Everyone knows a photographer or two. It could be a friend or relative who’s passionate about photography and owns a high-quality DSLR camera. For most photographers, photography is a passion that they rekindle on certain occasions such as wedding ceremonies, graduation days, and weekend trips. Sometimes, people go wild with photography when experimenting with their new phones and its capabilities.

They would take cool selfies, shoot nature scenes, and even have their work published on various social media profiles on Facebook and Instagram. But sometimes, it is simply better to give the arduous task of extensively documenting your big day to a professional who knows the ins and outs of the trade. This person will have the right skill set, experience, and equipment to do justice to your wedding day. Below are a few reasons you should hire a photographer for your wedding.

The Right Skill Set

A professional photographer will likely have undergone years of training at an institute that specializes in photography. The photographer will know about the right kind of gear to bring and be able to adjust the camera’s settings without going through the manual every now and then.  Little details such as proper exposure, shutter speed, and ISO play an important role that most people simply don’t know about.

Lighting Techniques

At its heart, good photography is all about manipulating shadows and lighting. It can take several years before a photographer can boast about mastering lighting techniques both in the controlled environments of their studios and the uncontrolled chaos that is typical of the outdoor landscape. The wedding ceremony is one such setting that professionals cannot completely control.

A photographer who knows how to interact with the camera and the lighting settings will create beautiful textures and give a more three-dimensional look to your pictures.

Manage Group Shots

Taking a group photo requires a certain degree of control that transcends beyond the camera. A photographer should be able to capture all facial expressions in synchronization with the camera’s built-in settings. An amateur might fumble around and require several takes before capturing the perfect picture, but a skilled photographer will be done within just a few takes.

The photographer will likely have an assistant photographer to help with the time-consuming part of arranging a demanding group photo. This second photographer will coordinate with the group of friends and speed up the process.

Experience

Professional photographers have obviously taken lots of beautiful photos before, and this is why they get to call themselves professionals. They will have documented several events and ceremonies with their cameras and will have been exposed to a wide range of combinations such as lighting, background, and subjects. This allows them to draw from their experience and will know what precautions to take when someone blinks or makes an awkward expression.

Lenses

No professional photographer will come to your wedding day unorganized and without the right equipment. They will have the knowledge and the right equipment. They will also survey the land to prepare for a variety of situations, such as having a possible second or third camera already equipped with different lenses.