No matter what your wedding budget is, some expenses are vital. Especially, a professional wedding photographer. Eirik Halvorsen is one of them and he found a brilliant way to prove why specialists like him are essential to every ceremony.
“I recently came across a thread in a wedding group on Facebook where a bride-to-be said they wanted to save money by not hiring a professional wedding photographer and let the guests be in charge of the photos,” Eirik told PetaPixel. “I mean, they will take pictures, right? You just have to get everyone to dropbox you the photos after and you can make your own album and look back on those special moments forever.”
Not quite. Eirik married his wife almost four years ago and hired his dream photographer to capture all the precious moments. So he took the photographer’s images and compared them with actual photos from the same wedding, taken by the guests. Composition, lighting, image quality and other features differ dramatically. “All I know from the experience of getting married is that all that is left today is the photos,” Eirik said. So if you want those photos to look great, they should be taken by someone who knows what he’s doing.
More info: eirikhalvorsen.com | Instagram (h/t: petapixel)
“[These] photos are actual photos from our own wedding taken by our guests,” Eirik said
The couple came up with this idea while scrolling through a wedding photography group on Facebook
“A bride-to-be said they wanted to save money by not hiring a professional wedding photographer”
“I mean, they will take pictures, right? You just have to get everyone to dropbox you the photos after…”
“… and you can make your own album and look back on those special moments forever”
Can you though?
Luckily, the couple haven’t followed this advice and had hired a photographer instead
Image credits: Jeff Newsom
Quite the contrast, right?
Image credits: Jeff Newsom
“Me and my wife <…> cut cost everywhere possible to be able to hire our dream photographer”
Image credits: Jeff Newsom
“All I know from the experience of getting married is that all that is left today is the photos”
Image credits: Jeff Newsom
I have photographers who could cut me a deal, but I'd rather spend my money on the honeymoon, and my future with that person. I feel like the more pricey the wedding, the more stressful.
Studies show that the pricier the wedding, the sooner the marriage breaks up.
Load More Replies...I don't really care about photos, I'mma just spend my whole budget on the cake tbh.
hahaha, you have my attention ... i need to know what sort of cake would require the bulk of your wedding budget!
Load More Replies...I agree, those photographer's photos are a thousand times better, but it kinda seems like the point of this post is to explain that photos are the most important part of the wedding. They are a nice plus, but to some they are more important than others.
As a photographer, I think the point is to show people the difference before they ask their guests or grandfather to take some pictures instead.. if you put all that money/effort in your wedding, it would be a shame if you only have bad quality images, right?
Load More Replies...this is stupid. most of those "amateur" photos look like made with 20 year old cameras. If you have decent camera you would avoid all this grain and "moved" photos, you dont need proffesional photographer for that. I made some photos(for free ofc) on my friends weddings with camera worth 250USD and they looked great.
Eirik Halvorsen's wedding was in 2011. Do you remember the quality of your phone's camera in 2011? I do. They are horrible. Only in the most recent years (since 2013-14) you can compare a phone's camera to an actual camera. But even my galaxy S6 struggles in places with poor lighting or moving subjects...
Load More Replies...A friend took a dozen photos of our wedding. Good enough. I was there for my wife, not photos.
Comparing cherrypicked professional photos to "lemon-picked" smartphone snapshots...well. I remember this BP post, which goes into the opposite direction: https://www.boredpanda.com/dog-films-wedding-gopro/ Thus: forget about professionals, but also ban private smartphones, simply let the dog take the photos!
its a 2 minute video and probably 8-12 hours of footage they had to edit thru. You also need video editing experience. The ceremony part had someone pointing the dog in the right direction. There's another video of a gopro attached to a bottle of fireball that was much more interesting
Load More Replies...Somehow I like the photos from guests more. Yes, the photos from the photographer are really beautiful and have a lot more quality but the guest's photos are more personal, more realistic and more "out of life". Also like other said before: photos aren't the most important thing of a wedding, it is the love (and maybe the food ;))
I 100% agree with you! If I ever marry, I don't want pictures that look like they are straight out of some fairytale or too calculated . Those kind of pictures always end up looking similar anyway. I want them to feel real and spontaneous. And it's nice to have the vision of the guests and it's like a little gift from each of them.
Load More Replies...Thank you! It was beyond me how nobody was pointing out that sad, sad flaw in his logic... It speaks volumes about him, and not in a good way.
Load More Replies...What's the point of taking a photo if you're going to photoshop the hell out of it? We pay people to capture the most cliche parts of the wedding, walking down the ailse, holding hands in front of a door or whatever. No one takes candid photos of conversations or dancing or of ugly faces and unflattering moments. I kind of hate the philosophy of commercial photographers.
I'm a wedding photographer and would never bring my camera to a friends' wedding :'D I sure hope I don't get invited just because I am a photographer.
Load More Replies...I agree with the comments that it's about about the photography. Hell, of course I want wedding photographers to make their dough. But people put so much pressure on themselves to have perfect photos that it's pathetic. I went to about 50 weddings in my 20s and 30s (i won't even go into the second and third and fourth marriages I went to in my 40s) and all I can say is that I have exactly 18 photos from my parent's wedding in 1972 and they were all taken with a boring Kodak and not a single 8x10. When you have those few images instead of 100 or more and they was just happiness in every shot, not planned not posed, you feel like a million bucks. Sure, get them professionally done, I think if you have the money it's nice. I got married and had normal photos with a semi-professional photographer who was a family friend and we were happy; no need for Cartier-Bresson finishing. I feel like a sh*t also saying- every high priced super expensive wedding I went to: they are all divorced.
