With cameras so cheap and available, everyone has become an amateur photographer. Then digital photography took over and the average person can now take the pictures and print the results cheaper than they formerly let others do it. Yet, here are some reasons why being the chief photographer isn’t always best at all.

If you are the one to record an event like a family reunion, you know the bondage of always feeling like you must be looking for the perfect shot. If you’re going to be good at it, you must think like a photographer. Yet, when you get done, you have a set of good pictures but no memories of what happened? Recently we learned that our granddaughter would be in a parade that would be streamed on the Internet. I spent the time trying to get the camera to focus on the TV and missed seeing her. I wish I had just enjoyed the moment and waited until they sent the pictures.

Agreed, the electronics in cameras make them very versatile. However, the more ‘stuff’ a camera can do, the more there is to keep track of. What do the icons on top of the knobs mean? How do you turn the auto focus or flash off and on? What does P, TV, Av, or M stand for? Unless you use these features regularly, you will find it difficult to keep it all in your mind, and if you don’t the features are as good as missing from the camera.

Then too, if you are going to be the photographer, you will have to get behind people, stand up when others are seated, and basically make yourself obnoxious at times so you can get the perfect angle. Then it’s hard to find people who enjoy the camera pointing at them every other minute. When they don’t smile, you may need to almost bribe or shame them into posing. Wouldn’t you like to let someone else do all that next time?

So you do it anyway and get a camera full of shots. Now as the hero others will be bothering you with requests for CDs of the shots, thinking you have lots of free time. Or you might spend your time sending the pictures to others via email or posting them on a webpage.

It is not just a matter of time either. Though digital photography need never be printed, some friends simply don’t have access to this media. For them you will need to buy photographic paper and lots of ink for your printer. Did you say you don’t have a printer? If not, be sure to get one that has multiple ink cartridges so that they can be replaced individually when all the relatives keep asking for more prints.

If you want to look touristy, you will if you have a camera hanging around your neck and you take plenty of pictures. And don’t be surprised if people decide your pictures are more important to you than they are.

Think of this: if you have a minor plumbing problem, you fix it yourself. But when a major problem arises, you take it to a mechanic. This principle also applies to photography. Of course you don’t want to throw away your camera. But when a major event comes up, why don’t you get an expert to take the pictures and you just concentrate on enjoying yourself for a change.

When you want your photos done right, choosing the best photographer for your needs is worth the investment. If you follow the principles above, you will likely be glad you had it done professionally. Del Haven Studio is the location of an experienced Virginia Beach Portrait Photographer who is very skilled – as you can see from her website portfolio.