If you are reading this you have probably wondered if you really need to pay for the services of a Professional Photographer. Perhaps you are an advanced amateur photographer and have a good camera or perhaps your uncle Phil was a military photographer and has some really nice pictures to show how great he was. Perhaps there are any number of other choices available to get pictures and any one of them will be less expensive and indeed produce some images for your use. Unfortunately all of these options come with a list of built in problems that choosing a Professional Photographer will avoid.

A Professional Photographer brings with them two key items when they arrive at an event, The first is their eye for pictures and the knowledge that allows them to capture what their eye sees on film or as a digital image. The second and what many consider most important is they bring their undivided attention to the task of Photography. This allows both you and your uncle Phil to relax and enjoy the event without worrying about the details of the photography work.

In addition to these two key items, the professional photograph also brings an understanding of people gained through lifelong experiences. They can coax the fussy child into just the right place with just the right smile (most of the time), They take the extra time to get both grandmothers into the same photograph without causing irritation or hurt feelings, and best of all they work for you and will take whatever pictures you direct. (See Working with your Photographer.)

The professional photographer will take care of all the details. What if the camera breaks, he has a spare. What if the flash fails, he has a spare. What if the event runs long and the batteries go dead, he carries enough so that never happens. In short, all the little things that can and do go wrong are handled by the professional while you enjoy meeting with your guests, eating and having a good time, knowing all the while that you will have many wonderful pictures to remind you of the great evening.

Finally, when the event is over there is no film to take to the processor, no running to the store for proofs, and no looking through hundreds of pictures to eliminate the ones of aunt Ruth with her eyes shut or cousin Fred with the lamp post sticking from his head. You only have to wait a few days while you recover from the festivities and the professional photographer will deliver a beautiful lasting record of the great time that was had by all.

So the choice is yours, worry about the evening and how you are going to get uncle Phil to take a picture of his ex-wife that you adore or hire a professional that works at your bidding and produces albums full of memories you can cherish for a lifetime. We think you will agree that the Professional Photographers' modest charges are a small price to pay for the piece of mind that comes from having one less thing to worry about.