Why you should never hire an Amateur Photographer?

Do not make the mistake of expecting professional results from an amateur photographer. Having been in the industry for as long as I have, I have heard this sob story too many times.

“My friend got married last year. They had their cousin, who likes photography take their pictures because he only charged them $200. But she didn’t get a single picture from her wedding that she likes. Every time she looks at her pictures, she cries.”

Another one goes like this:
“My sister got married some months back and she got her friend to take photos for her because he owns a professional camera and is doing freelance photography. He said that he would do it for free but when the wedding got near, he was contactable and later said that he could not do the project because he had a paid job come in on the same day.”

The biggest mistake a couple can make is to undervalue wedding photography. Countless couples have tried to save a few dollars by hiring a friend, or having a family member take their wedding photos. And countless brides have little but tears to show for it.

There are 4 main problems with getting family and friends to help out with wedding photography.
1. They are simply not experienced enough. Some of them have heard that wedding photography pays great and want to jump on to the bandwagon. But instead of learning as an assistant with professionals, they agree to shoot for friends and family as their photographer on their big day for the portfolio.

2. An amateur can show you a few good images, but can they do that day in and day out? Do they have the experience to deliver high quality images on a consistent basis? Probably not, or else – they would be running a real business.

3. They also do not realise the commitment they have to make (waking up in the wee hours of the morning) or have the kind of equipment necessary, which brings me to the next point.

4. Professional photographers also pride themselves on their equipment and generally they have the best gear available. People who trying out wedding photography on the side can’t justify the expense on professional gear or reliable backup gear.

5. Sometimes they simply outsource the project to an even cheaper photographer to take over because they realise later the amount of work that needs to be done simply does not justify the money they are getting. As a worst case scenario, we have seen amateur photographers simply not show up for the weddings or get a replacement.

At SG Media, we are putting our reputation and our livelihood on the line for each and every shoot. We do this because we are passionate about our job and to pay the rent, not for fun. We also have many glowing reviews and references on our facebook page.

For more information about our packages, call Gary at (65) 9090 7746 for more information.