One of the many things I love about being a wedding photographer is the wild anticipation of the couples reaction to seeing their photos for the first time. Steph and Joe are currently in Cuba (I know; wow!) so may or may not have seen the few shots I posted a couple of days ago. I’m done in post now (that’s tog jargon for going through all the images and sorting them etc) and just can’t wait for them to come back show I can show them what they’ve got. Happy days!

Just had another thank you email that I felt I just had to share. Bless them, Naomi and Christopher had already said thanks once by text and once by email, so this came as a nice surprise:

“A HUGE thank you for our wedding photos, they are amazing – just what I wanted and more. Thank you so, so much. You really have captured the most beautiful moments.

I’m thinking we may have to come back to Liverpool for our anniversary, maybe a mini shoot?

Thanks again Dan, you really are the most wonderful photographer ”

Aww… You can see some of their photos by clicking here.

A couple of times this year I’ve missed out on a booking to a family friend or relative. I can’t say any more than that, as I have no idea whether the individuals are photographers or not. It made me think about how I felt about this, and also made me wonder how the photos from those couples weddings would end up. Would they be satisfied with what they received?

I also realised that there was a lot of chance that anything I wrote about this subject could be seen as nothing more than sour grapes. However, I’m a thick-skinned, bounce-back-quick kind of guy, so the grapes are long gone. So here goes, a look at my fears for brides and grooms who ask Uncle Bob to do the photos for them.

Things to consider:

1. Has Uncle Bob ever shot a wedding before?
   This is important, because wedding photography is not just about sticking a lens in someone’s face and pulling the trigger (OK, maybe the grapes are still there, just a little!) Will Uncle Bob chat with the registrars or ministers about their preferences and rules around photographing the service? Will he visit the venue to talk to the planners about their plans and concerns?
2. What if Uncle Bob’s camera breaks?
   Has he brought back up equipment, just in case? Are his batteries fully charged? Does he have multiple sets of redundant cells, just in case? I once had a camera break down mid-shoot – but I’ve plenty of back up equipment. It’s the principle reason my bag is so heavy!
3. Is Uncle Bob insured?
   What if someone trips over his tripod leg or bag strap? Is Uncle Bob covered for Professional Liability? What if all his photos are terrible? (I’m full covered by the way…)
4. Has Bob got alternative plans if things go wrong weatherwise?
   Incredibly, it’s not yet happened to me, but I always have a plan of what I’ll do should the heavens open on the day, all day.
5. Finally, perhaps Uncle Bob would rather just be at the wedding to enjoy the day with you all?
   Bottom line here is, I’m an employed professional whose job it is to stay sober and alert, all day, so as not to miss a moment, where humanly possible. Can you rely on Uncle Bob this way?

Now, you’re probably right. I’m still feeling a bit sour. But I think it’s important for brides and grooms to be aware of some of the potential pitfalls of asking a friend or relative to do the shoot for you. In my experience, this has been principally because, “They’ve got a nice camera.” Well, I’ve got three, but that in itself is not what makes me a professional photographer who can be trusted to record your wedding day in pictures. No, it’s the experience, the attention to detail, the ability to think on my feet if things go wrong, the people skills required to marshall a group of over a hundred people without offending anyone – the list goes on.

So if you’re not sure about hiring a professional (and I totally understand where cost is an issue – I’m not the cheapest out there) then please think long and hard about risking your day’s photography to someone who may just be saying yes because they don’t want to disappoint, or may be saying yes, because being asked has buffed their ego (dang, there’s them grapes again!). You may end up regretting the decision – and you can’t get those moments back again.

Well, I’ve done my first wedding in Runcorn now – and it’s a shame that the bride and groom decided not to take my advice about where to have their couple shots. Shame for me and them, as they didn’t get the shots that I thought they’d love, and shame for me as I didn’t get the shots that I knew I’d love. Oh well. Here’s one of where they could’ve been…

Could be Colorado, but it's Runcorn

But there is a bigger issue here – almost a philosophical one. After all, who are the shots ultimately for? The photographer, or the bride and groom? Well, they’re for the bride and groom of course, and as a professional, I’m there to provide a service to them, not to just be building my portfolio. So, if you want to have your shots in a particular place, well, that’s just fine. I’ll cry about it later.

Having said that, I think my advice was good – and we did kind of run out of time anyway. Not that the time issue was my fault, I hasten to add! Anyway, it was a good shoot and I know they’ll be more than happy with what I’ve produced for them.

And that of course, is what wedding photography is really all about.