Having images captured by a professional photographer is totally worth it. I know, I know… we can just snap pictures on our phones that are actually pretty great quality these days. But believe me when I say you’ll get what you pay for! Have you ever thought about having a photo session, but don’t know when or why to take the plunge, keep reading. If you’ve ever scrolled past photo session highlights from your friends’ posts and albums, or looked at a home with gorgeous framed prints with envy, keep reading. If you’ve always wanted to schedule a photoshoot and just needed an excuse or reason to justify the occasion, keep reading! This post is for you. These are my top 10 occasions to hire a professional photographer…

Traditional Sessions with a Professional Photographer

Graduation & Senior Year

Graduation photos capture a once-in-a-lifetime moment. They mark a momentous occasion that commemorates years of hard work, and represents the closing of a big chapter, be it high school, college, grad school, law school, medical school—the list goes on. They celebrate your achievements, and preserve the memories of celebration for generations. If you’re a graduate, you’ve done enough work. Relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor! If you’re the parent, guardian or friend of a graduate, this success is yours to enjoy to the fullest, too. It takes a village, and you’re a part of theirs! Let a professional photographer worry about the pictures.

And don’t save it all for pomp and circumstance! Senior year photos can be valuable images, not just as keepsakes for friends and family, but as the personal images that will serve as tools for the professional bios, resumes and portfolios that will start your brand new chapter post-grad. Need some more ideas on when you’ll use senior photos? I’ve got you covered right here. 

Love, Engagement & Weddings

Yes, this one is pretty obvious. What isn’t always obvious is why you should commemorate every step of your relationship—not just the wedding! Besides the fact that a professional photographer likely has discounts that bundle engagement sessions with wedding packages, it also gives you a chance to practice so your wedding isn’t your first experience being in front of a lens together. Did I mention you’ll need some tasteful images for save the date cards, wedding websites, etc.? You’ll use your engagement photos way more often than you might think!

But why wait for an engagement? A couples photoshoot can help you find a photographer you like before the milestone moments, and help you remember that young-and-in-love feeling for years to come. Make it a fun and unique date night! Let a professional photographer capture your love story from the very beginning, at your favorite spots, doing your favorite things to do together. It’s a great excuse to get all dressed up and have some fun, with the best images to show for it afterward!

Hire A Professional Photographer for: Maternity & Newborns

If you’re overwhelmed and thinking about skipping either one of these milestones, I encourage you to think again! The amount of time we get to hold our babies (inside and out) at their absolute tiniest is so limited. I know it sounds cliche, but the only thing that flies by faster than your few month maternity shoot window is the time it takes a baby to become a toddler! By hiring a professional photographer, you take the weight of capturing these ever-so-fleeting moments off of yourself. Believe me, you’ll have enough on your plate! But you’ll also want to look back on these moments forever. I promise! Maternity and newborn photos are totally worth the investment.

Take the stress out of both shoots by having them in the comfort of your own home! Odds are you put a lot of work into your little one’s beautiful new nursery, from the onesies to the toys and the books. A professional photographer will help you remember every detail—the ones that might be a little lost in this era of sleepless nights. 

First Birthday & Milestone Birthdays

There are so many reasons to take photos at your child’s first birthday! Be more present in the celebration by putting the phone down and letting a professional photographer handle the images. Why? You’ll want them to frame, complete the first year in the baby book and so much more. Grandparents, aunts and uncles will definitely want them, too! Remember the theme, the guests who made the whole day special, and most importantly, freeze your child’s age in time, if only just on film. 

The first birthday is a pretty traditional occasion for photos, but did you know you can schedule a shoot for any of the milestone birthdays? And I’m not just talking about the Sweet 16! (Although that’s another great one.) Birthday photography can document your child’s growth and development from adorable infancy to confident teenager. Celebrate the uniqueness of each passing year by making birthday photos (with a professional photographer) a fun and heartwarming tradition. 

Anniversaries 

Your love story didn’t stop with the wedding. Your photo albums shouldn’t, either! I’ve told you my three favorite reasons to take anniversary photos, but I can’t stress enough how much fun it is to reconnect with your partner for the occasion. (Especially if life, careers and kids are usually fighting to pull your attention away from each other.) It all started with you, and that’s a great reason to celebrate! 

A professional photographer can give you an excuse to get dressed up and spend the day together, and have some amazing images you’ll love to walk away with. Let’s face it, you probably haven’t been in front of the camera in a while. But yours is a love story that deserves to be told! 

Less Conventional — But Oh, So Fun! 

Holidays

As a professional photographer, I love taking advantage of holidays. The whole family is traditionally all together for Christmas or Hanukkah, right? That makes it the perfect time to dress up and have some festive fun in front of the camera! The same can be said for Thanksgiving. (And that timeframe gives you the perfect window to design some great custom holiday cards. Or frame those prints as the perfect holiday gift!)

Why stop at tradition? There are plenty of other holidays worth capturing, and can be a whole lot more fun. Remember your kids’ costumes with a safe and spooky Halloween photo session, or let a professional photographer capture a couple’s shoot for an extra special Valentine’s Day. 

Family Shoots with a Professional Photographer

Every family’s story has a multitude of chapters, each one worth remembering exactly as it was. Hiring a professional photographer for family photos keeps your home decor current, surrounds you with the smiles you know and love, and documents your family legacy with quality images. 

Pro tip: Is everyone attending a family wedding, or the nuptials of close family friends? Will multiple generations all be at a graduation ceremony? Why not hire a professional photographer when you’re already together and looking your best? I’m not saying to compromise another event, but scheduling family photos before or after these occasions can be a perfect add-on without having to coordinate multiple schedules for another time. 

A New Pet

This one might sound silly. But if you’re looking for an excuse to take some photos, why leave all the fun to the new babies? Adding a furry (or not so furry!) friend to your family or couples photoshoot can add some joy and comic relief to any session. And celebrate the special bonds, love and happiness our pets bring to our lives. Plus, by working with a professional photographer, you can capture your pet’s unique traits and expressions, creating authentic, personality-filled images that include interactions with you. Our pets are a part of our family, right? It’s time our photo albums reflected it! 

Proposals

I highly recommend hiring a professional photographer for your proposal. I know, you’ve got the ring, you’ve got the time, the place and the words to worry about. But you won’t regret adding just one more thing to plan! If you’re planning a quiet, personal proposal, sharing these photos will invite your family and loved ones into the moment. (After it’s over, of course.) Popping the question at a big event? All the more reason to capture the spectacle! Having a proposal photographer will allow you to focus on each other. (Not whether or not the ring is in focus on your iPhone.) Announce your engagement with gorgeous photos without having to pause the celebration to take them yourselves!

A Professional Photographer… Just Because!

All of these occasions are wonderful excuses to make (and capture!) some memories. But I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Are you ready? You don’t actually need a reason to hire a professional photographer! The bottom line is that photos preserve memories, and hiring a professional preserves them well. So don’t feel like you need to wait for an occasion to mark! Treat yourself to a fun session, or give one to someone else as a gift. Let the photoshoot be the fun memory, then walk away with images that make your heart swell! 

Ready to take the plunge? Let’s get started! I am genuinely fascinated by people. I find such beauty in human connection and the stories that people share! Let’s embrace these seasons together!