Why hire an Experienced Wedding Photographer

Tying the knot is one of the most exciting and life-changing decisions you'll make in your lifetime. And since your hope when settling down is to get married only to one partner, then it's safe to assume that you want the ceremony to be as special and memorable as possible. In the kind of economy, we live in nowadays, couples looking to say "I do" surely want to have a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable wedding, but not willing to break the bank for it to happen. So what they do is opt for the money-saving alternatives of some wedding services to cut costs.

One of the best and realistic examples for this is when couples decide to have a favorite family member or a friend take the wedding photographs instead of hiring a professional to do the job. You think it's a wise decision given how many "experts" suggest it. However, as someone who had personally witnessed the fails of an amateur friend photographer (I saw it all from a dear friend's wedding), I'd say that getting your "budding photographer" friend to take your wedding photos is a recipe for disaster and it's something you don't want to learn the hard way. But if you still need convincing, here are four compelling reasons to hire a professional wedding photographer as opposed to your budding photographer friend.

1. Commitment

Professionals are bound by a legal contract, so they're guaranteed to show up on your big day, no matter what the weather is. They can't flake out on you like a friend (and they won't) because they're obligated by the contract to be there unless you say otherwise. In case of emergencies, they're sure to have someone who's also a professional to come as their replacement.

2. Experience

Professionals have spent thousands of hours photographing weddings. They know how to sneak a shot of the bride and groom's mothers looking at the couples with tears in their eyes. They know when the bride will pull that blissful smile in her face. They know when to take a shot of the groom looking at her with so much love and overflowing excitement. They know how to get the best shots even in tricky lighting. They're capable of all these because they've got more than enough experience with weddings -- something your "budding photographer" friend obviously don't have.

3. Outstanding Results

Professionals photograph weddings for a living, so you can be assured that they'll strive to give you the best results to make you satisfied and recommend them to your friends and family members. It's a motivation that your friend with a good camera won't have.

4. Assurance

Professionals have seen the worst and are prepared for it. They have a backup camera, batteries, and memory cards with them so in case something happens with the gear they're currently using, they won't miss taking photos of an important part of your wedding. Knowing this can help you feel assured and excited at the same time because you know you have awesome photographs to look forward to.

If you're looking to save as much money as you can for your big day, you can always spend less on other wedding services. Don't sacrifice your wedding photographs because at the end of your wedding day, the food and flowers will all be gone but your wedding photographs will remain. They'll be your enduring proof of one of the most important events that took place in your life so you want to get them right the first time.

This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. 

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