I couldn't edit this after my comment but, my first sentence- what I meant to say is, it's NOT about the photography. :) I
Load More Replies...The cost of weddings is completely out of hand. Sadly, people hardly blink an eye at spending huge amounts on engraved napkins but then they want to cut costs by using friends and family to do the professional services like photography, music, the cake. Either way, professional or amateur, you could have results you love or results you'll regret. Sadly, there's no guarantee. We were married in 2007 and DID use a professional photographer, who happened to be a family member. His pictures were technically beautiful, but they all look so still and formal and very old fashioned poses. During the photo session, I would say I wanted a picture of all of us doing this or that in casual and fun poses and he just didn't want to do it, snapping a quick pick to make me happy. Meanwhile, our friends and family snapped away on their own cameras. So, we had back to back comparisons of the same poses and the differences were too minimal to even notice. The amateurs shots were gorgeous too!
I don't understand why everyone is so mad about getting nice wedding photos in the comments section... I got married a year ago and I am so grateful that we had a photographer and videographer. At the time, we weren't sure we needed the videographer but someone said that not having one was their only regret from their wedding. Looking back on it now, I am so so happy that we did. Out of all the expenses, these were some of the most worthwhile. Memories are precious but even a month after, I'd forgotten details and now it is lovely to look back at the most special day of our lives. It was nice to see photos and videos of our favourite people having a great time (you'll know that as a bride you don't get to speak to everyone for a long period) and the day absolutely flies by. I love the thought that I will be able to show these to our kids and grandkids one day as a bit of their history. It is likewise wonderful to me to look at a video of my grandparents dancing at my wedding.
I didn't have a pro 24 years ago. Just friends and family who took 15 - 24 exposes disposable cameras and filled them with wonderful pics that no pro would ever get. Those are the memories i want, not me and my spouse standing in some nameless field looking unnatural.
Man, how did people remember weddings before photography? I mean s**t... how are we even still alive if the cavemen didnt have the proper megapixels ?????
The photographer is right. I have sold bridal gowns for decades, I am NOT in the photography busiess. Get the best photographer AND perhaps a videographer too if you wish. Do NOT skimp on a professional photographer. As he said, afterwards all you have are photos & your gown in a bag. You cannot recreate your wedding.
I remember a wedding where the couple bought a couple hundred disposable cameras and distributed them to all the guests to take pictures during the reception. At the end, as you left, you just tossed the camera into a large bin with all the others. I imagine they got some good pictures, but, wow, they probably got tons of c**p too. A pro would have been a lot cheaper, I'll bet.
Alot of people only think of the cost and don't consider the convenience. Average photographer probably take 1800 photos weeds out and edits 600 best ones and gives you bound album of very best shots zero work on your part.
Load More Replies...Since the marriage realistically only has a 50% chance of actually not ending up in divorce, that means there is a 50% chance you will be throwing away all the photos. Spend the money on the other things.
I wasn't planning on having a photographer, but our parents want updated, nice family photos because it isn't everyday that we are all in the same place. Not just my parents and sister, but Aunts, uncles, cousins etc. We have busy lives and live all over. It has been over 10 years since my fathers side of the family has had a family photo taken. I also had mentioned that my guests could take photos, but I don't want anyone to feel obligated to, and they are my guests so they should enjoy the day, and not watch it through a lens. So I found a professional who my fiance and I were comfortable with and I am happy that I did. My wedding is also not expensive at all, at least compared to what is normal these days. Everything will be paid for by the end of my wedding day.
Weddings can be ridiculously expensive. And for what...one day?! By having your guests take pics, you get to experience the day through their eyes. It makes it more personal, too, I think.
Didn't get the idea WHY photos matter more if there are made by a pro or with a 2MB phone....
If all that is left today are the photos, that's kind of sad. I agree that if you care about having high-quality photos, you ought to hire a professional but don't just take it for granted that wedding photos are something of universal value and every human being needs them. Plenty of people don't need a wedding in the first place.
Actually all you have left is the marriage. 9 years and counting...
I am pretty sure you still have eachother left not just the photos. Also, when you are both dead the majority of your photos will probably just be thrown away. Sad truth. This is a bad article with annoyingly stupid advice to splurge with money that should be invested in the future, not the past.
also dont forget phonecameras are way better than 5-10 years before digital cameras
you want to remember for the moment the participants will remeber of grainy pictures too who werent participants of a wedding they wont feel better by master photoghraps if you want really special then hire an artist, give a picture then an artist can paint something unique, no camera can capture
We hired a photographer and it was the biggest waste of money we spent!! She took terrible pictures...first off she was more than 2 hours late, off centered, horrible lighting, not 1 picture of the bride and groom together other than a couple kissing pictures. It was awful!
That's really a good set of wedding photographs and without them your wedding event wouldn't be complete because wedding is a part of our life which happens only once in our life time so that we have to save those memories by hiring a professional wedding photographer - https://bhalajephotography.com/
yep...a lot forget that the pictures stay with you forever, separate from the lovely memories of course...frankgiron.com
Dose it matter what other people choose to do. The cost of hiring a photographer might be too much for some people. So should they be told that they should. No. My friend did not have a wedding photographer and she got some great images. It the persons choice
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Myself (with the exception of one or two really color skewed ones) I throughly enjoy the amateur photos. I'd want (and have) an album of them over the staged 'perfect' pictures. My grandfather and uncle took the majority of the pictures at my wedding (neither a professional) and we have both truly beautiful shots, classic sepia and black and white, tenderly posed, and mistakes that make us laugh and remember the details that would otherwise get eclipsed over the years. The one time I could say I would want to get a professional, or at least a serious hobbyist, is if it wasn't an outdoor event. GIVen the outdoor lighting, the more expensive equipment is almost a necessity for shots that aren't glared out or too dark or over exposed. Even then, he majority of the album-for us- would surely be not perfect keepsakes from guests and family members capturing the little moments that make up good memories.
