Weddings, graduations, births … these are all once in a lifetime events, and for any of these occasions #photofail is not an option. Hiring someone to capture these moments who knows how to handle their equipment in any circumstance, and who has backup plans in place is essential to making sure that your once in a lifetime moments are captured and preserved properly.  It may be tempting to save money by asking your hobbyist friend to shoot your once-in-a-lifetime event for free, but consider that if something goes wrong, there are no do-overs.  For weddings, in particular, you’ve invested a lot in the celebration, so consider that after the cake is cut and the dress is put away, the only thing you have left of your special day is your images.  Most professional photographers have trained for years, and most have assisted or second-shot for other professional photographers before ever taking on the responsibility of documenting a wedding, so they are prepared for the unexpected.  Earlier this year, we were completely set up for a beautiful outdoor wedding when 5 minutes before the bride walked down the aisle, rain came pouring down and we quickly had to set up indoor lighting.  We were ready.  We have extra everything on the day of a wedding in the event of an equipment failure, and have redundant backup systems for our digital images.  When #photofail is not an option, be sure you’ve hired a pro!