As soon as you start trying to figure out your wedding budget, most couples soon realize they have no idea how to calculate their wedding photographer cost. Considering wedding photographers are typically the most expensive vendor you’ll hire, this can instantly make you feel like your wedding costs are out of whack. So, what do you need to know?
First, you’ll want to figure out what your overall wedding budget is. From there, you can assign a percentage to your wedding photography column.
On average, couples in the United States pay 10-15% of their total budget on a wedding photographer for their big day. Sound like a lot? It is. But hiring the best wedding photographer for you can be one of the most important decisions you’ll make during the wedding planning process.
While 10-15% of your total budget is a reasonable target, there are ways you can come in well under that. By knowing a few key questions to ask along with general price ranges and cost-saving measures (outlined below) you can still get your dream wedding photographer without breaking the bank.
How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost?
According to a recent survey we took of nearly 800 couples, the average wedding photographer cost is $2,800 for 6 hours of coverage. However, in cities such as San Francisco and New York, those prices are closer to $6,000. In general you can expect to see a range from $2,500-$10,000+ depending on the photographers experience and/or offerings. And those celebrity wedding photographers you’ve seen in magazines (like fine art photographer Jose Villa)? They’re going to cost anywhere from $20,000-$25,000+.
We recently priced a mid-tier South Florida wedding photographer with a portfolio we really liked. Their package pricing was as follows:
- Up to 6 hours of coverage with one photographer: $2,800
- Up to 8 hours of coverage with two photographers, an engagement session, and a 10×10 wedding album: $3,500 (this is a great deal)
- Up to 10 hours of coverage with two photographers, an engagement session, and a 12×12 wedding album: $4,200
What’s Included in the Wedding Photographer Cost?
Typically, wedding photographers offer packages with 6 or 8 hours of coverage, including either one or two photographers. Adding more or less time will increase or decrease that price. For instance, if you opt not to have getting ready photos on your wedding day, a 6-hour package could be the best fit for you. Or, you might want to add rehearsal dinner coverage to your package for an additional cost.
In addition to the actual coverage, most packages include professional editing of all final images as well as images delivered on a usb drive or online gallery. While the number of final edited photos will vary by the length of your wedding, on average you can expect to receive 50-60 edited images per hour of coverage.
WGM Says: You will also want to ask a potential wedding photographer if a digital print release is included in your package price, which allows you to print your wedding photos with any lab you want. This is also something you’ll want to include in your contract. For the best breakdown on what EVERY wedding contract should include, get a copy of our digital wedding guide!
Additional Wedding Photography Add-Ons
While some of these add-ons may be included in your photography package, they can also be offered a la carte, which is helpful to understand their actual pricing.
Engagement Photos
Engagement sessions are a great way to test out a potential wedding photographer. You can make sure you like working together, and that their photos come out in the style that you like.
You’ll find that photographer’s either price their engagement photo session separately, or as part of a larger package. As a package add-on, I’ve seen engagement photos run anywhere between $300-$1,200 depending on how many hours the shoot is.
Wedding Album
Another consideration when it comes to your wedding photography cost is whether or not you want a wedding album included in your package. I’ve seen experienced photographers charge anywhere between $1,000-$3,000 for a wedding album, and will sometimes offer a further discount depending on the amount of wedding coverage you buy. Alternatively, you can use a DIY online option with a company like Artifact Uprising or Printique. Read our review of the best wedding album creators.
Keep in mind that when you pay your wedding photographer to put together an album, you’re also paying for their expertise in putting together your “wedding story,” which they were there the entire time for. You just have to decide how much that is worth to you, or if you would rather do that on your own to save money. (More on those money-saving tips, below).
Prints
Some photographers will allow you to purchase prints via your online gallery, which is a great option. That’s because most photographers use labs that the general public don’t have access to, which means you’re getting a high-quality print that will last you for decades. You can expect to pay around $3+ for a professional print depending on the size and paper type, with prices going up for something larger like a canvas print.
Wedding Videography
While some wedding photographers’ packages also offer videography, which can add on another $2,000+. While you’ll end up paying extra no matter what, they can sometimes offer more savings vs. bringing in a separate wedding videographer.
