I’ve got both kiddos down for a nap (well, Jack is really just trying to soothe himself in the baby lounger next to me, but I at least have TWO free hands!) so I’d like to take this opportunity to write about something that’s been bothering me lately.

It’s currently busy booking season for me. From the end of December to March, I’ll receive a high number of wedding photography inquiries. This also means I’ll receive a high number of, for lack of a better word, “rejections.” I’m not going to book every couple that comes my way, and I’m OK with that. I realize there are tons of talented photographers out there and couples are often times considering more than one. But what bothers me most when I receive a “rejection” is a couple deciding to have their “Uncle Bob” photograph their wedding instead of me, or another professional.

It’s usually because the couple is saving money. Their family friend, cousin or “Uncle Bob” has offered to take their wedding pictures as a gift and it’s a hard deal to pass up. I don’t blame them. I’m all about saving money these days and did plenty of things during our wedding planning process to keep costs down. But are your wedding pictures worth the risk? Are they worth risking a deal with “Uncle Bob” who doesn’t have a business, doesn’t have wedding photography experience and who doesn’t really take the kind of pictures you’re looking for?

I say NO! I know you’ve heard it before, but your wedding pictures will be one of the last things you have to remember your big day. Your wedding pictures are the one thing that can sit in an album on your coffee table and help you visually relive all the special moments, from saying “I do” to sharing your first dance (and maybe tears) as husband and wife. Do you want those pictures to be out of focus and blurry? Do you want them to be badly lit and hard to see? Do you want those pictures to be something you regret?

I’m not saying all family friends, cousins and “Uncle Bobs” will produce bad pictures. Maybe your “Uncle Bob” actually is a professional who fits the photography style you’re looking for….score! You’ll get great pictures and save money! But from what I’ve heard, this isn’t a likely thing.

So if you’re being offered discounted or gifted wedding pictures from an “Uncle Bob”, I encourage you to consider the following questions:

1. Do they have any wedding photography experience? Shooting a wedding is not like shooting a portrait session. Weddings can’t be redone, they can often times last up to 12 hours and they require a lot more than just one camera, one lens and the ability to make people smile. Weddings involve emotional people, time-sensitive occurrences, moments that cannot be missed, large groups of people to photograph, back-up equipment, and much more. Weddings are a BIG DEAL and are normally best handled by professionals, or those with experience.

2. Does their photography style appeal to you? Do they have a portfolio that shows the kind of pictures you’re looking for? Sure, discounted or gifted wedding pictures are hard to say no to, but don’t just say yes because you’ll save money! Every photographer’s style is unique and that’s something you should seriously explore before making a final decision. Maybe they take awesome pictures, but don’t shoot in the photojournalistic style you’re attracted to. If you overlook this, you could end up dissatisfied with the end result.

3. Do they have a contract to offer you? I knew a couple that decided to have their family friend photograph their wedding. About one month before the wedding, the friend backed out because she couldn’t get a babysitter. The couple didn’t have a formal contract with that family friend, so there wasn’t much they could do. Had they signed some sort of contract that bounded the friendly transaction, the family friend wouldn’t have been able to leave the couple “high and dry.” Professional photographers with a business and wedding photography experience will be able to offer a wedding photography contract. It should state that they’ll be at your wedding no matter what…or that they’ll at least be able to help provide a substitute should something very unlikely and out of their control prevent them from performing the job. A wedding day transaction is not to be taken lightly!

So if you’re being tempted with free photography from “Uncle Bob”, please ask yourself the above questions…and save yourself from possible regretting a bad decision.

And because my 2014 wedding season is still two months away, here’s a quick collection of some favorites from my final four weddings from 2013…