Don't Pay A Photographer Just To Push A Button

In the year 2000, Samsung manufactured the first ever camera phone. This would change the world forever. This created a chain of events that would change photography forever. Eventually every phone had a camera in it. Over time, these cameras got better and better. Nowadays you can take stunning photos with some of the leading cell phones on the market. Because of this, many people have figured that they don't really need to pay an expensive photographer to have photos of themselves and their loved ones or their products. You already paid $1000 for your phone because it has a good camera, why pay another $500-$2000 for someone else to take photos of you? 

There really is no point in you paying for a photographer if you are happy with the photos your phone can take. Think of it this way, if you’re satisfied with your small apartment that has just enough room for you and your kids, living room, kitchen and small bathroom, there is no point in buying a large home with extra rooms for convenience, a laundry room, dishwasher, a walk-in closet for extra space for your clothes, a large attic to hide all your junk or holiday decorations, a 2 car garage so you and your partner can keep those nice cars safe, and a finished basement for entertainment(who doesn't want a mancave right?). You don't need professional photographs and you don't need that amazing house. It's all just extra. You're paying for quality, conveniences, comfort, but you can live without any of that. 

So, what's the point of professional photographers then?

Well… the same point of that nice house with all the extras or that new car with rear view cameras that drives itself, that nice couch with cup holders and charging ports that reclines. When you want more than just the necessities, when you want more than just average, that's when you will decide it's worth paying for it. You see, your phone can take a photo, all you have to do is push a button right, but you can't compose the photo the way a professional can. You can't get the perfect lighting a professional who has studied light for years can. Your phone, for as great as their cameras have gotten, still falls short of a professional camera's quality and resolution. You can take those photos and head to your local CVS or Walmart and print out a bunch of 4x6 prints and be happy. A lot of people are happy with 1080P HD televisions, but many love the difference they see when they upgrade to 4k. Especially if you want to blow those photos up and put them on a beautiful 11x14 canvas or a 20x24 print, you will see the difference. That photo that looked sharp on your 6 inch screen now looks like you took it on an old Razr phone from 2004. 

There's nothing wrong with taking your everyday photos with your phone. All photographers do the same thing. However, life passes in the blink of an eye. Your kids grow fast. You grow fast. One of my biggest regrets is not getting more professional photos of my kids every year to see their growth in spectacular quality. All I have are blurry and grainy photos from old phones. The few photos I have that were taken professionally are my favorite. When I look at them I feel like I see THEM. There's so much detail. There's a twinkle in their eyes. I feel like their souls are in those eyes. I don't get that from the photos I took on my phone. Those photos seem lifeless. Look, if you are not in the position in life where you can afford professional photos, do not pay for it. You should never put yourself in a financial hole just to have some good photos.  If you don't see the difference a professional photographer can make versus your camera phone, then you shouldn't pay for a professional either. You are satisfied with just the necessities and that's ok. I’m still driving my 2004 Toyota with no bells and whistles. I’ll be happy with this truck until I feel I really want bluetooth, rearview cameras, warming and cooling seats, etc. I don't prioritize my vehicle the way others do. Not everyone prioritizes quality photography either and that's ok. This is for those who actually do appreciate quality photos or who are on the fence. For those of you who really want those beautiful photos but are looking for how to justify paying more. In order to make that leap, you just need to understand what you're paying for. You're not paying for someone to just push a button. You're paying for someone to freeze time so in 30 years you can see yourself or your loved ones exactly as they were today. Every little detail in their eyes, on their skin, in their smiles. You are paying for someone who understands light in a way you don’t, understands composition in a way you don’t, so that the photo can look beautiful and unique instead of looking like every other photo you see on instagram. You're paying for quality good enough to buy prints in any size and know that they will look flawless. 

So there you have it. Don’t pay a photographer just to push a button. Pay them to give you a quality work of art that you’ll have and cherish for the rest of your life… but only when you're ready.