photography

I’m a graphic designer and photography is one of my interests. There’s A LOT I want to say about this post but will refrain from it, lol. Photography was on my list for one of the most important vendors that I wanted. I’m splurging, and paying a lot for one. You spend so many months planning, designing, preparing for your wedding...wouldn’t you want quality photos of the best day of your life? Photos that you will cherish forever?

View Quoted Comment It’s really cool that you are pleased with your decisions

Hey Alyssa! I can totally understand your concern with the price... it can get expensive! There are photographers who offer great prices though. I won’t lie, I do have some friends who regret not having pros to document their wedding, and for some, their photos (or lack of) is actually their biggest regret about the wedding. With that being said, pros do take the time to make sure they get photos that you (and possibly even your great grandchildren) will enjoy and cherish for a very long time. You don’t have to get a package worth an arm and a leg, but I would recommend at least getting a pro at a low price. The Thumbtack app is a great way to find pros at competitive prices. I hope this helps!

View Quoted Comment Thank you for contributing

I can understand not wanting an elaborate multi location photo shoot that has become common in today's wedding world. I can not understand disparaging an entire profession, just because it isn't something that is at the top of your priority list.

My daughter started taking interesting photos, in middle school. Her formal education in photography started in high school and then she continued in college with a minor. While she doesn't intend on having a fully professional career as a photographer, her innate skills, formal education, and continuing experience play a very important role in the career she does have. It's notable to point out that she takes very few portraits, pretty much limited to her sister and her dog. She's not a fan, nor particularly good, at action shots. Her strengths are in landscapes and still life photography. She can make a cup of coffee or loaf of bread look beyond delicious. She can also find an interesting tree or object along the side of the road, or arrange a few objects on a table and produce an image that people are willing to pay decent money to get a large print of to hang in their living room.

My point is not only is photography an art, but it is one where different artists have different skills and styles. Unfortunately, too many photographers feel stuck in portraiture, weddings or family pictures for example, because it can pay the bills. You mentioned that you are unimpressed by the work you've seen by local photographers. It's possible that they are just trying to pay the bills and their real talent is in another area.

Ask at a college or even high school art department for a talented student. You're far more likely to find someone who will give you an hour like you've seen to settle on, than a professional. Students generally are more interested in building their portfolios (and getting a bit of cash) than maintaining a profitable business. I suspect that you'll be less disappointed knowing it's student work. You'll also end up with some images that will be valued, if not by you, by your loved ones.

It's quite possible that your fh might appreciate a beautiful portrait of you on your wedding day to keep at his desk/work space, or in his wallet. Men are generally very visual people. That portrait could be a wonderful gift for him, and a potential source of pride.

View Quoted Comment I’m glad you are pleased with your decisions and feel so strongly about photographers

View Quoted Comment Lol thanks

All your MANY details seem a waste if you arent getting a photographer but whatever, that's your prerogative.
Putting down a profession and mocking them is just wrong. Thank goodness vendors aren't allowed on the forums anymore cause, believe it or not, this would be much worse. You should never put down other just to make yourself feel better about your own decisions.

I personally am going to avoid your MANY threads from now on. Hope planning gets better for you.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for contributing your opinions and time

View Quoted Comment Girl your pictures are STUNNING.

View Quoted Comment Curious if you are actually reading what people are writing or if you are just giving, unnecessary, genetic responses to us.

I do hope that you don't waste your time trying to find a professional who will come for an hour. Finding a student willing to do so will be easier.

View Quoted Comment Every word read

thank you for asking

The disrespect and dramatics of this post and the OP's responses is shocking.

You asked a question, we answered. You got a crapload of slack because of how utterly insulting you were, but no one is forcing you to hire a photographer.

If you don't want one, don't hire one. It's not anyone's wedding but yours and your SO. You might regret it later but its 100% YOUR CHOICE.

Move on.

I really hope for the sake of future memories that you change your mind. As someone who is recently married let me tell you, the day goes by so fast! People are all over the place. You can not count on a family member to be there to capture moments that you want to capture. Plus like many others have said there is a major difference between a person snapping a pic with their iPhone and a professional with proper equipment. professionals use something called bounce flash, meaning the flash isn’t pointed directly at you, meaning no shadows, no face washout and much better lighting. Plus they are trained and have studied how to use natural lighting to make the photo amazing. I get so annoyed when people judge what you’re paying for as just the time the photographer is at the wedding (I.e $1500 for 8 hours is just outrageous or comments like that). There is countless hours the photographer spends behind the scenes after the wedding to make your photos perfect and package them in a high resolution format for quality printing. Good luck getting anything close to these types of quality photos with family photographers.

Yes, I do think a few of your supporting statements for your stance on "no photographer" in your original post are rude. A professional photographer does more than click a button. It's not a matter of your family being intelligent or not...quality photography is a skill and an art. Just because you don't see the point in hiring one for your wedding, that doesn't mean you should be discrediting the amount of work and talent it takes to be a photographer. Go photograph a wedding, hold your photos up against a professional's from the same event, and tell me you REALLY don't see a difference.

That being said, some of my favorite shots from my wedding are pictures that guests took! Here's the problem: the photo quality itself isn't there. If people are taking pictures on phones, tablets, or even low quality cameras, you won't be able to edit anything about the photos without graininess showing, and even as 4x6 prints they won't be clear. It can be really disappointing to get an awesome picture and then not really be able to do anything with it.

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much!!! The venue was this breathtaking 1920s manor so there were so many cool spots!

View Quoted Comment I could not agree more

thank you for contributing

My very very frugal (read: cheap) mother's biggest regret about her second wedding was that she didn't hire a photographer. The first thing she asked after I told her FH and I were engaged was: Are you hiring a photographer??

It was never a question of if we should, but who we should.

View Quoted Comment I’m really glad you’re happy with your pictures

View Quoted Comment Thank you for sharing and contributing

i apologize for any offense given