Should I Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer?

There are so many choices when you are planning your wedding: Should you select a professional wedding photographer or opt for someone who charges less but can’t meet you until the day of your wedding? Here are some points to consider:

perplexed woman looking right Pixqbay

Hey, Christie!

We are so excited! We are getting married at Ainsworth House & Gardens and we can’t wait!

You have been so helpful in planning our wedding. You are great at answering questions. Thanks!!!

 

OK, I have a tough question: Should we hire a professional wedding photographer or let one of our guests take the photos instead of giving us a wedding present? Or hire someone who is building their portfolio and develop the film ourselves?

I appreciate your thoughts.

–Anna-Michelle, Flustered in Forest Grove, Oregon

Hey, Anna-Michelle!

We love collaborating with you two too! You are going to have an amazing wedding!

That’s a great question and I am happy to share my thoughts.

Newly weds in Oregon City
blown glass sculpture at Ainsworth House & Gardens

1. Should you hire someone building their portfolio, pay them to take photos, give them a thumb drive to download digital photos, and develop the film at a photo store?

While in the past, wedding photographers used primarily film which needed developing, there are professionals who use a combination of digital and film now and those who only use one or the other.

Depending on whom you hire and which cameras that person uses will determine how you get the photos—download digital photos to the thumb drive and/or develop film.

How would you go about finding a photographer?

In discussing this with our team, Kathy, one of writers, shared her story:

She called the head of the photography department at the local community college and got a recommendation for one of the students excelling at wedding photography. The two met. The woman showed her portfolio and they discussed what kinds of photos Kathy wanted.

At the wedding, Kathy paid the woman for her time and took the film to be developed at Photo Mat, a drive through kiosk.

I should pause here. Kathy is an auburn haired, green-eyed, and has a substantial number of freckles. In college, she competed in volleyball so she is a “svelte Celt.”

Photo Mat mixed up her photos with a bride who was raven haired and as the comedian Gabriel Iglesias puts it “fluffy.” While Kathy married in an art gallery with a grand piano, the other wedding was in a backyard decorated with one too many piñatas for Kathy’s preference. Yeah, these weren’t Kathy’s photos…

Kathy returned the photos and finally got hers back.

The photos were nicely taken and Kathy was happy with the results. She saved quite a bit of money and figured it was a success!

2. Should you let a guest take the photos in lieu of giving you a wedding present?

a. If the guest is a professional wedding photographer and you like the person’s work, that’s a great solution!

Newlyweds holding hands at Wedding Venue in Oregon City

The photographer’s gift might be their time and you might need to pay for the thumb drive to download digital photos and might need to pay for the development of any photos but that’s up to you all.

b. If the guest is not a professional photographer but has taken photos at a wedding, check out their work. If you like what you see, then proceed if you wish to.

c. If the guest has no experience, be careful. The person’s heart might be in the right place but if their skill isn’t up to the task of taking photos you will have for your lifetime, consider all the options before proceeding.

Newlyweds in the grove at the Ainsworth House

3. Are there reasons to hire a professional wedding photographer?

Yes. You want a professional whose experience and skills will get the stunning photos you want.

If you’d like to learn more about what you should ask a professional wedding photographer before you hire them, see our next blog post.

If you have questions, let me know.

Your friend in the wedding business,

Christie Shyne

Oregon City Wedding on the Front Lawn at Ainsworth House & Gardens!

The title image is courtesy of Pixabay.com.

All other images are from weddings at the Ainsworth House & Gardens wedding venues.

© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

Best of Weddings Hall of Fame Award Logo from The Knot
Ainsworth Pine Garden wedding pink bridesmaids
Wedding at Ainsworth House & Gardens at which officieant stands to the side.