Why hire a professional photographer for your wedding day

One of my biggest regrets, is that I didn’t hire a professional photographer on my wedding day. Surprising, I know! When I got married nearly 10 years ago, I was mostly focused on our ceremony being “us”, and being able to afford a wedding. We had a very limited budget, and I was of the mindset that at the end of the day, we will be married and that’s all that matters. And honestly, I felt guilty spending money on wedding photography when we had someone offer to document it for us for free. I was only looking at the short term cost of hiring a professional photographer, I missed out on what an important investment it is. I wish I could go back, hire a photographer I loved, and pay for it with a credit card. 10 years later I can look back and say, yes, that absolutely would have gotten paid off, and would have been well worth the investment. I don’t want you to make the same mistake I did. Please, give yourself permission to wisely spend your money on a professional wedding photographer on your wedding day! 

Need more convincing why? Let me tell you, a professional photographer’s work is something you will always be proud to have framed and hanging in your home, or displayed in a wedding album on your coffee table for friends to see. Over the years, my style has changed, in my opinion for the better! I’m more selective when it comes to artwork and photography that are displayed in my home. I wish my wedding photos were of a professional quality, because a professional wedding photographer knows how to edit in a true to life, timeless style that will look good today and many years from now. 

There is also a lot to be said for the difference in equipment and experience. You absolutely get what you pay for. I’m confident shooting wedding ceremonies in a variety of weather and lighting conditions. I’m able to organize large families into beautiful family formals. I’m able to anticipate and photograph intimate moments, and candid joy. Having a professional photographer you can trust capturing your day, allows you to stay present and in the moment during your wedding day, rather than wondering if something is being photographed and if it will turn out okay. 

I absolutely love what I do, and my clients do to! It’s an absolute honor and joy to be able to document a wedding day. I know that these photos will be what you look at and share for years to come when you want to relive that day. 

“Betty was incredible from our first meeting through follow-up and delivery of our photos! She recently photographed both our engagement shoot and our outdoor wedding, and she was a delight to work with. Betty is truly a professional, and her work exceeded our expectations in every way. She instils immediate trust and confidence, which translates into unbelievable photos that capture the emotion and excitement in a way we never thought possible. Most importantly, Betty made us feel at ease throughout both our engagement shoot and our wedding. She possesses a calm, reassuring demeanor, and we were very fortunate to have her as a part of our special day. Her eye for small but significant details is incredible, and we have had many friends and family comment that she took some of the best wedding photos they have ever seen – we couldn’t agree more!” - Eric & Sara

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Photography by Betty Elaine is a Seattle Adventure Wedding and Elopement Photographer in the Pacific Northwest. Servicing weddings throughout Washington and National Parks, including Snoqualmie Pass, Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic Peninsula, North Cascades, and San Juan Island. Betty's professional work features beautiful editorial wedding photography, elopements, and anniversary sessions. Travel is available to other locations outside of the Washington area for local, national, and international wedding photography. As a wedding photographer with a passion for adventure and travel photography, Betty has photographed across the United States, and Europe.