How much would you pay for a wedding photographer?
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at
11:46 am
I’m getting married in a year and I’ve started doing some research on photographers. I had a friend just pay ,000 for a photographer (for the whole day) and I’ve seen some packages below 00. What is normal and how do you know you’re getting the right value for what you pay?
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I think it all depends on the photographers work and what you and your soon to be are looking for. What kind of photo’s do you like, really look at all the pictures that photographer takes, did you a lot or a little. Do you want an album,prints what size, parent albums etc.
The deal I found with a photographer that I loved his work included
Engagement session
two hours any location
11×14 print custom framed of our choice
cd of all shots taken that day
Wedding day
two photographers for 8 hours unlimited pictures and locations (min of 1500 shot taken)
CD of all shot’s taken
200 (5×7) prints of my choice
4 (8×10) prints of my choice
Our album 80 pictures of our choice
I also own all the rights to our photos so I can print them out as I please!
Look around find someone that is going to suit you and the soon to be remember these people will be in your face all day and talk to you all day. You want someone you can relate to and deal with all day!
I paid $2000.
For good quality at a fair deal I would say between 700 and 1000. I am paying 850.00 he is accredited and it includes videography and editing. So I think I am getting a steal. Make sure whoevery ou choose shows you some of his work and video. so you can see quality
Im paying about 4,500 which I honestly think is a little too much, but with all of the things coming out in the package, it’s well worth it. I say let $5,000 be your limit. You can always find great stuff for less, you just have to look around and find a photographer that fits your style. $10,000 is WAY too much, ur friend must be filthy rich cuz that’s about 80% of my wedding budget!
I had my photographer for 7 hours (from getting ready to getting pictures of hubby carrying me over the threshold after everyone else left). The package also included an engagement session and bridal portrait session. I got a leather bound album with thick, stiff pages (don’t know how else to describe it).
For all of this, I paid $3500. It was a little expensive but he was the photographer who took hubby’s senior portraits in high school. He was also the photographer who was responsible for our reunion (the first one when we were in high school). When we reunited again 8 years after high school…we knew who our photographer had to be!
As for your question about value, it is different for each person. Evaluate what you’d be getting and ask yourself if it’s worth it or not. Make sure to see previous work from the photographer to guarantee that they take great pictures!
10,000 seems outrageous… i am paying 3,000 and i am getting an engagement session about 6 months before the wedding, me and my fiancee in casual clothes down a few streets downtown.. then I will have a private bridal session in my gown about 3 months before the wedding, i will get a dvd for each session and a couple big pictures, then for my main day, i am getting 8 hours, 3 locations (leaving moms house, at the mansion the wedding is at, and then to our hotel lobby, for that day i am getting a dvd, 4X6 200 pic proof album, and a 10X10 40 page flush album customed designed.. and this is all with one of the best known and reccomended photographer in new orleans
The biggest splurge, by far, with our wedding was the photography, and we’re spending $5,000 and we get her for 8 hours that day. And this our photographer:
http://www.celimages.com
Deciding on the value really depends on the quality of work from the photographer. And only you two can decide that because everyone’s tastes are different.
But just keep in mind that the photos will last forever. The dress, the flowers, the cake will only last a day.
EDIT: I should also add that the $5K comes with a DVD of all our images, which are all edited and color corrected, and the rights to print as many copies as we please.
I wouldn’t pay any more than $300, personally, but that’s because my fiance and I don’t like how we look in pictures, and because I’d rather spend the money on something our guests can enjoy, like good food, open bar, and fun favors. We’re lucky, though- we have a friend who is an amateur photographer, and he’s agreed to do our wedding for free! We’re going to give him about $100 for being so nice anyway, though. We both hate posed photos, so we’re probably only going to do about two or three obligatory posed wedding photos (the two of us, the whole bridal party, etc.) and then just have him take a bunch of candids. I personally think all those shots of the bride getting ready and all that are kind of a waste of film- I still have yet to meet anyone who cares about looking at other people’s wedding albums, especially the "getting ready" pictures!
It depends on your priorites…I chose not to have a videographer and use that money towards my photographer. The photographer I chose cost $5000 for 8 hours and they are the most beautiful pictures ever. She really took the time to understand me and the types of photos I wanted and gave me exactly what I paid for.
I have been to a wedding where the bride selected a photographer for about $2000 for the 8 hours and really lucked out with some beautiful pictures, but I’ve also been to another where they paid about $1500 for 6 hours and the photographer showed up in a jean jacket, was really loud and annoying during the ceremony and reception, and was in everybody’s face the whole time.
Its hard to say what value you are getting because every experience is different…I would base my opinion on their gallery of work and referrals from others. Good luck!
Its up to you. I would compare prices and work from other photographers. You get what you pay for (most of the time). Make sure they have at least some feed back from the people who’s wedding they did and you can use that.In the end it comes out of your pocket and they will be you and your husband’s memories so think about it carefully.
As a photographer, I have to say, DO YOUR RESEARCH! You’re already on the ball on this one and that’s great! You can find a great photgrapher who will do a wonderful job that doesn’t cost a fortune. I have packages that covers just the basics to the whole wedding weekend. But you need to get referalls from the photographer too. Don’t just go by what they tell you! There is a photographer her in my town that purchased the images she uses on her website from a stock photography website! And lied to one of my brides when the bride asked why my packages were identical to the other photographers (she copied it). After giving my bride all the information she needed to do her own research on both of us, I ended up with the contract.
