You have to wonder about the value of hiring a dedicated photographer to document peoples special occasions, after all just about everybody is carrying a camera in their pockets these days and they can capture some great images.

I’ve photographed a few private functions over the last couple of years and after pondering the question myself I think the answer is a big YES.

I’ve noticed that the more people are “enjoying themselves” especially as the night progresses, the less important taking photos becomes… Unless it’s your job… in that case you are there specifically to capture images and memories for your client.

Generally other than a few requested formal shots my brief has been to capture the event “documentary style” so spending the evening looking to capture those amazing candid moments that represents what it is to be relaxed, happy and human, can be super rewarding.

The images mostly revolve around the people and moments, be they formal or informal and intimate, but its also great to get other imagines that will help remember the detail of the night.

Photographing unscripted events on the fly in challenging lighting conditions can be tricky and as a photographer you have to come to terms that some shots will be a little soft, noisy and not ideally lit.

But that’s OK… capturing the emotion, the interaction, or the expression is everything with this type of work.

There are some great options as far as what to do with the finished images that range from picking a couple of favorites to frame and display, but I personally like the idea of a Coffee Table book, they are really affordable these days and are a great way to preserve your memories.

If you’re going to spend a few thousand dollars to stage an event or function, having a dedicated photographer for a few hundred makes great sense.