How Much Does Wedding Photography Cost? (8 Factors)

Event space ✔️

Dress ✔️

Color scheme and decorations ✔️

DJ ✔️

Cake and food ✔️

Next on your wedding to-do list is a wedding photographer. By now, you might be panicking a little bit at the cost of things. You might be wondering why wedding photographers cost so much.

As you compare one photographer and one package to the next, you might be left wondering why one costs far more than another. Does a higher price tag mean more experience? Sure, you want great wedding photos, but at what cost?

If you’ve never looked into the cost of professional photography before, it can be tricky to navigate. How do you know how much to spend? What is the average wedding photography cost?

There are several factors that affect the price of a wedding photographer, including location, experience, demand, equipment, time, travel, and editing. Some of these costs are fixed and some are controllable depending upon what sort of wedding coverage you’re looking for.

As a photographer myself, I’ll explain how each of these plays a role in the price of wedding packages. I’ll also help you understand how much of your budget you should dedicate to a wedding photographer.

Wedding Photography Average Price

A majority of couples do hire a wedding photographer and it tends to be one of the highest wedding expenses.

On average, couples today are spending $2,600 on their wedding photographer. Keep in mind, this is an average. The cost of wedding photography can range anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 or higher.

However much you spend depends on several factors – one of which is how much of a priority wedding photographs are to you and your partner. For many couples, there is no compromise on amazing wedding photographs.

8 Factors Affecting Wedding Photography Cost

Price is one of the top factors couples look at when deciding on a wedding photographer, so it’s important to know why wedding photographers cost so much and what influences the final price.

Wedding photography pricing can be influenced by fixed costs like location, the photographer’s level of experience, the equipment the photographer owns and how far the photographer needs to travel to the wedding. Along with the cost to operate their business, these costs are built into the wedding package price.

There are controllable costs as well, such as the number of images you receive and the amount of time the photographer is at the wedding.

The primary factors that influence price include:

• Location

• Experience

• Time

• Demand

• Equipment

• Travel

• Editing

• Miscellaneous business expenses

Location

Location is a big factor in the price of your wedding photography package. More expensive areas will be pricier.

If you’re getting married in New York City, expect prices to be much higher than they are in small-town Minnesota. Conversely if you’re hiring a photographer from a bigger city, you can expect that higher price tag too.

For example, the cost of a wedding photographer in the U.S. can rise as high as $10,000 or more, but a Midwest photographer often only goes as high as $5,800.

Experience

It takes extensive experience and training to become skilled at the craft of photography, and even more training to specialize in wedding photography. A more experienced photographer will cost more.

A more experienced photographer also means you’ll be working with someone who can work in difficult conditions like low light and bad weather. Because they have so much experience, they’ll be able to easily navigate unexpected events and challenges on the wedding day. This means peace of mind for you.

They’ll have extensive experience with directing and posing you and the bridal party, and they may even have knowledge about working with different cultures and wedding customs.

Wedding photographers provide a unique service and product that cannot be replicated or found elsewhere. They produce high-quality, creative, memorable photographs that will last a lifetime. And no offense, but that’s simply something your uncle with an iPhone cannot replicate.

Time

The duration a photographer is at the wedding festivities plays a major role in the cost of a wedding package. If a photographer is only there for a couple of hours to capture the ceremony and dinner, it’ll cost a lot less than a photographer who’s there right away in the morning until the very last kiss of the night.

If you’re looking to cut back on costs, this is an area where you can do it. You’ll save money by having the photographer there for fewer hours (but you’ll also sacrifice the number of images you’ll receive).

There’s also a lot of time spent on your wedding that you don’t see. It takes time and effort to plan and prepare for the wedding day. Photographers don’t simply book a wedding and forget about you. They’re behind the scenes getting ready for your wedding, too.

Demand

You may pay more for a photographer who’s in high demand. If they’re featured in all the bridal magazines and every couple wants to work with them, you’ll pay a premium price for it.

You may also pay more if the photographer only shoots a handful of weddings per year. Maybe they have other photography projects that take up most of their time and they only take on a few weddings per year. Because it might be a specialty project for them, they could charge more.

Keep this in mind when looking for a photographer. You may want to hire the trendiest photographer out there in 2023, but you’ll certainly pay a premium for it.

Equipment

The value of a photographer’s equipment may factor into the final price of the wedding packages they offer. Photographers invest in high-quality equipment – and it isn’t just cameras they’re purchasing. They have to acquire lenses, lighting, and other accessories – all of which can add up. High-quality lenses alone can cost thousands of dollars. They also have to pay for software to retouch and export the photos during the editing process.

Chances are, your photographer has spent years building up their arsenal of photography tools. That investment benefits you, too, and you’ll have higher-quality photos. It can, however, drive up the price.

Travel

Does your wedding photographer have to travel to your wedding?

I’m not talking about driving across town. I mean driving several hours – or even flying – to get to your wedding. If so, you may have to pay an extra fee for this. Some photographers will add on a set fee and others will charge you on a per-mile basis.

Editing

A lot goes into the editing process. It takes time and effort to edit the photographs and deliver the final images. Photographers need to be experienced in editing and retouching images.

I’m not talking about slapping the same filter on every photograph and retouching a blemish here or there. I’m talking about painstakingly going through each photo to ensure there’s no hair out of place (literally) and everyone looks their best. I’ve gone so far as to face swap a groomsman's smiling face from one photo into the one where he’s the only one not smiling.

This takes time – and it’s also part of the reason it may take several weeks to get your images back.

You can control some of this cost by choosing a package with fewer photos. For instance, a package where you get 500 final images will cost far more than a package with 200 final images.

The way you get your images can influence price, too. For instance, you may pay for an online gallery or will go through an in person sales process (IPS). An IPS is the process of meeting with the photographer so they can present and sell you the photos they captured.

Miscellaneous Business Expenses

Just like any other business, photographers have to make a living and they have bills to pay. They have to make enough money to cover business expenses such as insurance, taxes, and other operational costs.

Budgeting for a Wedding Photographer

Because wedding photography packages can range wildly, it’s important to set a budget before you start looking at photographers. Consider that couples are spending an average of $2,600 on wedding photography packages today. Are you willing to spend a little more or is that out of your range?

Then consider how your photography budget fits into your overall budget and how much of a priority it is compared to other vendors and services. How much do you value having pretty flowers or a plated meal on your day? How much do you value having all of the details of your day captured? After videography, photography is one of the best time capsules for remembering the best moments of your day.

If your dream photographer ends up being out of your price range, see if you can compromise on a controllable cost – like the number of photos you’ll receive or the duration of coverage.

Find a Photographer That Works for You

Most people don’t regret investing in photography – it’s one of the most valued services to spend money on during your wedding.

The cost of wedding photography can vary greatly depending on various factors such as location, experience, time, demand, equipment, travel, editing, and miscellaneous business expenses. While the average cost couples spend on wedding photography is around $2,600, it can range from $1,000 to $10,000 or higher.

When budgeting for a wedding photographer, it is essential to set a budget beforehand and consider the importance of wedding photographs compared to other wedding expenses. While it is natural to be conscious of costs, it is important to remember that wedding photographers provide a unique service and produce high-quality, creative, and memorable photographs that capture the essence of your special day.

Ultimately, finding the right balance between cost and the value you place on preserving your wedding memories will help guide your decision-making process.

I know that you value options, which is why I have three wedding packages to choose from. Take a look at them and schedule a consultation with me today.