Now, you probably won’t have this happen, but sometimes awful things like this pop up. So check around, shop around, ask other brides for their experiences with their photographers. And good luck!
thompsonsphotography.blogspot.com
Edit – I would just like to say to the woman who is having an amatuer friend shoot her wedding, please don’t. I’ve heard from too many bride’s who come to me, then have a friend who has a good camera shoot their wedding. All of them say the same thing, "I should have hired a professional!" This is the worst mistake a person can make is to not budget for a professional photographer!
We are getting a fantastic photographer for the entire day. We are paying 3000.00 for him, but it is well worth it.
He also included our engagement photos, a bridal sitting if I want one, and a large graphistudios album.
It depends on the area of course, but I think about $3,000 is a normal price for a good photographer in most places.
You know you’re getting the right value by comparing the photographer’s portfolio to others in the same price range. For example, I found a student who would charge $200 for 6 hours. Looking at their portfolio their quality is similar to the photographers who are charging $1500. That said, the quality $1500 can purchase (in my area) is good but not great so I ended up finding a photographer for $3500 that is absolutely magnificent and is willing to barter my services (odd jobs around the house, some graphic design work) for theirs.
It all depends on the photographer. With most quality photographers you can expect to spend about $1,000 at least. It also depends on your location
I got super lucky and found an awesome photographer for under $1000 and that was for the whole day. We have a cd of all of our images and the copywrites.
The best thing to do is shop around. Do tons of research and look at portfolios…. make sure that your photographer is capable of taking pictures that you’ll love for a price that is reasonable to you.
Part of it is where you are at and what all you get. I know an AMAZING photographer in Norther California, and her packages start at $2500 but there is SO MUCH involved in her photography, and the pictures are awesome.
I’m paying $1899 for two photographers, one all day, one for six hours. This DOES NOT include a book. I will also have an additional photographer for seven hours, because of a little problem I had with the company (that is fixed now).
I’m in the chicago burbs if that helps
$10,000 is ridiculous!!! she must have had someone who celebs use or something. a package below $2000 would get you results…..just remember that with airbrushing and digital photography anyone can do it. So check out photographers with websites- view their portfolio, call them ask questions and see if you get along.
I paid £300 for mine as he was the professional photographer father of a friend but this did not include the album- i just got the disks so can print what i like. He was a bit intrusive like coming up to me and adjusting my face during our first dance and missing key focal points like the beautiful fountain outside our reception…..so lay down some rules before you agree as on the day you will be overwhelmed with whats going on and may not pick up on these details.
I’ve heard of people spending over 7k, but you can get just as good a quality for like 1800. It really depends on your location. A lot of people say it’s worth it to spend tons of money because you keep photos forever. Just because something is outrageously expensive does not mean it will be better than something that is moderately priced. You have to do your homework either way.
I am paying $1750 for five hours of photography, a proof book, a DVD of the images, and all the prints to be posted on pictage for 90 days. We aren’t getting a single print outside the ones in the print book. We are paying for the services and the rights to the photos. All the etiquette books say that photography should be no less than 10% of your total wedding budget and never more than 20%. I guess it would depend on what your overall budget is!
10 grand?!!!! wow.
I paid 2800.00 and would spend it again for great photos.
I will be paying between $2000-$5000, depending on if I do a full day of photography or a half day. $5000 is the norm for a full day of photography here, so a lot of people just hire amateurs.
I personally would pay as much as I could afford to get the look and style I love. I like bright, modern, photojournalist style that only looks good if a real professional does it, so as a result, much of my wedding budget is going to photography.
I’m getting married in November, and I just booked a photographer for $250 (for one hour). We’ll need to pay an additional $60 or so for the disc with all the photos on it.
10,000 HOLY CRAP SHE BETTER BE GOOD. I went with a girl just starting out. I wasn’t happy with all of them but she did get a lot of good shots. I paid $1500 from noon till 9:30 pm. I have over 1000 pictures too many but I forgot a lot of shots the day was too crazy.Photoshop!
My package included engagement sesssion which I was pleased with, then 400 proofs. DVD online at pictage.com hmm and a bunch of 8 X 10, and she did a slideshow at the wedding for us, not bad and she was justing fresh. I think the more you pay the more pictures you will get.
First let me say congratulations on your engagement to be married!!!
To be honest, it really depends on if you like the work. While $10,000 may seem pricey, the photographer may really be worth the fee. Of course for that price, you should expect to receive a lot of amenities.
I am quite sure that you can find a great photographer in the range of $2000 to $10,000. It really just depends on how much you like the photographers work, and how confident you are that the photographer will deliver what you expect.
I happen to be a wedding photographer myself, and I must admit that I have charged up to $10,000 for my services. Some people want more then just the basic services and products. Huge wall portraits, huge canvas wraps, extra extra large magazine style wedding albums plus multiple parent albums, DVD picture montages and so on…
It just depends on what you want. I would not be afraid to approach your friends wedding photographer and find out what he or she can do for your for around $2000 to $3000.
I hope this helps some!
By the way, when I got married 3 years ago we paid our wedding photographer $5000. We really liked his style and everything he offered. And if we were to do it all over again, we’d pay the $5000 all over again.
Sincerely,
Damien Smith
Damien Smith Photography
E-mail: info@damiensmithphotography.com
Web site: http://www.damiensmithphotography.com
Phone: (323) 919-6404