{"id":399882,"date":"2024-02-06T12:30:41","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T12:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wedissimo.com\/blog\/this-is-what-happens-if-you-dont-hire-a-wedding-photographer\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T15:25:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T15:25:53","slug":"regret-not-hiring-professional-wedding-photographer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wedissimo.com\/blog\/regret-not-hiring-professional-wedding-photographer\/","title":{"rendered":"This is What Happens If You Don\u2019t Hire a Wedding Photographer"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

We share the sad tale of a bride who didn\u2019t hire a professional wedding photographer and ended up unhappy with her photos. She hates them and explains why hiring a professional photographer<\/a> is crucial to avoid ending up with dreadful and embarrassing images.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

My Wedding Photography Nightmare<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We spoke to bride Lynne, who also runs Medici Macarons, to learn about how she planned her wedding day, allocated her budget, and what decisions she made regarding photography.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So firstly Lynne, how did you meet your partner?<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We met through a friend. Ian was training to be a social worker and stopped by my friend’s place one night to borrow some books for his course. It was love at first sight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How did you go about planning your big day?<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We decided we wanted to marry on the first anniversary of us starting to date. From the beginning, we knew we wanted a quiet wedding with just our closest friends and family. Unfortunately, I fell ill, and we had to cancel the wedding. In some ways, that turned out to be a blessing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Our small, intimate wedding had grown into something we didn\u2019t want due to parental pressure. We finally got married three years after we met and were able to plan the wedding we truly wanted. We chose the date closest to the anniversary of us meeting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We booked the registry office first and requested to be married by a family friend, which made the ceremony extra special. Then, we started looking for a place to have a meal after the ceremony. Ian’s sister kindly offered her house. We booked a local caterer to provide a buffet-style meal with lots of our favourite foods. Ian’s mum, who had been a wedding cake maker in her youth, offered to make us a three-tier cake.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How did you go about splitting up your budget?<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We wanted to keep costs low\u2014we didn\u2019t have much spare cash, and the money we did have, we both felt, would be better spent on the honeymoon. We didn\u2019t have a specific budget; we bought what we liked, but we ended up spending roughly equal amounts on the dress, suit, and food. At the last minute, I decided to have flowers for myself, my matron of honour, and two bridesmaids. They ended up costing more than my dress!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So Disappointed with my Wedding Photos<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

At the time, what was the reasoning for not hiring a professional wedding photographer?<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Because we were having a small, intimate wedding, we thought a wedding photographer wasn\u2019t really necessary\u2014that it would somehow be extravagant for such a small event. We also considered it an added expense that could be better spent on other costs and our honeymoon. When my brother, who was a keen amateur photographer, offered to take the photos, the idea of hiring a professional photographer never crossed our minds again.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bad Wedding Photography<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

At what point did you regret not having a wedding photographer and how did it come about?<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

I was disappointed as soon as I saw the photos after our wedding. There were so few that I felt I could put in a picture frame\u2014many were blurred, some had people\u2019s heads cut off, and the lighting was all wrong!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Since becoming a wedding supplier, I\u2019ve been following wedding blogs and see wonderful wedding photos every day. I deeply regret not hiring a professional photographer to capture our special day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What advice would you give to others thinking of using a friend or family member to capture their day?<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

DON’T! Friends and family may offer in good faith, but I’ve realised that wedding photography is more than just having a decent camera and the ability to take a good shot. It’s about having an eye for capturing those special moments and telling the story of your day, as well as possessing all the necessary technical expertise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What Issues did you have with your photos?<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n