The Friend Imposition

You've gotten engaged and now you find yourself having to plan a wedding.

What was once just abstract dreaming about a magical day is now the reality of managing a million tiny little details. Your venue? Indoor... outdoor... maybe a little of both? Colors? How many people do you invite and how will you feed them all? Cake... or cupcakes? Or maybe donuts! What kind of vibe are you going for with the music?

And with each detail, there is one constant that keeps adding up: weddings can be expensive.

It's natural to begin to look at ways you can cut some corners. Maybe save a little on this so you can splurge more on that. It's likely that you have friends who can help out with some things. Someone you know might be really great at decorating. Your best friend is a graphic designer that would love to make invitations for you. Then you realize that your uncle has really gotten into photography and some of the things he's been posting to Instagram are pretty amazing.

But before you hand over photography duties to a family member or a friend, there are some things to consider...

It's Not Just About The Camera.

Photographing a wedding is a lot more than just having a good eye. Weddings are, literally, a little bit of everything. Posed photos. Detail photos. Candid photos. Natural light photos. Almost no light photos. Shifting light. Fast moving timelines. Blink and you miss it emotional moments.

And for every single photo on your wedding day, there are no do-overs.

Professional wedding photographers aren't just taking pictures. They are problem solvers, planners, pressure-tested experts, ninjas peaking around corners and getting shots you didn't even know were one day going to become your favorites from the day.

A quiet moment, right in the heart of Lincoln's Haymarket.

Experience Isn't Optional.

Weddings are fast. Weddings are emotional and chaotic. Weddings are unpredictable.

A professional wedding photographer knows how to anticipate moments. They stay calm under pressure and keep things moving without being intrusive. Learning the ebb and flow of a wedding takes time and practical experience. The best wedding photographers also don't just react to the day. They will work with you and your planner to create a schedule that allows time for all of the photos you want without making you feel rushed.

Your best friend or your relative who otherwise takes some fantastic photos can easily get overwhelmed by the fast-pace of your wedding day and they might wind up missing things that really matter. Or just as bad, their inexperience can create delays for the entire rest of the day, frustrating your planner, your caterer, and even your guests.

Bride Kelci lit up the evening with elegance and calm at Hillcrest Country Club in Lincoln, NE

It's Not Just About Taking Great Pictures.

Obviously the pictures are the point. That epic shot that you want to get printed as a 30x60 canvas and hang over your fireplace. But behind the scenes, it's a lot more than just taking great photos.

Professionals come prepared. They have contracts, insurance, backup gear, and a proven workflow that ensures the images of one of the most important days of your life are delivered safely and beautifully.

Not your average ring shot. Water drops perfectly timed turn a simple detail photo into something unforgettable.

Your Friends or Relatives Deserve to Just Be Guests.

The thing is, even if your friend or your relative is actually an experienced wedding photographer, asking them to work during your wedding is pulling them out of the festivities.

Instead of laughing, tearing up, joining you on the dance floor, they are spending your wedding day working. They will be looking through a lens instead of experiencing your wedding in real life.

Even if they enthusiastically say yes to helping you out, do you really want them to be standing outside of all of those moments instead of in them, celebrating them with you?

Sass. Style. Zero apologies. This wedding party brought the energy, the attitude, and total main character vibes.

If Things Go Wrong, Relationships May Never Recover.

Professionals do their best to plan for every contingency. But as the saying goes about the best laid plans... There are so many things that can go wrong. A camera can malfunction. A memory card can become corrupted. A hard drive can crash. A car can break down.

Thankfully, when it comes to professional, established wedding photographers, the instances of technical problems or them not showing up is really rare. But your guarantees start to diminish when you look at photographers who are new to the business, or decide to go with a friend or a relative who just may not have much, if any, experience at all.

Even if there are no technical problems, an important shot can be missed or maybe you just don't like any of the photos.

If things go awry, you're not just dealing with disappointment. You're dealing with awkwardness, hurt feelings, blame, and perhaps even legal intervention.

Hopefully something like this is never an issue for your wedding, but if it is, it'll be tough enough when you're working with a professional. But at least that's just a business relationship. However things get resolved, you can move on and never have to deal with that person again.

That's just not the case with a friend or a relative. If the unthinkable happens and they somehow lose a shot, or more than one, or even your entire wedding, it's going to create tension lasting way beyond your wedding. A friendship can end. Your interactions with a relative can be strained for the rest of your life.

That Look. That Moment. That Light. Taken at the Pioneer Event Barn in Roca, Nebraska.

Professional Vendors Help You to Relax and Enjoy the Day.

When you hire a professional you don't have to worry about who is getting the shots and you can just soak in the moments. It means trusting that your memories are in good hands. And not only that, you are letting your friends and family fully experience the day with you.