I found this great article from Seattle Bride Magazine and wanted to share it with you. Often, as a photographer, I know we tend to have a bias about our work and how important it is for you to hire a professional wedding photographer. We try and let you know how the experience of a professional photographer outweighs the money you may think you are saving by letting a friend or family member do the photography for you. Here is some info from the amateur’s point of view:
Seattle Bride sent local writer and (semi) amateur photographer Cody Ellerd to shoot photos alongside a top wedding professional and set the record straight once and for all: Is it worth it to hire a friend or family member who’s pretty good with a camera for your wedding?
By Cody Ellerd
I consider myself a pretty good amateur photographer. I’ve taken a couple of classes, I have a nice Nikon D60 and, as a professional travel writer, I’ve even had a few of my shots make magazine covers and pages. If you didn’t budget for a professional photographer at your wedding, I’m the friend you might call to take pictures.
So when Seattle Bride sent me to the late-winter wedding of Vicky Wu and Chris Nicoll to shoot alongside Joey Hong of John & Joseph Photography, a local award-winning team of two brothers who have been shooting commercial, fashion and wedding photography for more than eight years, I was curious to see how well I could keep up with a seasoned pro.
From the moment we started shooting in the bride and grooms hotel room, I was floored. Vicky, look down at your shoulders put a gentle smile on your lips. Chris, look straight at my lens no, smile. Relax your forehead. Joeys attention to such minute detail went way beyond Say cheese and brought out the couples absolute best. He knew how to manipulate the rooms light and reflective surfaces in ways I never would have dreamed of, transforming what I thought was an unremarkable setting into a photo studio with endless possibilities.
To read more of this story and see Cody’s and Joey’s side-by-side images, visit Seattlebridemag.com
This was such a cute moment, totally unscripted, Ellerd remembers. They bumped fists and it was clear it was a little habit of theirs, one that conveyed their friendship. Joey was right there to catch it while I was fumbling with my focus ring.
“This image is so painfully inferior,” says our rouge photographer Cody Ellerd about her image. “My angle is bland while Joey’s is creative. His is crisp and perfectly exposed, while mine is washed out and grainy. Joey knew exactly how to take advantage of the sense of motion created by this cool backdrop.”