A Non-Pro's Experience

[My sister and brother-in-law acting silly at their 8-14-09 wedding in New York City]

It's good to be back. Did you miss me?

As some of you know from following this blog, my sister asked me to be the photographer at her wedding. Am I a professional photographer? No. Can I use Photoshop very well? Not really. Did I have a good camera? Does my point and shoot count?

After I told her that I wasn't confident I'd be a sufficient replacement to a professional, she agreed to buy me a new camera. When I still asked "are you suuuure?" she told me that she'd much rather have me take pictures, with a camera she knows I'd use many more days than the wedding, than a stranger she has no relationship with. So I agreed.

For anyone considering having a friend/sister take the pictures, I just want to let you know that I made it out of there alive. I took 850 pictures. Nothing broke. I have no horror stories to tell you about my camera shutting down on me in the middle of the ceremony. And I say this because in the blog world, I rarely read successful stories about friends or relatives taking pictures. Even in the real world, I had someone tell me that they had a friend take the pictures, and that she somehow lost all of them.

It made it even worse when I read this, posted by Jenna Cole/Mrs. Avocado on Weddingbee. I understand why the post was written--pros are talented people with a lot of expertise that can't be instanteously replicated by the average jane. And believe me, I totally understand that, seeing as how I am using a pro for my own wedding. But, I just wanted to emphasize to anyone taking a chance on a student or a relative or a friend that my experience turned out a-okay. The pictures might not be taken by a pro or be pro-quality, but my sister just wanted a documentation of the day (blurb book on its way!) and a few good ones she could frame, and that's what she's getting.

I think the big advantage that I had being a non-pro but sister to the bride is that I knew almost everyone there. If I didn't know them, they knew I was the little sister, and I think that made people feel more at ease with me taking their picture. It also made it easy during group photos to tell people what to do. I got a lot of good smiles out of yelling "look alive people!" when you could tell everyone was nodding off from too many group shots.

I promise tons of pictures soon, but I have soooo much to edit. I've been editing all day and I'm still only halfway through!

It was so much fun, and despite going nuts almost all day from getting centerpieces/decor ready and the right lighting in the venue, I had a fantastic time.

Would you take a chance on a student/friend/relative like my sister did?