What’s the point of hiring a professional photographer to take your photos these days? Smart phones’ camera quality has gotten sooo good, and plus, my mom got a nice camera for Christmas last year, she could just take them, right? Wrong! I mean, you can definitely go that route, but there’s sooo many benefits to hiring a pro instead of DIYing your pics.

Quality

Okay, we’ve established that smart phones have pretty good cameras these days. But here’s the thing. You might be able to get a nice looking, sharp photo with your iPhone, but there’s more to a quality photo than that. Professional cameras allow you to fully customize your settings so you can create high quality, artistic images with a look and feel you can’t recreate with a phone. Aunt Betty said she’d take your senior photos with her nice camera she just got to take on vacation? Does she know how to use it? I’ve been in business for 5 years, but I’ve been continuously learning how to use professional camera gear and honing my shooting style and skills for 13+ years.

Posing

Next up, we have posing! I’m sure you have your go-to poses that look great on your Insta, but professional photographers are great at thinking outside the box and putting clients in poses that flatter their body shape, bring attention to the right details, and make the overall photo look more appealing and interesting.

Lighting + Composition

Beyond just knowing how to use a camera, I’ve had to learn about different types of lighting and composition. I know how to best shoot in backlight, direct sunlight, and low light conditions. Knowing how to beautifully light your photos will increase the chances of getting those gorgeous, cinematic shots.

And then there’s composition. Composition is how the visual elements are arranged in photo. Which seems extra, but it’s a big part of what makes professional photos stand out from amateur. Professionals know how to use the background, props, clothes, and the body to create a visually dynamic image.

Capturing the Moment

Another thing photographers are really good at, that you might not think of, is really capturing the moment. We can bring the emotions and feelings of that moment to life through our photos. We can capture the in between moments that you didn’t even think to take a photo of.

Editing

Besides having professional camera equipment, a professional photographer also uses editing software that can take photos from good to amazing. It’s so much more than slapping on a filter and calling it a day. I spend hundreds of dollars a year on editing software that I use to perfect my photos and bring my photography style to life.

Professional

Okay, this one is geared more towards business owners, creators, or people on the hunt for a job. Using professional photos for your headshots, social media, LinkedIn profile, website, etc. makes you seem so much more professional, reputable, and impressive.

Preparation

Photographers are able to prep their clients with knowledge they might not have had otherwise, that can make a big difference in phots. What to wear, how to do your hair and makeup, how to show up to your shoot looking polished, and more are all just a few examples of information I give my clients to prepare for their photoshoot.

Locations

I have a curated location guide that I’ve built over 5 years in business with the most beautiful locations in and around Wichita. I have locations for every vibe. And a lot of them took a lot of work to find. A lot of my clients have never seen or been to the locations they pick from my location guide.

Stress Less

Overall, it’s probably a lot less stressful to leave everything to a pro! I guide my clients each step of the way and my goal is always to make the photoshoot process easy and fun. I take care of the planning, the posing, the shooting, and the editing. All you have to do is show up!

Did I convince you?

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that paying for a professional photographer in this economy is pretty much a luxury. But when it comes to those milestone moments especially, it’s worth the investment. You aren’t just investing in pretty pictures. You’re investing in memories.