Why You Still Need A Photographer, Even If Having A Small Wedding

Why You Still Need A Wedding Photographer Even If You're Having A Small Wedding

2020 was a weird year for weddings (that’s a “DUH” statement if I’ve ever made one – 2020 was a weird year for everything). It made a lot of people examine their priorities & look at things from a different perspective.

One of the things looked at from a different perspective was “getting married” – what was most important to a couple as they planned to get married? Well, during the height of quarantine, the answer for some was simply: “To get married!” – any way, any how, some couples just did not care & let everything they’d planned fall away as they looked at each other & said: “We just want to get married.”

Due to regulations & restrictions, the size of wedding guest lists shrunk down to sometimes just a handful of people. Couples changed their venues, downgraded their catering, & canceled their DJ services due to hosting fewer guests than they’d planned.

But here’s the thing: whether a couple is drastically changing their wedding plans (due to the pandemic or finances or whatever) or has simply planned a “small” wedding from the start – do you know what every single wedding (big & small) has in common?

They still need a professional photographer.

I’ve been asked the question myself: “We are just having a super small wedding, do we really need a photographer?”

So, let’d dig into that!

First off: everyone’s definition of “small” is different.

For some, “small” means less than 10 people, while for others, “small” can mean less than 100 people. Maybe your sibling or a cousin got married & had a massive 500-guest wedding – that would then make your 250-guest wedding appear “small”.

I’m here to tell you that the number of guests you invite does not effect your photography at all.

A wedding photographer is focused on two people: the bride & groom. That focus then does extend to the bridal party (if there is one) & immediate family, as they will be photographed in formal portraits.
From there, if there are additional guests, of course a wedding photographer will capture candids of them talking & laughing together and tearing up the dance floor.
But, the bottom line is: as a wedding photographer – my goal is to keep track of the bride & groom at all times, whether there are 10 guests or 300.

No matter what size wedding you plan, every single wedding day has certain things in common:

The bride gets ready – whether it’s at a fancy salon or a friend does her hair & makeup.
The bride gets dressed – whether it’s in a lavish hotel suite or Grandma’s living room.
The groom gets ready – maybe at a friend’s house or the basement of the church.
The bride arrives at the ceremony site – be it a big Gothic church or simply a field.
The groom waits for the bride at the end of the aisle – does he shed tears or not – that is the question.
A ceremony occurs – whether it lasts 5 minutes or 90 minutes.
The bride & groom are pronounced husband & wife – and they share their first kiss.
They then move into family portraits – unless a couple is eloping with just the photographer, there are always at least a few family photos to take. That list can be as short as 4-5 groupings or 30 groupings, depending on the family.
They then move into other portraits – bridal party, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and finally, portraits of the bride & groom.
And finally, the reception – be it a grand sit-down 7-course dinner or buffet, barn or ballroom or simply a restaurant.

Notice something missing from my list? There is NO mention of a guest count!

If you are getting married, you need a professional photographer – end of story.

In fact, I would go so far as to say: the smaller your guest list – the more you need a photographer.

Think about it this way:

Guests bring their phones & will snap photos all day long (even if you ask them not to) and then hopefully, they share those photos with you! This gives an additional, fun perspective on your day (those photos simply will not be the same quality that your professional photographer delivers, but that doesn’t make them any less valuable!)
If you don’t invite all of your friends & extended family, (I promise) they still love you & want to feel like they were a part of your special day – showing photos afterward can help with that!

There are a lot of small weddings being planned right now. Couples who got engaged at the end of 2019 & waited to jump into wedding planning, or got engaged in 2020, are looking at weddings with a completely different perspective. Sure, some couples are still planning the big, blow-out parties, but others are looking at things & saying, “We’d rather just keep it small.”