Understanding the Cost of Wedding Photography
Is no secret that wedding planning involves many decisions, and one crucial choice is selecting the photographer that will be capturing all the fleeting moments of your day. And it’s true, once your wedding day is over, the cake is cut , the flowers saved for pressing, and the photos and videos of your day are the only true elements that you have, making the photography investment truly important!
The investment of Wedding Photography
A lot of photographers work with different packages to choose from, based on the number of hours of coverage for your wedding day. Wedding Photography packages also include added services such as engagement sessions, second photographer, albums and high resolution digital files. It’s important to note these different add-ons as we start to understand how wedding photography services are priced.
The cost of a wedding photographer will be influenced by different factors, the main ones being the photographer’s experience, skillness and location. Wedding photography prices can go from $1000 to $50000 for luxury wedding photographers. Even as you notice these fluctuating prices, on average, you can expect wedding photographers to cost between $2,000 to $5,000 for wedding photography.
How wedding photography packages vary per photographer
Wedding photography packages can include:
- Hours of Coverage: This is the amount of hours or timeline that the wedding photographer will spend at your wedding. Most photographers will start at 8 hours for a Full Day Wedding Package. Some photographers also offer “All-day coverage”, which truly means they stay from the last bits of getting ready to the beginning of the dance, however it can vary depending on the day and locations included ranging from 8 to 12 hours.
- Digital images: Most wedding photography packages will include Edited digital images, however, some wedding packages only include the high resolution digital images when purchasing a wedding album- as an incentive for you to add a tangible product to the wedding package.
- Second Photographer: Many photographers nowadays include a second photographer who is assisting the main photographer or “lead” in capturing additional candids and other angles of the day
- Engagement session: This is one item that varies from photographer to photographer, some decide to include it as a way to get to know their couple prior to their wedding day, while others choose to offer as an add-on
- Wedding Album: Many wedding photographers include heirloom albums as part of their package
- Travel: As most wedding photographers serve a local area, wedding photography packages include travel costs in their pricing. However, most photographers will charge extra for travel outside of a certain miles and destination weddings.
How wedding photography cost vary per location
Similar to various products and services, the cost of wedding photography is influenced by the specific location of your wedding. Factors like the cost of living, business expenses, and the supply and demand in a given area contribute to this spectrum. For instance, securing a wedding photographer in Minneapolis may come at a different price point than in other locations, such as New York City, or even inside the same state, hiring a photographer that is based in the capital (or the Twin Cities in Minnesota) can be different than hiring someone that is based in other parts of the state.
Being situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota with its unique characteristics and seasonal wedding industry can also impact costs, potentially exceeding the national average. The flourishing wedding industry in Minneapolis contributes to a slightly higher pricing structure across various services, including wedding photography.
What is the average wedding photographer cost?
How wedding photography cost vary for elopements and minimonies
The latest years after COVID have popularized the small wedding industry, with more couples opting for elopements, and for smaller weddings or minimonies. This has caused a shift as well in the wedding photography offerings, with more wedding photographers offering customized coverage for these smaller events.
A weekday smaller elopement might mean a photographer is offering a six hours package or even less to accommodate the different celebrations.
How Much Do Wedding Photographers Cost Based on Experience levels
Determining the average cost of a wedding photographer in partly depends on their experience level. In the upper end, a highly experienced photographer will most likely provide talent and a positive experience overall. In the other lower end, hiring someone not as seasoned, might mean compromising some of the quality and overall experience.
There is a popular clasification of wedding photographers into distinct categories based on their Experience levels
1. Brand New: $0-500
- Just starting, potentially with no prior wedding experience, high risk in delivering positive results.
2. Beginner: $500-1200
- Some wedding experience, possibly without high demand or a distinctive style.
3. Amateur: $1200-3000
- Photographs weddings regularly, may not have high demand due to style, possibly not considered full-time.
4. Growing Professional: $2000-3000
- Likely has a higher demand for style, focuses on client support, transitioning towards the “professional” category.
5. Experienced Professional: $4000-$6000
- Typically considered full-time professionals, in demand due to style and expertise and their emphasis on high-quality photographs.
6. Full Time Professionals: $5000-$10000 and beyond
- More established with their own style and portfolio, have constant work and a well-established reputation.
