After 17 years and roughly 500 events, I've seen both sides of this decision play out in real time. And I'll be honest with you: the answer isn't always "hire a professional." But most of the time, it is.

It's one of the most common questions I hear before any event: How many hours do I actually need? I've been photographing corporate events, conferences, store openings, fundraisers, and parties for 17 years, and the honest answer isn't a number, it's a question back to you: