Uncle Joe:

Takes wonderful pictures of flowers and his kids at the playground.

Brings his camera on vacation.

Took a community college photography workshop about 5 years ago.

Favorite camera setting is “Auto.”

Enjoys discussing the comparative merits of various cameras on internet message boards.

Doesn’t see the need to spend $450 for an external flash because his camera has a pop-up flash.

Professional:

Averages 3,000 to 10,000 images every week.

Knows how to shoot in all situations: dark caves, sunny beaches, large churches, in the rain, and in the snow.

Can quickly adjust camera settings blindfolded.

Adept at using ambient light, bounced flash, fill flash, and off-camera lighting.

Understands the principles of photojournalism, portrait photography, creative posing, and composition.

Is up to date on modern wedding photography styles and techniques.

Lives, breathes, and sleeps wedding photography.

Uncle Joe:

Has attended a few family weddings.

Loves dancing to “We Are Family.”

Tends to takes snapshots only of friends and family that he knows.

If the wedding pictures don’t turn out, oh well.

Professional:

Shoots numerous weddings per year.

Can show you multiple examples of wedding galleries from past clients.

Has enough experience to help your whole wedding day run smoothly.

Has dealt with a myriad of wedding scenarios including churches, backyards, castles, ballrooms, beaches, and parks.

Has shot small weddings, large weddings, traditional, modern, unconventional, offbeat, and everything in between.

Knows the flow of a wedding day and can anticipate where to be, what to capture, and can adjust to the unexpected.

Can provide valuable advice on your timetable and recommend family group shots.

Realizes future livelihood relies on delivering high quality images.

Uncle Joe:

Oftentimes will have a new top of the line pro camera, but hasn’t fully explored (or understood) all of its features.

Has one or two consumer grade zoom lenses.

Might have a flash, but always uses it pointed straight ahead, set to Auto of course.

Has shot a couple of hundred images with it.

Professional:

Has invested thousands of dollars in multiple pro camera bodies, an extensive collections of lenses, flashes, battery packs and other peripheral equipment.

Has shot hundreds of thousands of images and knows the equipment inside and out.

Refreshes all equipment on an ongoing basis. Has all equipment cleaned, adjusted, and calibrated on an annual basis.

Uncle Joe:

Cell phone camera.

Could borrow a point-and-shoot from another guest in a pinch.

Professional:

Carries at LEAST one complete pro-level backup kit (camera/lenses/flash) in case of equipment failure.

Most pros carry triple or more redundant systems because you just never know what could happen.

Uncle Joe:

Uploads the images to his Flickr account.

Some of them are crooked or not exposed properly.

Burns the images to a CD.

Professional:

Has invested thousands of dollars in high end computers and image editing software.

Through years of experience has mastered the end-to-end workflow including capturing, downloading, culling, editing, uploading, burning, printing and album creation.

Attended workshops on perfecting the image, removing blemishes, adjusting exposure, enhancing colors and contrast, and final presentation.

Dedicated to creating heirloom quality images for your family to enjoy for generations.

Uncle Joe:

Umm…

Professional:

Carries the proper business insurance including liability insurance.

Some venues will not allow your photographer to shoot without a Certificate of Insurance. Even if they will, should a guest trip over a piece of the photographer’s equipment, without proper liability insurance you could be financially responsible.

Uncle Joe:

Contract?

Professional:

Provides a contract which outlines all relevant facts on the services and products provided, and at what cost to the client.

A good contract will help to reduce any misunderstandings between what the client thinks is included (8 hours, prints, album, etc.) and what the photographer promises to provide.

Uncle Joe:

Gets his prints from Costco or Walmart.

Unlikely to provide an album.

If he does, his selection is limited because most high quality album produces only work with professional photographers.

Professional:

Has access to the highest quality professional photo labs. These labs have professionally calibrated machines and use higher quality, thicker paper for their prints. They also offer more options for print finishes and surfaces.

Works with high-end album manufacturers who only sell to professional photographers.