I'd advise people to hire student photographers or young people in training who need experience but still have skill. they'll usually do it for free or for food and drink or just a small fee at most because they'll be seeking to build their portfolios too!
But the shots taken by the guests are more meaningful, taken by people who know and care about them, also I'm 100% sure at least one guest could take great shots given or allowed to take a good camera, even on a mobile. Professional photos are nice of course but the photographer is there for the money only.
by that logic why hire professional caterers or baker to make the cake? Wedding dress should be made by hand too. Tell the bridal party to sweep the floors afterwards. What if the couple sees a professional photographer as a facilitator so the stress of taking photos isn't on the guest? Group photos can be taken without excluding one person or searching out someone to hold the camera. Many photographers offer photobooths, effortless way to take great photos and instant momento for the guests.
Load More Replies...“All I know from the experience of getting married is that all that is left today is the photos” Really? Not your wife or your marriage itself? Sorry, but this has still not changedy mind on saving money on photographers. Even those pictures that were poor quality were taken out of love by special people and show more emotion than those fake looking photographer pics.
I think the photos taken by the guests are more special. The quality might not be as good, but I expected way worse! Those people know you and the pictures are even more personal to me.
We have two photo albums; the professional one and one made up of photos that the guests took. The professional ones look great but the others are fun. They show an older male guest wearing my veil, the little kids playing and our neices rushing to give my husband a hug. Don't get me wrong, the profession took some great photos and kept everything running smoothly but they aren't the only good pics and this article seems a little sneery towards the alternatives.
This is the saddest thing I read from the above: “All I know from the experience of getting married is that all that is left today is the photos”.
We hired a photographer. She was terrible! We ended up making suggestions like, 'should you maybe take more then one photo of all the guests and ourselves?' 'Won't we have dappled sunlight on us in this setting? (of course we did :( ) My husband's head is half purple in most of the shots. I could go on and on in how horrendous she was! Added insult, I kept requesting the photo's- she said she was still 'editing' them. She eventually told me she'd sent them by registered post with a bonus 'gift'. A week later, no photo's- finally months later she sent them to me- via Facebook. Only 'editing' - 2 photo's were changed to black and white. Luckily out wedding guests had a couple of nice 'snaps' .
Yes, quite the contrast: Now they look like everyone else's wedding photos, all prettified and every scrap of individuality gone.
Yes, quite the contrast. The first are genuine fun photos that capture the feeling, the photographed ones are sort of when you photoshop into a knight's armor
This is such bs, we had no wedding photographer and you know what we did have instead? A f*****g fabulous time, thank you very much
"All I know from the experience of getting married is that all that is left today is the photos" So I take it that means the marriage didn't last long?
Maybe it's just me, but I like the first set, too. Having to take out a chunk of time for pics or actually stage the whole thing on a different day is also stressful.
My sister hired a professional, and their photos were HORRIBLE!!! I personally took better photos and my sister paid for all the film I used. It was a total waste of money with this particular photographer. So my advice....check their work. Not all professionals are the same.
Appears this couple allowed their Dog to take their wedding photos with a Key Chain Camera. Had they allowed their family or friends to shoot with their Smart Phone Cameras, the photos would have been sharp, colorful, peppy and well posed. Hey Erik instead you could have found a friend or family with a DSLR - common they are very affordable these days at around $ 300 to 400. And you have posted some of the worst photos - unsharp/fuzzy, noisy, colors out of balance - that even a 10-year old child with her Point & Shoot Camera would have have been ashamed of and done a better job. I am a very ordinary Amateur Photographer and wish you had invited me as a friend to take your Wedding Photographs. I bet you a $ 1000 I would have taken close to 80% perfection as the Pro Wedding Photographer. This article is a SHAM.
We spent a fortune on our photographers, and honestly, they started to annoy us. Every time we wanted to sit and enjoy a drink or food, there was some kind of photo they wanted to take. At one point, when we were pulled off the dance floor to take a photo outside with sparklers, my husband started fuming. And, after all that, we took the USB stick of every photo they took, but never bothered to pick out the photos for the album we paid for. Three years later and still no album. So while a good photographer helps, it's not everything.
Sometimes, and far too often, the photos outlast the marriage. I didn't hire a photographer for my wedding, and the results were a mixed bag, just like the people who attended the wedding. I'm glad to say that the amateur photographers captured the more intimate side of the event, and I was able to see the wedding through their eyes.
I am a very ordinary Amateur Photographer. I also do some weddings for friends and family. I may not be able to match a Pro Wedding Photographer, but I WILL shoot sharp, colorful and photos with pop. I will also take some great close up shots of the couple and family in all their finery. What has been shown above is a JOAK, as even a Phone Camera today can take sharp & pretty photos. Showing the worst photos - rejects - from your friends or family is a shame for this guy Erik, and an affront to them.
Photographers literally refer to you as the "Uncle Bob" type. If you're so great at it then why don't you start a business? instead you try to undermine others.
Load More Replies...“All I know from the experience of getting married is that all that is left today is the photos” WTF ... hello google: remind me not to marry ever
I have two ex-wives who both have a set of expensive wedding photos in their attics.
