You have just one day, hire a professional!
Last weekend I was talking with a woman I had just met and she asked what I do for a living, when she heard I was a wedding photographer her first response was “EVERYONE should hire a professional wedding photographer!” I of course agreed, but then wanted to know what made her say this and she proceeded to tell me the story of her daughter’s wedding…
In short, her daughter hired a friend with a nice camera to take her wedding photos and now has no images from the day worthy of printing. What happened? The friend wasn’t prepared to photograph in a dark hall with anything but the pop-up flash on the ‘nice camera’ and he got distracted part way through the wedding and stopped taking pictures! The DJ noticed he wasn’t photographing so stepped in with his point-and-shoot (note this is now the DJ taking photos instead of focusing on why he was hired). The friend/photographer noticed the DJ taking the photos and figured he didn’t need work anymore! In the end the bride and groom ended up with some blurry, red-eye photos, and some candid shots their friends and family managed to take with their phones…certainly nothing to treasure or enlarge to hang on their wall. Lesson learned from this story? Please hire a professional wedding photographer for your special day!
Now, why is it so important to hire a professional wedding photographer when there are so many people out there who “like to take pictures” or “have a nice camera” or are “really good with Photoshop”? Well there is an endless list of reasons and we’ll go over some of them here, but number one in our book is that these are your memories. This is your one shot at wedding day photos and after months and maybe years of planning the day goes by so quick and your images are what you will have to look back on, cherish, and share for generations. You don’t want to regret hiring someone who doesn’t have the experience, knowledge and expertise to provide you with these memories. The saying goes “you get what you pay for” so why not put a little extra into the photography budget?
If that story isn’t enough to convince you, take a look at some more reasons below:
1. Cheetah Design Studio will be focused on YOU.
Our responsibility for your wedding day is you and only you. We aren’t there to see friends or mingle with the guests. We aren’t going to be eating the food or drinking at the bar. We aren’t going to be living it up on the dance floor and forget that we should be taking photos. We are going to be watching you, your family and friends to make sure all the big moments and important little details are captured. Your wedding day is a long day and you don’t want your amateur photographer to get bored or distracted and miss that special dance you share with Grandpa or the first glimpse your fiancé takes of you as you walk down the isle.
2. Cheetah Design Studio has EXPERIENCE.
Lindsey has been shooting weddings for nearly 15 years. She has seen pretty much anything that could happen at a wedding and has dealt with many challenges. She knows how to shoot in a dark church when flash is not allowed, she can shoot in the middle of the summer under a blinding sun and can make the most of a rainy day. When you hire a professional you will get the experience and knowledge that comes along with it.
Lindsey is using more than just a “nice camera” she uses professional equipment and has plenty of back up in case something goes wrong. She shoots in manual mode so she is the one taking the shot, not the automatic camera. Lindsey will adjust to the changing light and differing surroundings. She has the eye to know what is flattering for you and how your surroundings will look in the photograph. When she looks at you she is seeing the final image, not just what she sees in front of her.
3. Not only do we take pictures but Cheetah Design Studio will HELP
With our years of experience we have come to learn exactly how a wedding day goes, please trust us! We know that even though you planned everything down to the minute, things never go that way. You may have booked in 15 minutes for the ride to the ceremony, so you’ll get there exactly on time, but we know that getting ready always takes longer. We can anticipate when we need to ask your family and friends to focus on you and not themselves. We can ask them to give you breathing room or go grab that special someone that will be able to calm you down. We help make sure grandparents are there for photos and that your cake is ready to be cut when you are. Not only do we take the photographs of the moments but we make sure those moments happen.
4. Cheetah Design Studio will deliver BEAUTIFUL images
Our focus is on capturing your day as it unfolds with timeless elegance. We don’t rely on Photoshop and other editing software to do the work for us, the image is captured in the camera and only enhanced in post-production. Lindsey prides herself on the natural feel to her images and providing a true likeness to what was actually in front of her. Fancy editing is fun for the time, but when you look back on it in 10 years will you still like that look or do you just want to remember the joy and beauty of the day?
We know how much a wedding costs and how we are all trying to save a little money, however, when you hire Cheetah Design Studio, this will be money you won’t regret spending. There are plenty of areas to DIY your wedding, favors, invitations and centerpieces. These things are important, however they won’t be what you look back on and remember (except in the photos that we capture!).
Still not sure a professional wedding photographer is right for you? Give us a call, we are always happy to talk about what it is you want in your day and how we can work together to make your memories ones to cherish!
