Vogue Magazine created a lot of buzz this week by releasing an article stating that brides should ditch the professional wedding photographer. I may be a little biased but I think that is absolutely ridiculous. Here are my top reasons why that Vogue writer should be run out of town. Here is the quote if you haven’t seen it already:
“It made sense back in the olden days, pre–Facebook albums and Instagram hashtags, when the whole world didn’t have phones with cameras on them. Having the actual leather-bound album on your coffee table seemed like the only evidence that the whole thing actually took place. If social media is not your thing, why not scatter some disposable cameras around the party and let your drunken guests go to town? You’ll end up with hilarious and candid pictures without the pressure of “likes.””
Let me first dispute some of the claims made by Vogue:
- Drunken guests do not take good photos. I’m hoping this is an obvious one. Drunken guests spill wine on your dress and cause all sorts of mayhem. Trusting a drunken guest to capture the genesis of your family and the love that started it all is ludicrous!
- Facebook isn’t forever, nor is it an archival service. Believe it or not simply having your photos on facebook is not a good idea. Facebook might seem invincible and timeless, but so did Blockbuster, Floppy Discs, and the Walkman. People are already moving off of Facebook in droves, and the younger generation isn’t even bothering to sign up and have their social lives on display to their parents.
- Camera phones are good, but they actually suck. Camera phones are excellent in their portability, and ability to get grab shots. However they are not artistic tools the way a professional camera is. Camera phone images lack quality. Camera phones lack the artistic flexibility that a DSLR system gives you. There is a reason that I own 4 cameras, 6 lenses, 5 flashes, and a plethora of other gear. Like a good craftsmen every item is not a TOY, but a TOOL uniquely designed for a specific purpose that will make your images sing.
- Disposable camera are fun, but they actually suck. There is a reason why they are called disposable. If you don’t care about silly things like exposure, focus and graininess you could be fine. Also, let’s talk about the REAL cost of disposable cameras. Let’s say you purchase 40 cameras and give them out to your guests, those cameras are going to cost you $225. SWEET that’s super cheap! But wait now you must develop all 40 cameras and get prints. This is going to cost you a minimum of $15 to get small scans and 4×6 prints. If you wanted larger scans and 5×7 prints that is going to be $37 per camera. So for 40 cameras which will deliver a total of 1080 prints, most of which will be blurry, underexposed and out-of-focus garbage, it could run you $1705. That’s $1.50 per image of which only a few might be good.
- Vogue thinks your wedding album is boring and blasé. They are missing the point. This all goes back to what you believe your wedding and ultimately your marriage is. Is it a drunken social event (woo hoo)? Or is it something more? I believe that a marriage is the beginning of your family, and that your wedding images are a visual representation of the love that started it. These image deserve to be displayed. I can’t help thinking of the first time we showed our two year old our wedding album – the fascination and awe was clear. Ten years down the road, the difference between your daughter scrolling through a Facebook gallery and paging through a wedding album will be night and day.
Here are what you get with a professional like myself:
- Creativity: I am an artist. You are paying for me to put my special touch on your images. I go above and beyond to visualize and create images that are wall-art worthy pieces.
- Experience: Getting a good candid shot is not a lucky event. It is result of anticipation gained through hundreds of weddings. Knowing how to attain professional quality images in every imaginable situation and weather condition (HELLO SEATTLE RAIN) doesn’t just happen by chance.
- Lighting: I am a lighting snob. I have developed a perfect balance of natural light and flash photography to give my images a consistent yet creative look and feel. My wedding reception images will be better than any camera phone and disposable camera.
- Calmness/Preparedness: As Russell Wilson says, “separation is in the preparation.” This totally applies to wedding photography. Every wedding will have a hiccup that causes stress. We mitigate these by excellent planning, communication, and our calming demeanor. Likewise we vow to never be the actual cause of stress on your wedding day. We accomplish this by always running on time, having personal relationships with other vendors, and by doing extensive pre-wedding consultations with our customers.
- Equipment redundancy: This deserves its own paragraph. A professional is always prepared, which is why we carry $15,000 of gear to every wedding. We have 4 bodies, 6 lenses, 5 flashes. Any item that can break or be stolen has a replacement. Our “extra” gear also allows extra creative options. Without these extra options I would not be able to capture art shots like the one below.
- Fun: Our photo shoots are fun and it shows in the images. It is such a compliment to me when I hear people say how natural they look in their images.
- Quality: Crozier Photography only offers the highest quality products I can find. What is the point of offering something that you can find on the street? We offer exclusive, one-of-a-kind products only available to professionals. Our albums are top notch, our prints and canvas are fantastic. Everything is designed to stand the test of time.
- A friend: When you hire me, you hire a friend. Between all of our meetings and engagement sessions I feel a real bond with my couples. I am always thrilled to create images for you. It honestly is the ultimate driving force behind my creativity.
Vogue is wrong. Book a professional photographer for your wedding! I hope you consider me. To contact me for information on my packages click here.