Does anybody actually look at wedding albums past the first year of marriage? I've been married 30 years and we've only got 1 or 2 snapshots somebody thought to take. They're "in a box somewhere."
We had a professional photographer, and overall I totally agree that it's like night and day. There was just one exception for us because one of the guests at our wedding had a really good camera and happened to catch us at a perfect moment, and it's our favorite photo from our wedding.
I think that is a good choice, to leve the stress & responsabilty up to a professional. And let your guests enjoy your wedding. And if they get a few great candid photos, while your professional photographer is busy taking group shots etc, then great :)
Load More Replies...I didn't hire a photographer for my wedding, had friends and family take the pictures. Yeah they are blury and dark and all sorts of weird, but that doesn't make the memories in those photos and less meaningful. I can look at a picture and not only say that was a fun moment, but I can also say I'm happy my mom or my friend captured that moment for me.
For those that say they like the candids taken by guests, the professional wedding photographer also takes candids throughout the wedding day starting from when the bride and groom is getting ready, capturing all the details and emotions as well as the posed and the actual ceremony. If you can't afford a full day, at least ask about half day coverage so that you get the ceremony, formals and family photos and part of the reception, move up the cake cutting so that can be included. I used to photograph weddings and now I'm a commercial photographer, but hearing the negative comments is horrible...
Whoever took the photos with the phone used a very poor quality or older phone. Any newer phone is capable of taking great pictures; far better than the ones in this post. Also, you can buy a very good camera capable of taking near-professional quality photos for a fraction of the cost of hiring a photographer. Obviously this was posted by a photographer
You can do that, but are you going to ask a friend to follow you around all day for 8-12 hours taking photos on your wedding day and not pay them? I wouldn't ask that of my very best friends, I want them to relax and enjoy the wedding not put them to work.
Load More Replies...We didnt hire a professional.. got my brother inlaw... he loves taking photos.. so he did just as a great job as a professional would
I thing the first photos are real life, real party... (I like!) the other "Disney look"... looks like a weeding from someone, from everybody.. like advertising...
Yeah but what happens when like me the photographer you hire does a crappie job. $3500 down the drain
While the greatest quality isn't necessarily produced from people's cellular phones and digital cameras, I think candid shots are the best kind showing how not only the couple but also their guests enjoyed the day. the examples of bad photography shown here are likely the worst selected from an otherwise large collection of fairly decent photos. I get that professional photographers feel threatened by smartphones and digital photoediting for everyone to use and enjoy, but ultimately, it's up to the couple how they want to spend their money and people who sell things shouldn't command this.
I loved this post :) I see this as a post that tells us that one must never compromise on precious memories. ... Beautiful post, again
So what I'm reading here is that most folks would rather drop two grand (or more) on a one time wear dress, ten grand (or more) on a ceremony and reception, but skimp out on the one service that is designed to actually capture all the work and money that went into it and rely on their buddies (doesn't matter what camera they have if they don't understand photography) to capture the picts? Wow! Here's another idea. Get married in small ceremony, throw your buddies a kegger, and spend the dough on something fun. Because in 10 years your most salient memories will likely be the something fun part. And the pictures, well, I'm thinking you won't notice the difference. Hell, you could even get a guy to Photoshop you wearing the dress (and that will be the best picture of the bunch).
don't forget the floral arrangements and DJ that often get paid more than the photographer
Load More Replies...Hey folks! If someone of you are afraid to dont have good images from your wedding, your problems are over! Have a look at my work and if you like it I would be glad to make my best for you all!! I really do it with my soul and my heart: www.oficinadaphoto.com
thankfully I have a cousin who is a photographer (and a bridesmaid) I got many beautiful photos without paying a penny.
I'm a professional photographer. The short-sighted attitude of people who would rather spend their money on "more important things" is stunning to me. Trusting your wedding to drunken amateurs who can't even hold a cell phone steady is like letting your neighbor, the truck driver, do brain surgery. The pictures aren't for YOU, dummy ! They're for your parents, children and grandchildren who will want to see what idiots looked like 30 years ago.
huahauhauahuahauhauaha I´m laughing a lot with your comment!! ... And I´m here wondering that just in my country the people could be so stupids!! No. They really are on entire world!
Load More Replies...I understand that weddings can be stressful and pricey. But all things considered, hiring a wedding photographer is, if not always, at least 95% of the time the right choice. Sure, not all wedding photographers are great and some of them can be a little cheesy, In any case, there are many wedding photographers with very different styles, some of them using a documentary approach and they are able to get many great candid shots. Checking several photographers' websites is always a good idea. Asking a friend to do it for free? It's a risk, but if your friend is an aspiring photographer looking to widen his/her book or an advanced amateur with deep knowledge of composition and light, then the results can be good. Mobile phones are a double edged sword: If they have great sensors but their owners can't get the right light or if they don't know anything about shutter speeds or ISO's the results will end up being bad.
I am getting married next Saturday. My fiancé and I decided not to hire a wedding photographer. We are on a small budget. It's going to be a very small wedding. 30 guests. No bridal party. No formal reception. Just a dinner afterward at one of the nice local restaurants. We wanted to be able to celebrate after and afford to feed our guests. So we just could not afford a professional photographer. Thankfully I have a friend who does video production and she will be documenting our special day for free.
I'm not into big weddings. If you're going to spend a lot of money on something, spend it on the food.
