You might be tempted to ask a friend who’s ‘good with a camera’ to take the photos on your wedding day, but we don’t think this is the best idea.

Here’s why:

1. If you hire a professional, you’ll get what you pay for. Professional photographers are professional for a reason, and they’ve usually trained or studied photography for the sole purpose of taking beautiful images. This means you can rest assured that if you spend the money, you’ll get a great outcome. There’s also a contract involved so you’re guaranteed to get what you sign for.
2. A professional has years of experience. They will come in and take over the photo aspect of your wedding, so you don’t have to stress about it yourself. They will coordinate the group photos, arrange family members in a visually appealing way and direct you and your partner so you feel comfortable and get great images. A professional will also remember to take the photos that you probably completely forgot about, like the floral arrangements and the all-important cake shot (seen below). A friend who’s just starting out probably won’t know how to do all of these things, you leaves awkward moments and tons of anxiety for you.
3. You’ll be building a relationship with a professional, but this isn’t usually the case with a friend. We’ve all heard the stories before, where working with a friend has done more harm than good. With a professional, you’ll probably end up building a relationship and possibly a friendship while you work together. With a friend, there are a myriad of possible issues. They may hold a grudge because they felt like they worked for too little money, or you may have bitterness towards them because you didn’t like the images but you felt like you couldn’t say anything. It’s just awkward all round.
4. A professional has to be committed to you. There’s nothing worse than a friend flaking out at the last minute because something else comes up. A professional is contractually obligated to photograph your wedding, and if a rare emergency comes up, they’re responsible for finding someone to replace them.