Travel
Whether you’re having a destination wedding and really want your hometown photographer to shoot your wedding, OR you want to fly in that dream photographer that lives halfway across the country, you will have to pay travel expenses. Some photographers offer a flat travel fee, while others will price out a trip individually. If you are looking to fly a photographer into your destination, be sure to get all the costs outlined up front.
Wedding Photographer Cost Overview:
- The average cost for a wedding photographer is 10-15% of a couple’s total budget, which is currently around $2800 for the average couple.
- You can expect your wedding photographer cost to run you anywhere between $2,500-$10,000 depending on the experience of your photographer, location, and what they’re including in your wedding package.
- Wedding photography packages typically cover 6-8 hours, on average. More or less shooting time will influence your cost.
- It’s important to ask a prospective wedding photographer how much extra they are charging for a wedding album if they’ve bundled the cost into their package price.
I know $2,500-$10,000 is a huge range, but at least it can give you somewhat of an idea of what to expect when looking for and meeting wedding photographers. Also, as mentioned above always keep in mind that where you live can greatly influence your wedding photography prices. You might find that you’re able to find a great photographer for under $2,000 in your area, in which case you need to stop reading and do a little dance of joy immediately, please!
Now that you have a general idea of how much wedding photographers cost, here are some easy ways to trim (or attempt to trim) costs…
How to Save on a Wedding Photographer:
- Be wary of wedding photographers who keep trying to upsell you. Decide what kind of package you want from the get-go and stick with it. Good wedding photographers will be very upfront with what they are charging you.
- If you’re on a tight budget but just have to have a certain wedding photographer, see if they will shoot your wedding for less hours at a discount. For example, I didn’t really want photos of me getting ready, so we were able to reallocate some time, which otherwise might have cost us more in the end. Also, being flexible as to when you take your wedding photos might help with cost as well! (Click here to read more about which wedding photos to skip.)
- Same goes for additional items such as an engagement session and/or wedding album. Leaving out one or all of those items from your package (if your wedding photographer offers those) could end up saving you $1,000+. See if you can get your wedding photography a la carte vs. as part of a package.
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate. If you find a photographer you love but they are out of your budget, ask what they might be able to offer that’s more in your price range. Also, if you’re getting married on an off-day (weekday or Sunday), see if they offer any discounts. If it’s way out of your range, see if they can recommend a photographer that IS in your budget!
- Having a second shooter can increase your cost. If your wedding photographer is not part of a team (and some are), see how much of a discount they can offer for one shooter vs. two. Just be sure that they feel comfortable shooting alone and have in the past (and ask if they can show you pictures from those weddings).
- Go local! If you hire a wedding photographer that lives out of town, you will most likely have to pay for all their travel costs (airfare, meals, hotels, etc.). I really wanted a certain photographer for our wedding, but after finding out how much transportation/lodging alone would have cost us, we decided otherwise (and I’m so happy we did!).
While finding a wedding photographer that fits your budget is important, keep in mind that it’s equally as important (if not more so) to find a wedding photographer that is right for you and has the portfolio to prove it. Be sure to look at images from past weddings they’ve shot, and don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations (especially if they’re not as well known in the wedding world). Also, keep in mind there’s nothing wrong with going with a less experienced wedding photographer. As long as you love their vision and work (and you can see concrete examples of it), they could be the perfect wedding photographer for you!
Looking for more prices? Check out our articles on Wedding Flowers Cost and Wedding Cake Cost.
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The cost of a wedding photographer depends on a few main factors. They typically include the location of your wedding (photographers in big cities charge a lot more than the ones in smaller cities), the range of your requirement, and the experience and expertise of the photographer.
The costing and pricing of photographer is measured by the skills and experiences that they hold. The experiences photo shooter will handle every wedding project easily and will also make sure they customer satisfy from their work. The camera quality matters too.
Wedding photography is one of those things in which you get what you pay for. It is understandable to come up with a budget conscious wedding day plan. The cost of a wedding day can add up quickly. But wedding photography is one area in which a couple should strongly consider investing in. The pictures from your wedding day cannot be “redone” and it is those pictures that will last you your lifetime.