I am not a pro photographer but I did my sister's wedding. Everyone loves the photos. This was the end of days for film but I shot something like ten 36-shot rolls. My brother (sister's twin) hired a pro and everyone is very disappointed with the photos because he barely took any and every shot was posed - not a single candid. The problem with guests taking photos is that any time you get everyone grouped for a shot, some guest (or six) say, "Hey, look over here!" So you can either be rude to guests and tell them to get lost or you wait for them to finish so you can take the "official" shots and hopefully by then the people you're photographing aren't sick of standing there. Plus ninety-nine percent of everyone doesn't know how to frame a shot properly or to get distracting stuff out of the frame of view before taking the shot like the plastic cup on the floor next to the bride's feet. A good photographer is looking at everything except the subject before he takes a photo.
Wow the photos of the professional photographer are amazing! I don't know why would anybody want to save for a photographer.
My wife insisted on a videographer and phographer and im so happy we did was very upset with the pictures
I'm too simple minded. I didn't see all too much difference in the pics.
I have photographers who could cut me a deal, but I'd rather spend my money on the honeymoon, and my future with that person. I feel like the more pricey the wedding, the more stressful.
Studies show that the pricier the wedding, the sooner the marriage breaks up.
Load More Replies...I don't really care about photos, I'mma just spend my whole budget on the cake tbh.
hahaha, you have my attention ... i need to know what sort of cake would require the bulk of your wedding budget!
Load More Replies...I agree, those photographer's photos are a thousand times better, but it kinda seems like the point of this post is to explain that photos are the most important part of the wedding. They are a nice plus, but to some they are more important than others.
As a photographer, I think the point is to show people the difference before they ask their guests or grandfather to take some pictures instead.. if you put all that money/effort in your wedding, it would be a shame if you only have bad quality images, right?
Load More Replies...this is stupid. most of those "amateur" photos look like made with 20 year old cameras. If you have decent camera you would avoid all this grain and "moved" photos, you dont need proffesional photographer for that. I made some photos(for free ofc) on my friends weddings with camera worth 250USD and they looked great.
Eirik Halvorsen's wedding was in 2011. Do you remember the quality of your phone's camera in 2011? I do. They are horrible. Only in the most recent years (since 2013-14) you can compare a phone's camera to an actual camera. But even my galaxy S6 struggles in places with poor lighting or moving subjects...
Load More Replies...A friend took a dozen photos of our wedding. Good enough. I was there for my wife, not photos.
Comparing cherrypicked professional photos to "lemon-picked" smartphone snapshots...well. I remember this BP post, which goes into the opposite direction: https://www.boredpanda.com/dog-films-wedding-gopro/ Thus: forget about professionals, but also ban private smartphones, simply let the dog take the photos!
its a 2 minute video and probably 8-12 hours of footage they had to edit thru. You also need video editing experience. The ceremony part had someone pointing the dog in the right direction. There's another video of a gopro attached to a bottle of fireball that was much more interesting
Load More Replies...Somehow I like the photos from guests more. Yes, the photos from the photographer are really beautiful and have a lot more quality but the guest's photos are more personal, more realistic and more "out of life". Also like other said before: photos aren't the most important thing of a wedding, it is the love (and maybe the food ;))
I 100% agree with you! If I ever marry, I don't want pictures that look like they are straight out of some fairytale or too calculated . Those kind of pictures always end up looking similar anyway. I want them to feel real and spontaneous. And it's nice to have the vision of the guests and it's like a little gift from each of them.
Load More Replies...Thank you! It was beyond me how nobody was pointing out that sad, sad flaw in his logic... It speaks volumes about him, and not in a good way.
Load More Replies...What's the point of taking a photo if you're going to photoshop the hell out of it? We pay people to capture the most cliche parts of the wedding, walking down the ailse, holding hands in front of a door or whatever. No one takes candid photos of conversations or dancing or of ugly faces and unflattering moments. I kind of hate the philosophy of commercial photographers.
I'm a wedding photographer and would never bring my camera to a friends' wedding :'D I sure hope I don't get invited just because I am a photographer.
Load More Replies...I agree with the comments that it's about about the photography. Hell, of course I want wedding photographers to make their dough. But people put so much pressure on themselves to have perfect photos that it's pathetic. I went to about 50 weddings in my 20s and 30s (i won't even go into the second and third and fourth marriages I went to in my 40s) and all I can say is that I have exactly 18 photos from my parent's wedding in 1972 and they were all taken with a boring Kodak and not a single 8x10. When you have those few images instead of 100 or more and they was just happiness in every shot, not planned not posed, you feel like a million bucks. Sure, get them professionally done, I think if you have the money it's nice. I got married and had normal photos with a semi-professional photographer who was a family friend and we were happy; no need for Cartier-Bresson finishing. I feel like a sh*t also saying- every high priced super expensive wedding I went to: they are all divorced.
I couldn't edit this after my comment but, my first sentence- what I meant to say is, it's NOT about the photography. :) I
Load More Replies...The cost of weddings is completely out of hand. Sadly, people hardly blink an eye at spending huge amounts on engraved napkins but then they want to cut costs by using friends and family to do the professional services like photography, music, the cake. Either way, professional or amateur, you could have results you love or results you'll regret. Sadly, there's no guarantee. We were married in 2007 and DID use a professional photographer, who happened to be a family member. His pictures were technically beautiful, but they all look so still and formal and very old fashioned poses. During the photo session, I would say I wanted a picture of all of us doing this or that in casual and fun poses and he just didn't want to do it, snapping a quick pick to make me happy. Meanwhile, our friends and family snapped away on their own cameras. So, we had back to back comparisons of the same poses and the differences were too minimal to even notice. The amateurs shots were gorgeous too!
