Hiring a Photographer vs. Hiring 'Uncle Bob'

Think back to a time when you were half as old as you are now. A common realization among people as they age is that time really does seem to fly! When one reflects on the special moments in their life, they remember only bits and pieces...until they start looking at photos from that time. Once they see the photos, wonderful memories come back and they remember those times so much better. Photographs are important. Not just for our own nostalgia's sake but for those that come after us. It threads connections through time to future generations. For many people, the greater understanding of their heritage (aided by photographs) give them a sense of place and belonging. That is why it is so important to hire a photographer who you can best capture the special memories you want, the way you want to remember them.

When a situation presents itself where photography services are needed, many people are surprised at how much those services can cost. In an effort to save money, it is not uncommon to hire a family member--we'll call him Uncle Bob--to take the photos for them, just because he has a “fancy camera”. Often, those people are disappointed with the results, I wish we would have hired a “real” photographer to take our photos is a common refrain and one that we at ShutterSight Photography have heard during client consultations. 

Before I continue I do not wish to insult all the “Uncle Bobs” out there. He may be a perfectly competent photographer. However, there are some things to consider when choosing between Uncle Bob and a Photographic service.

First and foremost, taking good photographs is a learned skill. Photography is so much more than just “Point-and-Shoot”. Photography is more than a firm understanding that light fall-off is calculated as an inverse square and that f/2.8 will make the background blurry. It is more than just having a good eye. Good photography takes more than a passion. It takes all these plus knowledge and experience.

When you hire a photographer you are hiring someone whose sole purpose at that event is to take photographs. Someone who does photography for business approaches the event very differently than Uncle Bob. For the photographer, their reputation is on the line every time they pull that camera up to their eye. Screwing up on a photography assignment could mean literally hundreds or thousand of dollars in future work lost. For Uncle Bob, if he misses the shot, he knows that you'll still love him in the end, despite your disappointment. Therefore he may not approach the event with the professionalism that he should. He could be distracted by guests who know him which may cause him to miss an important shot. He also may not notice small details that help bring back special memories, a flower-girls shoes, a special look from the bride or the placement of a couples hands for instance. There is also a sense of timing that is critical and only comes with experience.

When it comes to your special event, hiring a skilled photographer is important. Make sure you hire one that is competent, proven, and can capture your memories beautifully in a way that appeals to you.