How much do Wedding Videographers charge for the average 8 hours?
How much do Videographers charge for Weddings
Thank You
Great article, very informative, thank you.
A great article!
Great article with statistics to back it up. With the advent of “super low budget photography” sometimes people have unrealistic expectations about what a real professional photographer costs and the real value you get when hiring someone that will deliver real artistic and technical expertise.
Thank you so much for addressing this aspect of wedding planning.
In an inherently subjective medium such as photography, it’s often difficult to have objective conversations that lead to definitive conclusions about what is ‘right and wrong.’ One thing that surely stands out as a means of helping to solidify a decision about whom to hire, is professionalism. What attributes does a photographer exude right off the bat that suggest that he/she knows what the heck they are doing? Web presence is first and foremost, and by virtue of this aspect in the digital age, in my experience simplicity sells – no b.s., and avoid complicated ‘package’ deals. After that, it’s all about the conversational exchange that follows, whether it be through email, text, or phone. In that first critical exchange, professionalism and a sense of personality that is hopefully one that a client wants will shine.
As for the technical in’s and out’s of business eluded to in prior comments, I think it’s critically important to mention here, CODB, in a nuanced manner: A photographer’s price tag will ultimately express devotion to the craft that realistically reflects cost of doing business. If I charged $500 (arbitrarily) for a wedding, I’m either inexperienced/student, or lowballing the market because I’m a hobbyist. Make no mistake about it – there is no gray area. It costs a lot to keep a photography business going, before paying one’s self. If a photographer’s price tag seems really high, it’s important to look closely at what’s being offered in terms of the final product. Does the evidence of prior work accurately reflect that cost? Is that particular look that costs so much, something you want?
Finally, three aspects I didn’t see mentioned are, 1) licensing/business organizational structure (if any), 2) insurance, 3) contract. I run my business as an LLC to separate the finances/liability from my personal finances and assets. Simply advertising through web presence (I think) suggests to potential clients business acumen. As for insurance, while I don’t advertise this, it’s important to ask and is often overlooked. A lot of things can go wrong on a shoot, are you protected in the event that a ‘what if’ should occur? Does that protection extend to your client? All of this should be spelled out, simply and accurately in an easy to read contract. I know … contracts can be this 800lb gorilla in the room. But, through simple online research, professional memberships to organizations such as ASMP/WPPA, etc … and a quick consult with a lawyer, a contract can be really helpful in providing a tangible explanation of reasonable expectations for all.
All my best. – A
Love this article!
Great Article! As Cleveland wedding photographers we often get asked about price – “How low can you go”. Interestingly, though, as Colorado Wedding Photographers price comes up, but the expect cost is significantly different. Interesting, still, is that people expect our destination wedding photography packages to cost significantly more! All we do is add the cost of airfare and a hotel to our packages, and we’re all yours!
Being armed with information about the cost of wedding expenses can be very powerful! Especially when it comes to your wedding photography!
How does one negoiate with photographer about shut eyes, overexposure, blurred images and not having any shots of parents, by themselves?
Excellent advice, Lindsay! The decision to choose “the right wedding photographer” becomes increasingly more difficult for people who have a shoestring budget. The problem is further compounded when you don’t have any technical knowledge of photography. Plus, a lot of people don’t really have much idea on how to research the industry before finalizing a photographer for their wedding. Those can afford it tend to hire the best in the industry regardless of their cost.
Wonderful advice and a great read. As a wedding photographer, I have one more suggestion for choosing a wedding photographer. Personality! Take a moment and think about how much time you will be spending with your photographer on the wedding day. For an 8 hour package, the photographer will be with or near you for 6 hours easily. Now imagine what that will be like if their personality doesn’t match yours.
Take it a step further and consider all the pre-planning conversations and post wedding delivery of images. Do you really spend all that time and money with someone you don’t enjoy being around?
Also, if you and the photographer hit it off, they will likely go above and beyond for you.
Hi Linda! Great point. Which is why all couples should make sure to negotiate the photo rights in their contract.
keep in mind SOME photographers retain “rights” to their photos..which means you CAN NOT just go & “reprint” his photos for “your” album.