I don't understand why everyone is so mad about getting nice wedding photos in the comments section... I got married a year ago and I am so grateful that we had a photographer and videographer. At the time, we weren't sure we needed the videographer but someone said that not having one was their only regret from their wedding. Looking back on it now, I am so so happy that we did. Out of all the expenses, these were some of the most worthwhile. Memories are precious but even a month after, I'd forgotten details and now it is lovely to look back at the most special day of our lives. It was nice to see photos and videos of our favourite people having a great time (you'll know that as a bride you don't get to speak to everyone for a long period) and the day absolutely flies by. I love the thought that I will be able to show these to our kids and grandkids one day as a bit of their history. It is likewise wonderful to me to look at a video of my grandparents dancing at my wedding.
I didn't have a pro 24 years ago. Just friends and family who took 15 - 24 exposes disposable cameras and filled them with wonderful pics that no pro would ever get. Those are the memories i want, not me and my spouse standing in some nameless field looking unnatural.
Man, how did people remember weddings before photography? I mean s**t... how are we even still alive if the cavemen didnt have the proper megapixels ?????
The photographer is right. I have sold bridal gowns for decades, I am NOT in the photography busiess. Get the best photographer AND perhaps a videographer too if you wish. Do NOT skimp on a professional photographer. As he said, afterwards all you have are photos & your gown in a bag. You cannot recreate your wedding.
I remember a wedding where the couple bought a couple hundred disposable cameras and distributed them to all the guests to take pictures during the reception. At the end, as you left, you just tossed the camera into a large bin with all the others. I imagine they got some good pictures, but, wow, they probably got tons of c**p too. A pro would have been a lot cheaper, I'll bet.
Alot of people only think of the cost and don't consider the convenience. Average photographer probably take 1800 photos weeds out and edits 600 best ones and gives you bound album of very best shots zero work on your part.
Load More Replies...Since the marriage realistically only has a 50% chance of actually not ending up in divorce, that means there is a 50% chance you will be throwing away all the photos. Spend the money on the other things.
I wasn't planning on having a photographer, but our parents want updated, nice family photos because it isn't everyday that we are all in the same place. Not just my parents and sister, but Aunts, uncles, cousins etc. We have busy lives and live all over. It has been over 10 years since my fathers side of the family has had a family photo taken. I also had mentioned that my guests could take photos, but I don't want anyone to feel obligated to, and they are my guests so they should enjoy the day, and not watch it through a lens. So I found a professional who my fiance and I were comfortable with and I am happy that I did. My wedding is also not expensive at all, at least compared to what is normal these days. Everything will be paid for by the end of my wedding day.
Weddings can be ridiculously expensive. And for what...one day?! By having your guests take pics, you get to experience the day through their eyes. It makes it more personal, too, I think.
Didn't get the idea WHY photos matter more if there are made by a pro or with a 2MB phone....
If all that is left today are the photos, that's kind of sad. I agree that if you care about having high-quality photos, you ought to hire a professional but don't just take it for granted that wedding photos are something of universal value and every human being needs them. Plenty of people don't need a wedding in the first place.
Actually all you have left is the marriage. 9 years and counting...
I am pretty sure you still have eachother left not just the photos. Also, when you are both dead the majority of your photos will probably just be thrown away. Sad truth. This is a bad article with annoyingly stupid advice to splurge with money that should be invested in the future, not the past.
also dont forget phonecameras are way better than 5-10 years before digital cameras
you want to remember for the moment the participants will remeber of grainy pictures too who werent participants of a wedding they wont feel better by master photoghraps if you want really special then hire an artist, give a picture then an artist can paint something unique, no camera can capture
We hired a photographer and it was the biggest waste of money we spent!! She took terrible pictures...first off she was more than 2 hours late, off centered, horrible lighting, not 1 picture of the bride and groom together other than a couple kissing pictures. It was awful!
That's really a good set of wedding photographs and without them your wedding event wouldn't be complete because wedding is a part of our life which happens only once in our life time so that we have to save those memories by hiring a professional wedding photographer - https://bhalajephotography.com/
yep...a lot forget that the pictures stay with you forever, separate from the lovely memories of course...frankgiron.com
Dose it matter what other people choose to do. The cost of hiring a photographer might be too much for some people. So should they be told that they should. No. My friend did not have a wedding photographer and she got some great images. It the persons choice
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Myself (with the exception of one or two really color skewed ones) I throughly enjoy the amateur photos. I'd want (and have) an album of them over the staged 'perfect' pictures. My grandfather and uncle took the majority of the pictures at my wedding (neither a professional) and we have both truly beautiful shots, classic sepia and black and white, tenderly posed, and mistakes that make us laugh and remember the details that would otherwise get eclipsed over the years. The one time I could say I would want to get a professional, or at least a serious hobbyist, is if it wasn't an outdoor event. GIVen the outdoor lighting, the more expensive equipment is almost a necessity for shots that aren't glared out or too dark or over exposed. Even then, he majority of the album-for us- would surely be not perfect keepsakes from guests and family members capturing the little moments that make up good memories.
I'd advise people to hire student photographers or young people in training who need experience but still have skill. they'll usually do it for free or for food and drink or just a small fee at most because they'll be seeking to build their portfolios too!
