Today we are very excited to feature our very first guest blogger, Elizabeth Glessner of Glessner Photography. Elizabeth is a wonderful photographer with a great personality. If you're looking for an amazing photographer for your wedding day give Glessner Photography a call, right after you read this blog of course!
Today,
everyone has a digital camera and is more than willing to photograph your
wedding for free. And let’s be real… who doesn’t like free? BUT, you know that
saying if something seems too good to be true, it probably is? That applies
here.
The
truth is that great wedding photography is something that comes with lots of
training, practice, and experience, which usually translates into money. The one
thing all too many brides forget is this: at the end of the day, after you’ve
invested hundreds of hours of your time into planning a spectacular event and your
hard earned cash is spent on a dress, venue, planner, cake, etc., all you’ll
have left besides your memories are the photographs that bring them to life.
Of
course, a photographer is going to tell you that you should hire a
professional... because they want you to hire them, right? While we love
working with our clients, we know not everyone is the right fit for us. So if
not for the money, why would we want you to hire an experienced professional?
1. Expecting the
Unexpected.
On a wedding day, even with the best of planners, things sometimes don’t unfold
exactly as planned. Sometimes the bride is running an hour late or it rains and
your beautiful outdoor wedding is moved indoors. Professional photographers are
prepared for all sorts of situations. They don’t cave under pressure. They
alter the schedule without panic when someone is running
late. They have the lights and equipment necessary to make the images from a
sudden indoor wedding look just as beautiful as the outdoor event you were
planning.
2. Planning is key. One of the great
benefits to a professional is that they know the importance of planning in
advance. They work with your planner weeks in advance of your wedding to make
sure everyone is on the same page. They know how to avoid chaos and missed
photos. For example, we send out a pre-wedding questionnaire to all of our
brides about a month before their event to find out the names of the wedding
party (so we’re not shouting out “hey you!”), get a list of the must-have
family photos, and figure out what special customs might be taking place that
we definitely don’t want to miss because we didn’t know about it.
3. Be Equipped. Professional
photographers have a range of equipment to accommodate a variety of
circumstances. Nikon v. Canon doesn’t really matter all that much, but fast
lenses, lighting, and good camera bodies that operate well in low light are
very important for capturing a wedding. And what happens when a camera or a
flash malfunctions and decides not to work? A pro has backup equipment and
keeps shooting with business as usual.
4. Equipment isn’t
everything, though.
A person can have all the right equipment, but if they don’t know how to use
it, it’s worthless. A good photographer knows how to use their camera in
various settings, utilize lighting so that it flatters the subject, and compose
a breathtaking photo. Most importantly, professionals bring vision along with
their equipment to your wedding day.
5. Date your
photographer.
When all is said and done, the most important thing when hiring the person to
capture your big day (much like in dating and marriage) is to know, love, and
trust your photographer. Know what to expect from them throughout the
pre-wedding, wedding day, and post-wedding process, love their work, and trust
them without doubt to capture your day.
Elizabeth
Glessner is the owner and lead photographer of Glessner Photography in High
Point, North Carolina.
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