When I first started photography, smart phones barely existed. We had those point & shoot cameras, which are basically extinct at this point. (Remember those!?) As camera phones got better and better, I wondered how that would affect our industry. I mean, you can take a selfie or a portrait in about 10 seconds now. Why do you need a photographer? It’s a fair question.
I thought it would be cool to shed light (pun intended lol) on some of the differences you get when you book professionally. I truly believe there is a time & place for iPhone photos (and even sell a course on it!) But I also think there are times it’s best to hire a professional. Here’s some things that make photographers experts:
We have learned lighting. Ohhhhh lighting. It’s trickier to manage than you think and can make or break your photo. Not only are we kickass at finding good lighting - we are good at USING lighting to create different moods and vibes. The better the photographer, the better they are at using light as a tool. Both artificial & natural lighting.
We have experience. One reason to hire an expert is our sheer amount of experience. You know how professional musicians practice their piece over and over and over until it’s completely known to them? True professional photographers have shot your session over & over before you ever step in front of their camera. We spent time & energy practicing at a lower price point so that we know we can produce our quality of images every time. There is a lot of benefit to a photographer who has experience because they know how to handle a variety of situations within your shoot and can make sure you get great photos.
We have education. Did you know we take classes? Like travel, sit in a classroom & learn from other professionals? It’s all out of pocket expenses, but we work hard to stay current in our education and constantly learn new techniques and ideas for better photos. Whether it’s posing, lighting, communication, editing, or whatever. We are putting in the hours of learning new things. That’s why our photos are so good, we have invested in our education.
We have the goods. If I could really break down how much good photography equipment costs, you would be mortified haha. We have all spent thousands on our gear, and continue to do so as we upgrade from year to year. But it allows us to capture those really high quality images and edit them in beautiful ways. It also allows them to be printed in that cool professional way.
The create a good experience for you. There’s something really valuable about being able to hire someone to document you & your life, and not have to arrange everything yourself. Make sure you hire someone who has a refined client experience, so you can sit back and let us treat you to an easy photo experience. Again, we have the experience to know what you’ll need before you do, so not only will you get great photos, you will feel happy & informed the whole way.
So there’s some reasons that professional photographers are experts, versus just the daily life photos you take on your phone. Both are valuable for their own purpose, but there’s definitely times you should hire out for those nicer photos. Because there’s nothing like the experience, education, knowledge & gear we bring to the table. You can’t replicate that on an iPhone.
Times I recommend considering a photographer hire:
yearly family photos, maternity photos, wedding photos, newborn photos, self-confidence photos (boudoir), and branding photos.
There are more, depending on what is important to you. But those are good staples!
-Jessie