As a wedding photographer, I get asked from time to time why wedding photography costs so much. Why does Photographer A start at $1,000 and Photographer B at $3,000? And Photographer C starts at $8,000; How is that possible?

To be clear, I am in the business of selling you a valuable service. But even more importantly, I firmly believe that I am in the business of serving the bride and groom, first and foremost; whether I end up working with you or not. I take a very low pressure sales approach and always advise a couple to work with the photographer that really suits their needs best.

So with that in mind, and in the interest of helping you make a more informed decision, I’d like to help you take the mystery out of the process. I hope you find this short article useful!

Before we begin, let’s make two assumptions together…

A. You have a family member or friend who likes photography, posts interesting things on their Flickr account, and would love to photograph your wedding. You know this is a bad idea because photographing a wedding requires a very significant and specialized set of skills. For this reason, it is best suited to someone who has spent a significant amount of time and practice developing this skill set. Unless the above is true of your relative or friend; if so, what are you wasting your money on?

B. A “professional” photographer is someone who is paid for their services, no more and no less. There is no governing body, no licensing process, no required certifications; a professional is simply and solely a person who wants to sell you something. There are many “hobbyist” photographers who do fantastic work and there are many “professionals” who do horrible work. So please understand that when I use the word “professional,” I’m not selling you a “professional” photographer; I am selling him the concept of a professional who clearly has the necessary skills to meet his needs.

Are we still on the same page? If not, read again and let them sink in. When you are ready:

How much does wedding photography cost… to your photographer?

Depending on the experience and expertise of the photographer, he or she can use anywhere from $10,000 to $60,000 or more worth of equipment on your wedding day. Briefly consider:

• A professional camera body. $2,500-$5,000 (x2, even x3 – having a backup body is imperative in case one breaks or malfunctions.)
• professional lenses. My go-to lenses are the Nikkor 24-70 2.8 ($1,700) and the Nikkor 70-200 2.8 ($2,000, current prices at time of writing). These offer fantastic optics and are excellent in low light…the kind you’ll find in virtually any church in the world. Also, many photographers will carry more lenses for more specialized purposes. Some prefer primes to zooms.
• professional lighting. 2-5 flashes, mounts, remote triggers, and enough NiMh batteries to power them through a night of dancing. Total cost – between $1,000 and $3,000.
• Computing power to process it all. Computer, lots of CompactFlash cards, backup and redundancy storage (I’d hate to lose the wedding photos), software, color calibration kits and more… this can add up to hundreds of dollars fast.

And there are many more expenses that we haven’t even mentioned: transportation costs, unpaid consultation time, office/studio space lease, advertising, taxes, etc. etc. And, oh yes, take a salary from what is left over.

I’m not saying this to pity the expensive photographer: yes, good wedding photographers can make a comfortable living (and some do). I mention it only because these are real costs that a professional should take into account and factor into their pricing.

I know photographers have expenses, but $6,000 per wedding? Really?

Is Prada really a better bag than bargain maker JCPenney? Is a Mercedes 600 series really that magnificently superior to a Honda Accord? While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it is obvious that there are wedding photographers who charge a premium well above their actual costs. Why?

Maybe they really are that much in demand, and they can do it.

Maybe they really are that good.

They may not be as good or as sought after… but are they behind on their yacht payments?

Seriously, I’m sure you’re well aware that photographers’ fees fall across a wide spectrum of prices. And work doesn’t always seem to be related to price. I have looked at hundreds of portfolios and even sometimes I am surprised by how much I dislike the images of some very expensive photographers. Others charge less for what appears to be wonderful work.

So how do I know the cost is worth it?

The best advice I can give you:

Start with a list of photographers whose style you really like. Take a look at his portfolio, his blog. Get to know them, talk about what you’re looking for, ask questions. There are many resources that can help you get started; check out Knot, check out wedding magazines and websites. In short, try to get a good idea of ​​your true body of work. It is my opinion that anyone can get lucky, given enough tries, and take twelve good photos to put in their website slideshow. Dig deeper; try to make sure they show consistency in the things you like about their job.

Try to find out what your maximum budget is and then what you feel comfortable signing up with. Eliminate photographers who are simply out of your budget. If someone is a little out of reach, it never hurts to ask; Photographers can lower their asking price for a number of reasons. Maybe they’re getting married in a spectacular location, maybe their date is one they wouldn’t otherwise fill, maybe they’re the coolest couple ever. However, if your ceiling is $2,000, I would avoid emailing the photographer that starts at $5,000. Realistically, you probably won’t get a yes answer.

I sincerely hope this helps! Feel free to contact me through my website or find me on Twitter or Facebook! Feel free to ask me if you have any questions or if there is anything I can do to help you.

Congratulations to you and your fiancé as you plan this exciting chapter of your lives together!