Wedding photography is one of the most important parts of wedding planning. Whether you believe it or not, wedding images are the only tangible mementos that you may take away from your special day. Also, a wedding album is the only way a couple can cherish their special memories and share them with their kids in the future. That’s why it becomes crucial to hire the right wedding photographer.
When it comes to arranging your wedding, there are a lot of different aspects to think about, items to take into consideration, and costs to account for, such as wedding photography costs.
When it comes to planning your wedding, certain things should be your beginning point and priority. The list may appear to be endless and daunting, and you may be unsure of where to begin; however, certain things should be your priority, such as wedding photography.
More often than not, couples give too less importance to wedding photography as they consider it an expensive affair. So, if you’re worried about the wedding photography cost, read this post.
Here in this post, we are sharing everything you need to know about wedding photography costs.
Here we go…
Why is Wedding Photography so Important?
Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event in your life. Of course, the only way you can have beautiful memories of your big day is through your wedding album.
Wedding photography plays a crucial role in a couple’s life. Often couples just don’t pay too much attention to their wedding photography, which is wrong. Every item that you’ll incorporate in your wedding will either perish or be useless once the wedding is over. The only thing that will remain with you all your life is your wedding album.
Just think of those wedding rituals that you will go through, and all the natural moments that will take place are the moments that make up your wedding, and wedding photography is the only way to capture those moments for a lifetime.
Also, your wedding album will help your kids know how beautiful you looked at your wedding. They may get some wedding inspiration from your wedding in the future. Moreover, your wedding album is the greatest way to relive those beautiful moments.
All in all, wedding photography is a significant expense, so make sure to choose the best wedding photographer.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Photographer for a Wedding?
Well, when it comes to the average wedding photography cost, know that it varies based on experience, demand, and location. All of these factors play a crucial role in determining the cost of a wedding photographer. Moreover, talented and reputable wedding photographers tend to command a higher price.
Prices for wedding photography might range widely, but there are certain consistent factors to consider.
Average Wedding Photographer Cost
Average wedding photography costs in the United States can be anywhere between $1500 to $10000. While in the Midwest, it may be between $3,000 and $5,000. Prices for wedding photography in New York and Bay Area can range anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000.
The wedding photography costs are often determined by the experience and demand of the photographer. Most photographers raise their prices once a year, which means that the price often reflects the photographer’s level of experience.
What Does A Wedding Photographer Cost Include?
Wedding photography cost includes the following:
10 to 12 hours of coverage for the wedding day
Online gallery with digital downloads, and
A pre-wedding or engagement photo session
And in the case of the additional hours of wedding day coverage, your photographer will charge an additional price for the same. Some photographers charge around $200 – $250 per hour for additional hours.
Aside from that, the prices of add-ons such as albums and prints will be around $300 to $1500, depending on the number of photos you select.
The cost of wedding videography will be separate.
The majority of wedding photographers do not include videography in the packages they provide. Photographers and videographers are often independent service providers working for different businesses; however, some husband-and-wife pairs offer both services.
The cost of hiring a wedding videographer is comparable to that of hiring a wedding photographer. For ten hours of coverage and a five-minute highlight film, you may expect to pay anywhere from $1500 to $5000, and in some instances, even more.
Pro Tip: You should always hire a professional photographer for your wedding.
Let’s now take a look at some mistakes that you should avoid while you hire a wedding photographer.
Top 10 Mistakes To Avoid While Hiring Wedding Photographer
1. Hiring a photographer without viewing his work
Couples with limited time struggle to investigate wedding photographers. They may book a friend’s referral if they’re pressed for time. Never, you should never do this! Examine his work first. It’s your wedding; be selective.
2. Blindly trusting their acquaintance
Your acquaintance may have great taste, but blindly trusting them is unwise. Before booking a wedding photographer, see his work. Weddings are once-in-a-lifetime events; mistakes could be disastrous. It will only take a few hours of your time, but the outcome will be wonderful.
3. Not meeting the photographer in person
Wedding photographer booked online?
What a terrible choice!
It’s vital to meet a wedding photographer before hiring him. These meetings are for exchanging ideas and understanding each other. He should know what you want in your wedding photos so he can organize your special day.
4. Choosing quantity above quality
Few couples want lots of wedding images for their album. Fat album and lousy wedding images won’t help your memories. Quality is important, and you’ll appreciate looking through your wedding album on your honeymoon or even after that. So, do not sacrifice photo quality on a budget. Relax and prioritize quality over quantity.
5. Hiring two photographers
In ritual-rich India, both sides want separate photographers. It’s widespread in India but a waste of money. Both photographers will be squaring off to obtain their best shots. Have a single crew for both sides.
Why pay for individual photographers when you can hire a professional for the same fee and get amazing photos.
6. Not visiting the wedding venue.
This is common. Since they don’t have time or don’t think seeing the venue is important, they book it online or have someone else do it. Your wedding location isn’t just there to host your guests.
Bring your photographer to scout out photo spots before the wedding. The photographer can only capture the best memories if you offer him venue details.
7. Asking for raw files
Couples ask for the photographer’s raw files, but a pro will only offer them retouched photographs. The photographer only sends you the files for the album.
8. Not hiring a professional wedding photographer
Many engaged couples sometimes overlook the decision to hire a professional photographer because they view it as an unnecessary additional expense. This is not the approach you should adopt to taking photographs at the wedding.
Wedding photography is a substantial expenditure; you shouldn’t try to save money by skipping it or hiring somebody off the street as your photographer. You have the rest of your life to accumulate wealth, but moments can never be retrieved once they have been lost. Therefore, if you want to have the best recollections possible, it is in your best interest to engage a professional.
