I recently had a client on the fence about hiring me for their event. The committee members were not all convinced they needed to spend the money on a photographer when they all had cameras in their hands. 

Well guess what- you are so right. When friends ask what they should get for a new camera, unless they are thinking about pursuing photography I say “you already have one!” Cell phone cameras have come such a long way that it probably isn’t worth it to purchase another one. You most likely won’t want to lug it around anyway. If you are about to say “but landscape isn’t good on a cell phone” I dare you to google “iPhone landscape photos” and see how good it can be. 

So if the camera isn’t what makes the photo great- what is?! 

Here was my response: 

I totally agree, everyone has a great camera! Cell phones unfortunately don’t do well in low light. An evening event starting at sunset means some external lights will be best. The overhead lights are not the most flattering, which is where our flashes come in. I wish it could but a cell phone also can’t pose people. A portrait photographer is trained to find the most flattering angles for everyone and can make that real-time change to make it happen. Your images will also be grainy, because of the low light and no external flash the sensor increases its sensitivity to get any light it can. If people want just to capture them dressed up in a quick snapshot- cell phones will do. If they want to give the opportunity to have keepsakes that last longer than they will, a professionally captured image is the way to go. Everyone is welcome to “sit” for a photo, with the option to purchase after they see it. 

Realistically, if you see a photographer with images you like, it isn’t just the camera that created that image. Your face has 43 muscles that together can make more than 10,000 expressions on your face, and then there is the rest of your body that you are suddenly not aware of. Sometimes, it is just easier to hire a photographer to take the one image you’ll love forever. 

Tell me, when was the last time you got an image of yourself that you just- love?