I hate when couples try to ask for less time than my bottom package, it may be less time but I could have booked someone else for the same day for more hours. My bottom package is what I need to break even on equipment, goods, travel, babysitters, etc. I would recommend asking an amateur if you can’t afford the photographer’s lowest package.
If I worked at Costco, I would make about $38K a year. All I would have to do is show up to my job, do my job, and get paid at the end of the week. That is at least $700 a week. I would not have to buy cameras or computers to to my job. Costco does. I would not have to buy insurance to protect myself from on the job injuries, to myself or the customers, Costco does. I would not have to buy a truck or van to make deliveries, Costco does. I would not have to pay rent for the location, Costco does. I would not have to pay for ads, printing flyers, website maintenace, social media campaigns, Costco does.
Let’s say I decide to be a wedding photographer and charge $3800 per wedding. You’d think that I’d only have to shoot 10 weddings a year to make what I would be making at Costco. Right? Only work 10 days a year, right? Wrong! I would have to shoot at least 40 weddings a year to make what I make at Costco. Believe it or not, each wedding is about a week of labor for us, it’s not just showing up on your day. Anyone who runs a business knows this. The customer does not see all the expenses behind the scenes.
You have to love weddings to shoot weddings. It’s a lot of work and very expensive to run a photography business. Believe me, you’d make more money working at Costco than shooting weddings. Its not as glamorous, but you will have health care coverage, a steady paycheck, and a lot more money in the bank when you decide to retire.
It makes no sense to invest in a dream photographer and get a subpar consumer grade album. People hire me for my unique style and to tell a story, let me finish telling it, with my album. This isn’t where you skimp if photography is any kind of priority.
It’s pretty sad seeing people who don’t care about their wedding photos and care more about getting some shitty cheapo who doesn’t know anything to save money. Please do not encourage that attitude or behavior. It’s the last physical memory you’ll have to look back on, why would you want Uncle Joe who oversaturates and doesn’t know what he’s doing…
Where I live at which is lansing Michigan the average cost for a wedding photographer is like $1800. Excellent article though
All photographers are a rip off. How does anyone feel comfortable paying thousands of dollars for photos that you may look at 3-4x during your life? What a great job though, minimal qualifications to make thousands per day!! Got to love It!!
Professional Photographers should charge the going rate that market will support. If you are not a professional and it’s your first… it should probably be free to get established and build a portfolio and then incrementally raised your prices! Many people got their start this way.
Excellent article. So many brides struggle to find wedding photographer who can produce quality images and also not to cost arm and a leg. You nailed the important points to look for when selecting a photographer. I think having a budget and be able to stick to it is a key. So many brides are overspending on other items as venue, food and drinks and when they have to book the most important person for their wedding, someone who will capture their memories and moments, they try to cut corners.
The ways to save some photography cost is not as you mentioned necessarily getting low quality vendor. It’s all about sizing the wedding package and picking the items that matters the most. Like a wedding photographer myself, I cannot agree more with the points. Hope more brides would read and get educated on the topic.
I am a photographer in Hawaii. We have a lot of destination wedding here on the the Big Island and many of our weddings are very small beach weddings. We offer wedding photography by the hour starting at one hour packages and specialize in destination weddings with very fast turn around times to make sure the couples can see all their photos before they leave the islands. In addition to that we offer online viewing and ordering to accommodate our couples and families.
Hi! Thanks so much for writing in. I totally think $2,800 is a great deal and you should feel good about it! Also the fact that she is covering her expenses is AMAZING. Way to go!!!
We’re spending $2,800 on our photographer, which I’m totally comfortable with. I saw some of her work on my favorite blog, Sometimes Sweet. The photographer listed some special packages and prices on the site, so I snatched her up for our wedding. She’s covering all of her travel/lodging expenses (which is amazing, since she’s flying across the country for us) and giving us an extra hour of her time.
If we hadn’t chose her, we absolutely would have gone with someone local. I’m in New York and there are some incredible photographers in the Hudson Valley area.
Thank you for these resources. Even though I have this one thing checked off my list, it’s still so helpful to see all of this information laid out.