Why a Professional Photographer vs a Family Friend?

After all the months of preparation, your wedding day will likely float by in a breeze of euphoria and excitement. As lovely as that seems, it is also likely that you won't remember everything. That is where a professional photographer can capture all those special moments that you both will savor forever.

I have been getting a ton of potential clients saying they are going to have a family friend do their photos. That is great however, will this family friend be there by your side the entire day or stop to take breaks, chat or drink with the rest of the crowd? Professionals are paid for a reason and they are there to do a job. These are moments you can't ever take back.

Does this family friend have all the proper lighting equipment, lenses and expertise available for all situations?

Does this family friend know about design, composition, and can they provide you with the many professional printing products that a hired photographer can?

Make sure you are not just hiring this photographer because they have paid $800 + on a new camera and they want to practice on your once in a life time wedding day. I will repeat...you can never get those exact moments back to preserve them for a lifetime.


When hiring a professional photographer...

The photographer you choose should have your vision, whether it be candid (photojournalism) or formal shots or a combination of many. April Spaulding does both. You may choose color photography to preserve all the hues of your flowers and decorations or you might love black and white images for their crisp and classic look. Maybe it is something in between! Part color and black and white. No worries! April Spaulding has the graphic design and expertise to do both. Maybe you are an artist yourself or just have a love for artisic images. We can sit down with you and decide on images and design that suits your tastes.

Some things to think about during your photographer interview:

• Ask to see an album of an entire wedding. If you look at just a portfolio, you are seeing shots from all sorts of different weddings (the best ones) so you are not getting a realistic view of hte photographer's ability.

• How many FULL weddings has this photographer done. Ask for references! You DO NOT want to take a chance on a once in a life time experience on a photographer who has not done but 2 weddings and one partial. There are so many things that could arise during the event and you want someone who has had experience to handle the many situations. Is this person great with people, groups and stressful situations. Sometimes if you don't ask, they won't tell.

• Definitely pay attention to the style, lighting, sharpness, color quality, vividness and composition. Your photographer has to suit your style, not the other way around. Each one has their own way they shoot and if it is not for you...search for another photographer. Do not base your choice solely on price as you will not be getting what you want in the end. This is your memories you are dealing with...not a piece of clothing on a rack at Walmart vs. ShopKo. Photographer's are artists!

• If you look at a photographer's work that only shoots indoor shots and you are having an outdoor wedding...ask to see outdoor shots...if there are none. Walk away.

One of the best planning tip books and organizers that I recommend to many brides is "The Brides's Essential Wedding Planner, Deluxe Edition" by Amy Nebens. It rocks! Comes in binder so you can ad pages, magazines, business cards etc. It has a pockets in each section to keep receipts or important items and keepsakes. If you book a wedding with me by May 1, 2009 I will include this planner as a thank you as I know it will be a valuable tool in planning your special day!