You get your hair cut by a professional. You hire a pro to fix your car or work on your home. You would only let a professional landscape and redo your yard.

So why would you trust your photos, your precious family memories, to an amateur?

Even if you have a cousin with a fancy camera and photo editing software, you should still invest in a professional photographer. The milestones in your life are memories you’ll want to hold onto for years to come, and you deserve to have quality images of those moments.

You will get better images

It doesn’t matter how nice your cousin’s camera is if they don’t know how to use it. A professional photographer has studied and trained, learning the ins and outs of lighting, posing, framing, and editing for years. They’ve photographed tons of other people and know what makes a good photo and a bad one. When you hire a professional photographer, you can expect to receive quality images as a result—photos you’ll be thrilled to share with friends or hang on your wall.

You’ll look your absolute best

We’ve all been there: Someone tags you in a photo on Facebook, and you look pale or sloppy or just not good. When most people snap a photo, they aren’t thinking much about lighting or angles. A professional photographer, however, will know just how to pose you and photograph you so you look your best in every shot. That’s a confidence boost we could all use!

You might need a little help

With a professional photographer, you don’t have to worry if you don’t know how to pose or what expression you should have. They can guide you every step of the way to ensure that your images come out just the way you want. So, instead of practicing your smile in the mirror or stressing about poses, you can relax and trust that you’re in the best possible hands.

You can express your personality

If you ask a friend or family member to take your senior photos, chances are you may end up with some pretty basic posed images. A professional photographer, however, will work with you to make sure your images capture your interests, personality, and accomplishments. From backgrounds to props to locations, a pro can ensure your photos truly reflect who you are and what your high school career has been all about.

You deserve quality images

Graduation is a huge milestone in your life, and you deserve to celebrate it with gorgeous images. From announcements to graduation parties, you’ll want to share your senior photos with friends and family so they can celebrate your accomplishments with you. This moment is one you will want to look back on in the future, maybe even with your own children someday, and you deserve to have beautiful, professional images to mark this time in your life.