But the shots taken by the guests are more meaningful, taken by people who know and care about them, also I'm 100% sure at least one guest could take great shots given or allowed to take a good camera, even on a mobile. Professional photos are nice of course but the photographer is there for the money only.
by that logic why hire professional caterers or baker to make the cake? Wedding dress should be made by hand too. Tell the bridal party to sweep the floors afterwards. What if the couple sees a professional photographer as a facilitator so the stress of taking photos isn't on the guest? Group photos can be taken without excluding one person or searching out someone to hold the camera. Many photographers offer photobooths, effortless way to take great photos and instant momento for the guests.
Load More Replies...“All I know from the experience of getting married is that all that is left today is the photos” Really? Not your wife or your marriage itself? Sorry, but this has still not changedy mind on saving money on photographers. Even those pictures that were poor quality were taken out of love by special people and show more emotion than those fake looking photographer pics.
I think the photos taken by the guests are more special. The quality might not be as good, but I expected way worse! Those people know you and the pictures are even more personal to me.
We have two photo albums; the professional one and one made up of photos that the guests took. The professional ones look great but the others are fun. They show an older male guest wearing my veil, the little kids playing and our neices rushing to give my husband a hug. Don't get me wrong, the profession took some great photos and kept everything running smoothly but they aren't the only good pics and this article seems a little sneery towards the alternatives.
This is the saddest thing I read from the above: “All I know from the experience of getting married is that all that is left today is the photos”.
We hired a photographer. She was terrible! We ended up making suggestions like, 'should you maybe take more then one photo of all the guests and ourselves?' 'Won't we have dappled sunlight on us in this setting? (of course we did :( ) My husband's head is half purple in most of the shots. I could go on and on in how horrendous she was! Added insult, I kept requesting the photo's- she said she was still 'editing' them. She eventually told me she'd sent them by registered post with a bonus 'gift'. A week later, no photo's- finally months later she sent them to me- via Facebook. Only 'editing' - 2 photo's were changed to black and white. Luckily out wedding guests had a couple of nice 'snaps' .
Yes, quite the contrast: Now they look like everyone else's wedding photos, all prettified and every scrap of individuality gone.
Yes, quite the contrast. The first are genuine fun photos that capture the feeling, the photographed ones are sort of when you photoshop into a knight's armor
This is such bs, we had no wedding photographer and you know what we did have instead? A f*****g fabulous time, thank you very much
"All I know from the experience of getting married is that all that is left today is the photos" So I take it that means the marriage didn't last long?
Maybe it's just me, but I like the first set, too. Having to take out a chunk of time for pics or actually stage the whole thing on a different day is also stressful.
My sister hired a professional, and their photos were HORRIBLE!!! I personally took better photos and my sister paid for all the film I used. It was a total waste of money with this particular photographer. So my advice....check their work. Not all professionals are the same.
Appears this couple allowed their Dog to take their wedding photos with a Key Chain Camera. Had they allowed their family or friends to shoot with their Smart Phone Cameras, the photos would have been sharp, colorful, peppy and well posed. Hey Erik instead you could have found a friend or family with a DSLR - common they are very affordable these days at around $ 300 to 400. And you have posted some of the worst photos - unsharp/fuzzy, noisy, colors out of balance - that even a 10-year old child with her Point & Shoot Camera would have have been ashamed of and done a better job. I am a very ordinary Amateur Photographer and wish you had invited me as a friend to take your Wedding Photographs. I bet you a $ 1000 I would have taken close to 80% perfection as the Pro Wedding Photographer. This article is a SHAM.
We spent a fortune on our photographers, and honestly, they started to annoy us. Every time we wanted to sit and enjoy a drink or food, there was some kind of photo they wanted to take. At one point, when we were pulled off the dance floor to take a photo outside with sparklers, my husband started fuming. And, after all that, we took the USB stick of every photo they took, but never bothered to pick out the photos for the album we paid for. Three years later and still no album. So while a good photographer helps, it's not everything.
Sometimes, and far too often, the photos outlast the marriage. I didn't hire a photographer for my wedding, and the results were a mixed bag, just like the people who attended the wedding. I'm glad to say that the amateur photographers captured the more intimate side of the event, and I was able to see the wedding through their eyes.
I am a very ordinary Amateur Photographer. I also do some weddings for friends and family. I may not be able to match a Pro Wedding Photographer, but I WILL shoot sharp, colorful and photos with pop. I will also take some great close up shots of the couple and family in all their finery. What has been shown above is a JOAK, as even a Phone Camera today can take sharp & pretty photos. Showing the worst photos - rejects - from your friends or family is a shame for this guy Erik, and an affront to them.
Photographers literally refer to you as the "Uncle Bob" type. If you're so great at it then why don't you start a business? instead you try to undermine others.
Load More Replies...“All I know from the experience of getting married is that all that is left today is the photos” WTF ... hello google: remind me not to marry ever
I have two ex-wives who both have a set of expensive wedding photos in their attics.
Does anybody actually look at wedding albums past the first year of marriage? I've been married 30 years and we've only got 1 or 2 snapshots somebody thought to take. They're "in a box somewhere."
We had a professional photographer, and overall I totally agree that it's like night and day. There was just one exception for us because one of the guests at our wedding had a really good camera and happened to catch us at a perfect moment, and it's our favorite photo from our wedding.
I think that is a good choice, to leve the stress & responsabilty up to a professional. And let your guests enjoy your wedding. And if they get a few great candid photos, while your professional photographer is busy taking group shots etc, then great :)
Load More Replies...I didn't hire a photographer for my wedding, had friends and family take the pictures. Yeah they are blury and dark and all sorts of weird, but that doesn't make the memories in those photos and less meaningful. I can look at a picture and not only say that was a fun moment, but I can also say I'm happy my mom or my friend captured that moment for me.
