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Original poster

Would this be unprofessional if...?

25 replies

lealea6366 · 09/12/2020 22:21

I used to be a hobby photographer, photographing many weddings with my DSLR camera. The last wedding I did was over 14 years ago but a cousin has asked me if I would photograph her wedding in April, which I was honoured to accept. These days, cameras in mobile phones are just as good as the DSLR's and of course not as bulky, lugging all those lenses and equipment around. Would I be unprofessional to just use my Samsung S20 Ultra phone to photograph her big day? I have floated the idea with her and she said she didn't care. What are your thoughts?

OP posts:

purplepingu · 09/12/2020 23:06

Speaking as a professional wedding photographer who hasn't been able to work all year due to covid and every wedding in her diary being postponed....

If you've been privileged enough to be trusted with the precious memories of a couple's special day, then at least do them the courtesy of photographing it with an actual camera. Don't stand there doing what absolutely any other guest at the wedding could be doing and do it with a phone.

Jalapinot · 09/12/2020 23:07

Plus others won't realise you're the official photographer and will get in the way

Countdowntonothing · 09/12/2020 23:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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Weddings

Smallsteps88 · 09/12/2020 23:22

Surely a phone isn’t as good as a professional camera? Really?

Stompythedinosaur · 09/12/2020 23:58

I think not using a camera would detract from her day tbh.

ScalpHelp · 10/12/2020 00:01

You know it’s unprofessional. Even though it’s a casual arrangement you know she’s expecting a high calibre of content. If she wanted phone pics, she would just use the photos her friends/family post on social media.

TheThingWithFeathers · 10/12/2020 00:02

Oh come on, I'm not even a "hobby photographer" and I know that's a stupid question. Of course it would be unprofessional to take wedding photographs on a mobile phone!

Heyahun · 10/12/2020 00:04

Ridiculous idea

ScalpHelp · 10/12/2020 00:06

Also let’s be honest, she asked you as a cost saving measure! She knows you haven’t been a proper photographer in a while. It would be more kind of you to decline if you can’t be bothered to bring a proper camera, so she can find a suitable photographer in good time. Don’t ruin her photos.

TooTrueToBeGood · 10/12/2020 00:14

I'd tread carefully. Many a relationship has been trashed due to brides wanting professional quality wedding photos on the cheap by using a friend who they think will be as good as a pro.

It's her big day and there won't be a rerun if you get it wrong. Either do her the favour to the very best of your ability or politely decline. At the risk of sounding harsh, if you genuinely think a phone is just as good as a decent DSLR then maybe you're not as good a photographer as you like to think.

OutComeTheWolves · 10/12/2020 00:15

@Smallsteps88

Surely a phone isn’t as good as a professional camera? Really?

My friend is a photographer and told me you'd have to spend in excess of £5k to buy a camera that's better than the one on the newest iPhone.

Titsinknicks · 10/12/2020 00:24

Define 'better'. You have far more control with a proper camera. And lighting, and tripod, and all that stuff.

This is a really stupid idea op. Tell her you don't have a camera anymore. She will really regret asking you.

Titsinknicks · 10/12/2020 00:31

And it's not just about the equipment - it's about your eye and editing skills and people skills. Can you convince grandma to do what you need her to waving your Samsung around?

Some people take amazing photos on smartphones but they're usually really good with proper cameras and also utilise all of the available bells and whistles - tweaking settings in the phone itself but also using different apps too.

How well do you know your smartphone camera settings? Could you post some photos here?

numbbycocomelon · 10/12/2020 00:37

Some phones are apparently even better so I was told by a photographer friend. He commented on one of my pictures on Instagram and mentioned how professional it looked and if I hired a photographer and I replied I only used my iPhone and then he went on to say how he had spent thousands on his camera and the quality of the photos he takes is no different to some phones. I think you should still take your camera and use your phone when you need to.

HeddaGarbled · 10/12/2020 00:47

You don’t need to ‘lug’ “all those lenses and equipment around”. You just need one decent camera. You don’t have an up to date camera, do you?

thosetalesofunexpected · 10/12/2020 04:52

Hi Op
I would take your professional camera and your mobile just in case too,
As she the bride is paying for the Privelge of your services as a professional..

(If you do decide to be unothdox and only bring your mobile. Obviously double check that it is really possible to take same quality as a Proffessional camera.

Ps please do share one or two photos from your mob camera for us to see,just Curious

Aquamarine1029 · 10/12/2020 04:57

Phones are in no way comparable to a professional digital camera. Of course you would be completely unprofessional. If you are not up to this task you need to bow out now.

PrimeraVez · 10/12/2020 07:50

I know you're not selling yourself as a 'professional' but if I trusted someone in my family to act as the photographer at my wedding, and they rocked up with their mobile, I would be seriously thinking WTF.

Obviouspretzel · 10/12/2020 07:55

Definitely would not do this. And they are not the same in my opinion. Phone shots have a different feel to them, its like they have less depth. I'm no pro but they look different to me when I take pictures.

user1936863452 · 10/12/2020 07:58

Yeh, this is a really bad plan.

wowfudge · 10/12/2020 08:03

Interesting that so many people think the OP would be in the wrong when the camera quality on a phone isn't really the issue!

TooTrueToBeGood · 10/12/2020 10:10

@wowfudge

Interesting that so many people think the OP would be in the wrong when the camera quality on a phone isn't really the issue!

Except the quality is an issue, regardless of a couple of PPs claiming their friend says otherwise. Due purely to limitations of size if nothing else, phones cannot have as large a sensor as a DSLR nor can they have as good a lense. The lens matters enormously because it determines the amount and quality of light that is captured physically. The sensor matters because it determines how much of that light is captured for processing.

Look at any sporting event, press briefing, film premier etc etc and you will see that the overwhelming majority of photographers are still using actual cameras. The few taking snaps with a phone are more likely to be journalists for whom getting a photo is a secondary requirement of their job. Pro photographers do not lug around all that kit or spend thousands on it for dramatic effect. They do so because they still need professional cameras, not phones, to get professional quality photos.

Countdowntonothing · 10/12/2020 20:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Plump82 · 10/12/2020 20:37

I got married in July. My BIL took our photos and used both his DSLR and his mobile and ill be honest i couldn't tell you what photos were taken with what. But i can say that i loved them all.

ScalpHelp · 10/12/2020 22:13

I have an iPhone 12 Pro so the best iPhone camera. I have to spend a considerable amount of effort to stage shots to get anything near DSLR quality - as in perfect everything, otherwise it looks no better than the average phone in quality.

Personally think that a good dslr would be much less effort. You can’t really control the lighting at a wedding unless you don’t mind lugging a ring light around (or whatever). At that rate, you may as well use a proper camera and lug its equipment around!

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