Pro/Amateur Wedding Photographer?

I agree, use a pro. After the wedding, you'll want quality photos to look at and remember the day.

Hire a pro! Please don't use family and friends as vendors. It causes more problems than anything else.

I personally would hire a professional. I haven't hired a photographer yet, but I initially considered doing amateur photography. However, I realized (like you're saying) that's this is a once in a life time deal. These moments need to be captured and they need to be captured with beautiful, professional pictures that you can look back on forever!

Please hire a professional. If you can only afford someone for three hours of your day, I think that's fine. While there are certainly couples out there that rely on guest and friend photos, there's no replacing someone whose job it is to capture your grandma watching you walk down the aisle, or the look on your husband's face after your first kiss.

Everyone starts somewhere (I did). But your wedding day photos is not a place to gamble. Even if you're considering a photographer with a little less experience, hopefully they have SOME experience with weddings. They are formal events, high paced, high stress, and there are no do-overs. Make sure to see FULL GALLERIES (not just portfolio highlights) of a photographer's work/events. It's worth the splurge... it's often one of a couple's biggest splurges, and with good reason. Keep giving your husband good reasons why this is one area to splurge! Cut back on other expenses if you need to (favors, programs, decor, flowers, etc.).

His sister should be a guest, not a vendor. I feel that the photographer is THE MOST important vendor you will hire. Do not try to save cost here, hire the best you can find! Cut costs elsewhere!!

Go pro! This is only one day and you can't redo it. You don't want to take the chance of someone without experience which is why you pay higher. Your also paying for their time and editing.

Atleast have a pro until after the first dance.

I agree with each and every one of you; I feel bad asking his sister to take pictures instead of being able to enjoy the wedding. I've explained myself multiple times, but he doesn't want to budge.

Have any of you actually had an amateur? I'm looking to hear about what their experiences were like.

Go with a pro. Explain the importance of having each of your family and friends be true guests at the wedding. You want his sister and family friend enjoying themselves, the meal, the dancing, etc. without having to worry about capturing moments, and you don't want to be mad at these people if they didn't capture a moment you wanted.

A professional vendor with a contract can be held accountable. Their job is to photograph, not to enjoy the party (of course you want to be a good client to work for so treat them well). If you have friendors such as your FSIL or family friend take photos, they don't get to enjoy the day as an honored guest.

Oh my goodness please use a professional. I attended a wedding where the couple wanted to save money and hired a semi-professional. The semi-professional dropped and shattered her camera and of course, she did not have a back-up camera. This was before smart phones so the only photos the couple ended up with were the photos from the disposable cameras they had placed on the reception tables. As you can imagine, most of those pictures ended up being taken by children or were people goofing around. She still regrets the decision not to hire a professional!

Hire a professional! You can cut corners in other areas of your budget, but you should not rely on an amateur to give you the same quality and professionalism of a pro photographer. You'll have these pictures forever and you should make sure they're done right. What if you don't like how the pics turn out if his sister takes them...will you feel comfortable speaking up without causing family drama?! If you don't already of e-pics maybe a good compromise would be to have his sister take them for you, but hire a pro for your big day!

Pro. Don't skimp here.

@OP as to your second question, my friends hired a recent art school graduate from MICA (their wedding was in Baltimore), but the guy still had a portfolio built up and had shot a few weddings already. Not sure if that counts as an amateur. But it is also a huge risk.

Honestly, after food, venue, and alcohol, photography is the largest line item in our budget. Find places in other areas to cut so you can afford quality photos.

Have you tried the approach of, it's not fair to his sister to make her work on your wedding day? Also, don't voluntell her/guilt her into agreeing to take photos. And if she offers, you should decline.

Pro for sure!!!! These are pictures that you will be lookin back on for the rest of your life. If you have an amateur do it and they don't turn out how you wanted, you will regret it and you can never get that day back.

And if your budget is low, then just get a basic package of First Look, Family Formals, Ceremony, Special Dances, toasts, and maybe cake cutting. The photographer only has to stay for 1-3 songs to get action shots of people partying. After that, it all looks the same.

Go with a pro for all the reasons already stated.

I feel like you could find a pro with longer coverage if you keep looking. Ours is $1450 for 7 hours and I'm in So Cal where prices are high.

Wedding photos are so extremely important, at least for me they are. I'm having a professional do mine. In a way she is also a friend. I did some fun photo sessions with her a few years back, and she's done my brothers senior photos. She'll be doing our engagements, and is very excited to be doing our wedding. She gave me a little discount because I'm a returning customer and friend, but I trust her so much when it comes to my wedding photos and that's what is important. Do you want cheap and "good" pictures or spend some money for "amazing" pictures.

Not to mention his sister (FSIL) should be ENJOYING the day with you.

Thanks everyone for replying to my question, but once again, I am in favor of hiring a pro, FH is not. I am asking for experiences from those who have hired an amateur. I have explained myself multiple times to him, and he is still not on board with the whole idea. I understand that having a pro is absolutely worth it, but I'm still looking to hear from those who hired an amateur, if any.

@CoffeeNColor I have brought that up in discussion once before, but I can try it again to see if he'll budge, but I'm scared he won't. What's crazy is my parents don't even think that a professional photographer for $1,000 is worth it, but obviously I do... it seems like I'm the only one for it.

You should stand up more for yourself. If the amateur delivers bad pictures, wouldn't you blame your FH for that ?