| 1. No Experience In Wedding Photography | | | | 6. No Online Viewing |
| Taking pictures of landscapes and children does not | | | | Out of town friends and family probably won't get a |
| mean that someone is qualified to take wedding | | | | chance to see your wedding pictures unless they are |
| photos. There are key shots that a seasoned | | | | posted online or they come back into town. Online |
| wedding photographer will be sure to get, but for an | | | | image hosting can get expensive, especially for |
| inexperienced relative, these shots can be easily | | | | amateurs. So it's not likely that your relative will have |
| missed. | | | | a way for out-of-towners to see your images. |
| 2. No Editing | | | | 7. Cheap Equipment |
| I'm for capturing "real" moments at weddings as | | | | Digital cameras have come a long way in the past |
| much as the next guy, but no one wants a closeup | | | | few years, but there is still a major difference |
| of a blemish that showed up on the day of the | | | | between amateur and professional quality equipment. |
| wedding. Editing takes time, skill, and software that a | | | | Aside from the camera body, lenses and lighting can |
| family member may not be able or willing to do. | | | | make or break an image. This means that a perfect |
| 3. No Assistant | | | | moment may have been captured with bad |
| An assistant will help a professional wedding | | | | equipment, and may not have turned out at all. |
| photographer throughout the day to make the whole | | | | 8. No Contract |
| day go smoother by minimizing downtime and | | | | In situations where a family member will be |
| focusing on details that the photographer can't. Even | | | | photographing a wedding, most brides and grooms |
| if the assistant isn't acting as a second shooter, not | | | | have not clearly laid out expectations to their relative |
| having an assistant can make the whole day chaotic, | | | | shooting the wedding. Even with a relative shooting, |
| and a single photographer can easily be overwhelmed. | | | | you're better off with a contract stating services and |
| 4. No Album | | | | deliverables. |
| Digital albums emphasize key moments throughout | | | | 9. People Don't Take Orders From Family Members |
| the day and bring back wedding memories. Nothing | | | | Familiarity breeds contempt. This is never more clear |
| will kill the experience of looking back at your | | | | than a large family gathering. Even a professional |
| wedding pictures like being overwhelmed with | | | | wedding photographer will have their hands full giving |
| hundreds or even thousands of images. The best | | | | instructions to other family members. There's |
| case possible with a relative would involve you | | | | something to be said for hiring a stranger to give the |
| putting together a traditional album yourself. | | | | orders. |
| 5. No Professional Prints | | | | 10. They May Not Want To Photograph Your |
| Printing images at the local drugstore may work out | | | | Wedding |
| fine for a 4x6, but what happens when you want a | | | | Instead of working on a weekend, your friend may |
| large image or the drugstore printer is blowing out | | | | want to sit back and celebrate your wedding day |
| the image? With a family member shooting, you | | | | with you. Just because someone can take pictures, |
| probably won't have the option to purchase | | | | doesn't always mean they want to. |
| professional prints through your relative. | | | | |