For those that say they like the candids taken by guests, the professional wedding photographer also takes candids throughout the wedding day starting from when the bride and groom is getting ready, capturing all the details and emotions as well as the posed and the actual ceremony. If you can't afford a full day, at least ask about half day coverage so that you get the ceremony, formals and family photos and part of the reception, move up the cake cutting so that can be included. I used to photograph weddings and now I'm a commercial photographer, but hearing the negative comments is horrible...
Whoever took the photos with the phone used a very poor quality or older phone. Any newer phone is capable of taking great pictures; far better than the ones in this post. Also, you can buy a very good camera capable of taking near-professional quality photos for a fraction of the cost of hiring a photographer. Obviously this was posted by a photographer
You can do that, but are you going to ask a friend to follow you around all day for 8-12 hours taking photos on your wedding day and not pay them? I wouldn't ask that of my very best friends, I want them to relax and enjoy the wedding not put them to work.
Load More Replies...We didnt hire a professional.. got my brother inlaw... he loves taking photos.. so he did just as a great job as a professional would
I thing the first photos are real life, real party... (I like!) the other "Disney look"... looks like a weeding from someone, from everybody.. like advertising...
Yeah but what happens when like me the photographer you hire does a crappie job. $3500 down the drain
While the greatest quality isn't necessarily produced from people's cellular phones and digital cameras, I think candid shots are the best kind showing how not only the couple but also their guests enjoyed the day. the examples of bad photography shown here are likely the worst selected from an otherwise large collection of fairly decent photos. I get that professional photographers feel threatened by smartphones and digital photoediting for everyone to use and enjoy, but ultimately, it's up to the couple how they want to spend their money and people who sell things shouldn't command this.
I loved this post :) I see this as a post that tells us that one must never compromise on precious memories. ... Beautiful post, again
So what I'm reading here is that most folks would rather drop two grand (or more) on a one time wear dress, ten grand (or more) on a ceremony and reception, but skimp out on the one service that is designed to actually capture all the work and money that went into it and rely on their buddies (doesn't matter what camera they have if they don't understand photography) to capture the picts? Wow! Here's another idea. Get married in small ceremony, throw your buddies a kegger, and spend the dough on something fun. Because in 10 years your most salient memories will likely be the something fun part. And the pictures, well, I'm thinking you won't notice the difference. Hell, you could even get a guy to Photoshop you wearing the dress (and that will be the best picture of the bunch).
don't forget the floral arrangements and DJ that often get paid more than the photographer
Load More Replies...Hey folks! If someone of you are afraid to dont have good images from your wedding, your problems are over! Have a look at my work and if you like it I would be glad to make my best for you all!! I really do it with my soul and my heart: www.oficinadaphoto.com
thankfully I have a cousin who is a photographer (and a bridesmaid) I got many beautiful photos without paying a penny.
I'm a professional photographer. The short-sighted attitude of people who would rather spend their money on "more important things" is stunning to me. Trusting your wedding to drunken amateurs who can't even hold a cell phone steady is like letting your neighbor, the truck driver, do brain surgery. The pictures aren't for YOU, dummy ! They're for your parents, children and grandchildren who will want to see what idiots looked like 30 years ago.
huahauhauahuahauhauaha I´m laughing a lot with your comment!! ... And I´m here wondering that just in my country the people could be so stupids!! No. They really are on entire world!
Load More Replies...I understand that weddings can be stressful and pricey. But all things considered, hiring a wedding photographer is, if not always, at least 95% of the time the right choice. Sure, not all wedding photographers are great and some of them can be a little cheesy, In any case, there are many wedding photographers with very different styles, some of them using a documentary approach and they are able to get many great candid shots. Checking several photographers' websites is always a good idea. Asking a friend to do it for free? It's a risk, but if your friend is an aspiring photographer looking to widen his/her book or an advanced amateur with deep knowledge of composition and light, then the results can be good. Mobile phones are a double edged sword: If they have great sensors but their owners can't get the right light or if they don't know anything about shutter speeds or ISO's the results will end up being bad.
I am getting married next Saturday. My fiancé and I decided not to hire a wedding photographer. We are on a small budget. It's going to be a very small wedding. 30 guests. No bridal party. No formal reception. Just a dinner afterward at one of the nice local restaurants. We wanted to be able to celebrate after and afford to feed our guests. So we just could not afford a professional photographer. Thankfully I have a friend who does video production and she will be documenting our special day for free.
I'm not into big weddings. If you're going to spend a lot of money on something, spend it on the food.
I am not a pro photographer but I did my sister's wedding. Everyone loves the photos. This was the end of days for film but I shot something like ten 36-shot rolls. My brother (sister's twin) hired a pro and everyone is very disappointed with the photos because he barely took any and every shot was posed - not a single candid. The problem with guests taking photos is that any time you get everyone grouped for a shot, some guest (or six) say, "Hey, look over here!" So you can either be rude to guests and tell them to get lost or you wait for them to finish so you can take the "official" shots and hopefully by then the people you're photographing aren't sick of standing there. Plus ninety-nine percent of everyone doesn't know how to frame a shot properly or to get distracting stuff out of the frame of view before taking the shot like the plastic cup on the floor next to the bride's feet. A good photographer is looking at everything except the subject before he takes a photo.
Wow the photos of the professional photographer are amazing! I don't know why would anybody want to save for a photographer.
My wife insisted on a videographer and phographer and im so happy we did was very upset with the pictures
I'm too simple minded. I didn't see all too much difference in the pics.
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