9. Not cooperating with the wedding photographer.
It’s reasonable that you’re fatigued from wedding preparations and you’re upset by the recent chaos caused by the groom’s sister, but these issues may be resolved. Your photographs will be harmed if you do not cooperate with your photographer for whatever reason. Trust your wedding photographer to get beautiful photographs.
10. Missing key details
Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so you only hire a ceremony photographer. You can cut other wedding expenses. There are numerous expenses that you can simply avoid.
For example, the second pair of shoes that you want to purchase for your wedding day. What is the need? One pair of shoes is enough for your wedding day. So, buy the one that suits your wedding attire the best and save the rest of the money.
11. Not having a pre-wedding shoot.
Pre-wedding and engagement shoots are optional but help with poses. A pre-wedding shoot can help hesitant couples bond and get to know their photographer. Also, these photos help you get accustomed to each other.
You have a pro, but how does he know who to photograph? How many family images and stage pictures do you need? Let your photographer know in advance the shots you want him to take in all.
13. Booking the photographer last minute
Ohh! Last-minute booking disappointments are the worst. This can cause distress. It’s always advised to hire a photographer at least ten months before the D Day.
You may think you can schedule a photographer later, but later they’ll all be gone. It’s not a honeymoon package or a vacation booking where remaining seats are sold at a discount if you wait until the last minute to book. Contrarily, wedding photography. Costs climb, and the best photographers are booked first.
Wedding photos might be hard to wait for. Once you know your date and venue, book your wedding photographer.
14. Not signing a legal contract
You hired a known, recommended, or buddy wedding photographer. You erred there. Your relationship with the photographer isn’t in the contract. Legally, you must sign a contract before hiring a photographer. It prevents future project conflicts and complications.
Signing the agreement is essential, so read it carefully and check for specifics like the amount of raw and processed photos, the duration or number of hours, the delivery time, liability, image ownership, payment conditions, booking price, usage rights, etc. Everything you agree on should be in writing. This minimizes misunderstandings and helps both parties work better and achieve more.
15. Leaving a good photographer just for some dollars.
Lastly, leaving a good photographer just for some dollars is not wise! More often than not, couples leave good photographers just to save a few dollars. This is not wise at all!
Know that a reputable photographer will always cost you money! So, you should always have a separate budget for your wedding photography. It will help you choose the right photographer without any stress.
Making these errors may damage wedding photos. Hence, it is crucial to avoid these errors and hire the best wedding photographer.
So, this is all about the average wedding photography cost. Now it’s time for some wedding photography FAQs. Take a look…
FAQs
Q.1. Why is it important to hire a professional photographer for your wedding?
It’s possible that you’ll have a wide range of options and explanations for why wedding photography isn’t that important to you. However, we always recommend that you use a specialist.
Wedding photography is imperative because it will record your day, it will capture your memories, and it will tell a narrative—and not just any story—it will tell a beautiful story about your special day, a day that is special to you and your loved ones! Only a professional wedding photographer would be able to give you a beautiful tale that you can share with your loved ones, including your children and grandkids, something that you will always have and can cherish for the rest of your life.
Your flowers shrivel up, your cake will be devoured swiftly, your invites will be discarded after the event, your dress will be worn once, and your shoes will be returned to their box, but your wedding pictures will remain with you forever. Hence, it is crucial to focus on wedding photography and have a separate budget for it.
Q.2. When should I book a photographer for my wedding?
When it comes to booking your wedding photographer, the earlier in the planning process you do so, the better, especially if you have a particular wedding photographer in mind.
Make sure to schedule your photographer at least ten months or more in advance if you want to utilize your engagement images as the save the date cards for your wedding. Remember that best in the business will be booked first. So, if you don’t want any regrets later, it’s always advised to book your favorite photographer at least 10 months ahead of the D DAY.
Q.3. How exactly do you go about finding a good photographer?
The photographer for the wedding is a considerable expense. Before agreeing to terms with a photographer, it is crucial to conduct an exhaustive screening of their previous work.
To get started:
Make some inquiries.
Do enough research, search online, and pick up the top 5 or 7.
Go through their gallery online.
Read reviews and feedback on their websites.
Talk to them on the phone. If you like any of them, fix a meeting with them and meet in person.
Aside from that, you can ask for referrals and recommendations. For instance, if your friend recently got married, and you liked her wedding photography, ask her for her contact. If possible, try to connect with their past clients so as to have detailed information.
You will be able to feel more confident in your investment if you look through a whole gallery of previous weddings. Remember that you always have the option of working with a different photographer if the quality is not satisfactory.
Q.4. What is the average schedule for making payments?
There are many other options for payment plans, but the vast majority of photographers choose a two- or three-payment arrangement. The initial payment is known as the deposit, and it is normally expected to be paid in conjunction with the signed contract.
This deposit guarantees your date. A two-payment plan requires the second installment, which represents the remaining balance of the agreed-upon amount, to be handed over prior to the ceremony.
Photographers often use a three-payment schedule, in which the final payment is broken up, and clients are required to pay after the wedding, once all of the photographs have been edited and are ready for delivery. We recommend choosing the three-payment arrangement method (if your photographer gives you the option. Never pay the full amount in advance.
Q.5. Shall I negotiate with my wedding photographer?
You might try to negotiate a lower price with your wedding photographer, but the majority of wedding photography costs are not flexible. Photographers often provide scalable package options. You can always opt for the one that best matches your wedding budget. Their overall cost includes fees for editing software, gear, licenses, and insurance, as well as other commercial elements. Negotiating with a reputable photographer won’t fetch you anything as they have fixed packages. All you can do is choose the package accordingly.
That’s all for now! Hope you liked this post! Keep reading our blogs for insights on wedding and wedding preparation!
