to hop on their blog for this guest post. If you’re looking for a talented team of photographers for your wedding, look no further!
About the Author
Ian Ramirez serves as the Venue Director of Madera Estates, a Spanish and European inspired luxury wedding and event venue located in Conroe, TX. The architecturally-stunning and beauty that is Madera Estates, takes inspiration and visions from the historic town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, an artist’s haven and UNESCO World Heritage Site. An oasis of lush landscaping, guests are immediately transported from the piney woods of Southeastern Texas to the breathtaking and luscious highlands of Central Mexico.
A native of The Woodlands, TX, Mr. Ramirez graduated Summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in music. He has received awards from the National Opera Association and a Career Opportunity Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission. In 2018, Ian was named the Man of the Year through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign, as well as PR Luxury Media’s Do-Gooder of the Year. Most recently, he was named Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.
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