The average wedding in Southwest Missouri (Springfield, Branson and surrounding areas) costs approximately $24,000, according to costofwedding.com. When it comes to wedding photography and videography couples spend an average of $3,092. For most, this is the first time they have ever planned a wedding. The couple may not know exactly what they want, but they do know that they want their love story captured memorably and this is where visual storytellers (photographers and cinematographers) can work their magic.
Because of their lack of experience in hiring these professionals, couples often do not understand what it entails to be a wedding photographer or wedding cinematographer or the value of hiring a professional. This is where the power of perception comes into play. From an outsider, they are just a person with a camera, pressing a button. Behind the scenes though, each pose and location chosen came from a careful thought; each lens grabbed is a different tool that can convey a different feeling in the process of capturing the couple’s visual love story. As creative minds, they see things in scenes and landscapes that other people may not see. This aspect of photography is one of the things I love most because it allows photographers and cinematographers to differentiate themselves from one another. Each storyteller will have a different way of going about conveying the couple’s special day through composition, posing, lighting and editing. This is just a small window into the creative mindset of a photographer and or cinematographer on the wedding day. The unique perception that each photographer or cinematographer has is invaluable. Add their perception to their personality, education, equipment, and experience in the wedding industry and this is where you will find the value in hiring a professional to capture your wedding memories.