The difference between a professional and an amateur
I was recently asked what the difference is between a wedding photographer who charges $1000 and one who charges $4000. The numbers here are arbitrary; there are photographers who charge as little as $500 and those who charge $10k. But the point is that there are photographers who charge very little, and those who charge a lot.
So what’s the difference? Well, I have a learned a few things about those photographers who charge very little. Here is some insight for you!
Full Time
I’m a full time wedding photographer: this is my life! Many photographers have a lower rate because they are part time. In contrast I am always home during the week and available to my clients 24/7 to answer questions.
Experience counts
I’ve been photographing weddings since 2006 and thus have TONS of experience and insight. I average about 24 weddings a year. I’m not a wedding planner but in many cases I have had to direct things and help move things forward because there was little to no organization. Amateurs or inexperienced photographers will not have that same insight.
Portfolios and examples of real weddings
I have TONS of photos in my portfolio. I also have a BLOG that shows roughly 100 photos from select weddings that I have shot. This gives you a good idea of the kind of photos you can expect from me. Amateur photographers may not have a comprehensive portfolio, or may not have photos from REAL weddings.
Beware of “styled shoots”
A “styled shoot” is when a photographer and a lot of local wedding vendors team up together to do a mock wedding photo session. All the vendors get photos from this styled shoot, and the photographer gets experience shooting…but it’s not a real wedding. NONE of the photos in my portfolio are from Styled Shoots, they are all from REAL WEDDINGS and with REAL COUPLES! This is very important because I’ve actually run across amateurs who are passing off styled shoots as real weddings on their websites. It’s a dishonest practice. Make sure to ask any photographer that you’re interested in about their photos and make sure they are from real weddings!
Insurance
Your photographer should have insurance. I have Business General Liability Insurance via the Professional Photographers of America (I am also a Professional Active member of the PPA – www.ppa.com). I also have insurance on all my equipment. What does this mean for you? You and your venue will never be held liable in the event that my equipment is broken or stolen, or if I’m hurt at your wedding! This has NEVER happened but it’s there if it needs to be. Amateur photographers usually DO NOT have insurance.
Back up equipment
I have 2 main cameras that I shoot with, and 1 extra camera as a backup. If your photographer is bringing only ONE camera to your wedding, they are NOT a professional! I also have TONS of flash equipment to make sure your reception and drunk uncle doing the centipede are beautifully lit!
I use full frame cameras
The cameras I shoot with are all “full frame” cameras. There is another type of camera out there called “crop sensor” cameras. Crop sensor cameras are cheaper and are built for amateurs and enthusiasts. They have special lenses made specifically for them. Many part time wedding photographers shoot with these crop sensor cameras, and not professional full frame cameras.
Technical Ability
I can shoot in both natural light and with external flash equipment! I bring extra lights with me and love shooting dramatic portraits during sunset. Be wary of photographers who say they are a ‘natural light’ photographer – sometimes this means they just aren’t good with flash (or they don’t own flash equipment).
Talent and Awards
I have earned many awards from the Knot, WeddingWire but the awards of which I am most proud are those I’ve earned with the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and the local Austin chapter (APPA). These awards are different in that I am competing with other photographers and my work is judged by masters!
Consistent Results
Being a seasoned pro means I have established my style and technique and therefore I KNOW that I can provide consistent results to you. When I first starting shooting, I was not consistent for a variety of reasons – but a lot of it was due to new equipment and lenses that was purchasing over the years. Having to learn how to use this new equipment whether it was a new flash system or a new lens sometimes led to inconsistent results. Photographers today still go through this “settling in” phase. My personal opinion is that it takes about 4-5 years for a photographer to really meet his or her stylistic stride when it comes to shooting weddings. So along with making sure they can provide you a blog showing real weddings, make sure that their photos all look consistent from wedding to wedding.
Customer Service
Customer service and attention to my clients – I want to really get to know my clients and learn their back story. Really getting to know my clients really helps me with photos and allows me to think about them in context.
Conclusion
I hope this helps you see some differences between amateurs and professionals! After your wedding your photos are the ONLY way you’ll be able to relive your memories! THIS IS YOUR WEDDING. Choose wisely!
