So this may seem unnecessarily harsh after all weddings are expensive, why not wrangle a discount if you can?

So let me clarify…….If I’m invited to your day as a guest… I’m a guest and my camera officially stays at home!

If we are friends but not close enough for me to be invited as a guest, you can hire me.I may give you a small discount or give you something extra for free.

If I’m lucky enough to get an evening invite, I would photograph the day but as soon as the night starts camera is away and I’m officially off duty!

Now this may not be the same for every photographer, but all my photographer and videographer friends (who iv discussed with so far) have agreed with me.

Now I hear you saying thats really specific, if your there why not?

Lots of reasons!

I like to keep it professional. When I’m working I don’t know who is watching me, maybe someone wanting to hire me. If they then see me do something unprofessional, like……… slapping your brother/cousin/friend who we’ve both known forever, as a Professional is shocking.

When I’m working I never fully relax You would never want a friend/guest not relaxed

My camera gear is my living, I never drink alcohol when I have it, its too much of a risk.

Putting all the above aside, if Im a guest at your wedding, I want to be a part of your day, I want to be in the photos and I want to see you, with my eyes and not through my camera, although there maybe a selfie needed (I mean we obviously look hot right!)

Stay with me!

theres an actual point I promise!

Now to all those people still reading, the ones who aren’t my friends (yet)

Why hire a professional?

The person who’s been hired to create your photos, has no other agenda, apart from to capture your day, as it happens, for you! Your needs and wants are our priority. We are not gagging for a pint and we aren’t gonna miss a key moment because we are chatting to great aunt Maude.

We are totally impartial, we will see beauty in what your friends and family see in you everyday.

Legalities- if you hire a friend more than likely there wont be a contract in place. Sometimes this wont matter, if your friend is totally awesome and committed to your wedding. However if this is a distant friend or relative, lack of contract means they can let you down last minute (or heaven forbid on the day) and there will be no comeback for them.

you get what you pay for- now there always will be exceptions to this rule, but the majority of talented photographers will be charging professional rates for their services. If they are not, ask yourself (and them) why not? are they still learning? is this their main job? do they have the experience?

Time- now this one is a biggie for me, as a photographer only a small amount of my work is done on the day of your wedding! (I know right, I do loads on the day! think of how much I do elsewhere then) This can include venue visits and meetings before the day and sorting, editing delivering your images afterwards, we post those sneak peaks. (mine are usually same night while your still partying)

Style- a professional has spent years building a particular style (and we all went through dodgy stages), this should be why you book someone! look at websites, previous work if their work has a consistant style, you know how your images will look. If you love the style of a photographer, book them as soon as you have your date, we often get booked up way in advance.

So I should finish by saying, If you should want to book me, fabulous!

check if your date is free by sending me some info through the website HERE

I wish you all the best and hope that this post has helped you in your wedding planning journey.