[dcgibbons]

If you hire a photographer and simply want digital copies of the photos you took, then you deserve what you get. You are making the mistake of thinking what the photographer is doing is simply capturing images. There's no reason to pay them a lot because they aren't providing a very good service.

A lot of newbie photographers do indeed cater to this segment of the business. Those photographers suck and do not wind up making very much money. It is the typical race to the bottom.

Photographers who are successful are creating experiences, and high-end presentations of their work are part of that experience.

If all you want is digital copies, then hire your Uncle Bob with a case of beer. Chances are he has the same high-end equipment a good pro does, and probably knows how to use it, too.

This same issue is true for a lot of professionals, not just photographer. The digital revolution has greatly lowered the barrier of entry, and that's a good thing, but it also means a lot of the photographers you are dealing with in the marketplace just aren't any good.