6. Luxury: $7000 and beyond
- Very sought after, well established with a refined style, offering luxury services and in great partnerships with vendors
How Much Do Wedding Photographers Cost Based on Skill levels and professionalism
Besides the level of experience, Full time Professional photographers will have to have a round of skills that aren’t only developed with time but with practice and learning.
Good bussiness practices
A professional wedding photographer has also the skillset necessary to manage their own small business and see it thrive, mantaining a reputation and a happy clientele, and covering all aspects of the business with knowledge such as contracts, taxes, backups and many other factors of running a business.
Skilled in Photography
Skilled wedding photographers will not only become experts in the technicalities of photography, they will have great knowledge on other aspects of photography such as editing and culling, composition and lighting.
Adaptation to Wedding Photography
Besides the experience in their profession, seasoned photographers are highly capable of capturing the most important parts of your days, anticipating the moments before they occur and adapting to the fast pace of weddings, as well as the changes in light and scenarios that normally happen during a wedding day.
Artistry in Photography
A professional wedding photographer is also an artist, who has worked on their craft and style for years, to make sure to provide a consistent style in all of their events. They invest in their growth as an artist and are constantly refining their product.
How to choose your wedding photographer within your price range?
Here are a few tips to ensure you are getting the best match for wedding photography!
1. Finding a wedding Photographer: Find what moves you
Wedding photographers have many styles, try browsing through wedding pictures to narrow down what gets your attention the most and what you believe matches your style.
Traditional style
is probably what you will see in your parents pictures, the couple and most of the people are looking to the camera and smiling in formal poses.
Documentary style
Documentary style can also be referred to as “photo journalistic” is all about the real moments and a photographer that is pure in this style will try not to interfere much so they can get all the greatest angles without being noticed.
Artistic or Fine Art Photography
Fine art photography, also close to the “editorial” style is all about reflecting real moments with style. The photographer might be creative and move things around a little bit.
Editorial Photography
Focused on creating visually striking, sophisticated images with a fashion or fine-art feel, providing a distinct and elegant touch to your wedding visuals.
Modern style
Contemporary or modern style photographers like different angles closer to high fashion photography and usually extra lighting to create dramatic, “WOW” shots. They document your wedding and add a little more edge to the photos and poses.
These definitions don’t mean that photographers don’t mix styles, they do all the time!
To get a sense of their portfolio browse through their portfolios and blogged weddings. See if what you see is what you would like to see about your wedding day, and if it makes you excited!
2. Think of your investment
Remember this will be a life long investment, there is a risk that comes with cheap photography and sometimes it isn’t only bad photos, but bad experiences.
Their price is usually defined by years of experience and demand in the market. Photographer’s only list their starting price in their website but that will give you an idea on whether or not you can hire them.
Attitude and experience is one of the most important things, as you want to hire someone that is prepared for the day!
3. Research on your wedding photographer
Photographers are super accessible nowadays so don’t hesitate to get in touch as soon as you find a photographer that you like!
What to look when researching a photographer?
Look for their website first, a good website is a sign of professionalism. Other things worth checking out are reviews from other couples, their portfolio of course, and their bio. If they have a blog browse through it since this will reflect their most recent work and their personality as well.
A wedding photographer should be both professional and charming as it will be interacting with your guests and you all day.
A good tip: Request to see a full gallery. You will get the chance to view their whole album and see how a whole wedding looks like.
Why Wedding Photography is an Investment
Your wedding day is a culmination of countless emotions and cherised moments shared with your partner, family, and friends. Investing in professional wedding photography ensures that these memories are captured with care and attention to detail. These images will serve as your first legacy whenever you glance upon them in the walls or in an album.
Beyond the documentation, wedding photography is an art form. A skilled photographer has the ability to capture the emotions and details that unfold throughout your wedding day.
Moreover, investing in professional wedding photography provides you with peace of mind that you will have a positive experience on your wedding day. A seasoned photographer possesses the expertise, creativity, and technical skills to preserve your story in all its splendor for generations to come.
Conclusion
Most wedding photographers will vary in cost depending on both their expertise and skilled level, and they will also offer different styles. Make sure to look at more than their starting price to make sure you are investing in a quality experience.
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About Laura Alpizar Photography
Laura Alpizar is a Minneapolis & St Paul Wedding Photographer specialized in candid and romantic wedding photography all over Minnesota and the Midwest. She also works in Costa Rica and destination weddings.
Learn more visiting our website and reach out so we can start working together !
