Average Cost of a Wedding Photographer
How much does a wedding photographer cost?
Congratulations! You are engaged and now wedding planning has started. Has the questions of "How much should I spend on my wedding photography?" entered the budgeting conversations? There are so many options when considering wedding photographers from style and experience to cost. Seeing so many options can make it tough to get a clear understanding of the average cost of a wedding photographer. Finding a photographer that is a great fit for you isn't just about cost, but also consider their style and personality. Having a photographer that feels like your best friend is one of the best investments of your wedding day. I am going to highlight some things to consider as you begin the search for your photographer including the average you can expect to spend on your wedding photographer.
Once you read this post about the average cost of wedding photographers, you'll be able to identify the factors of importance to you, understand the general price range of Ohio wedding photographers, understand the factors that influence cost and be equipped with budgeting power against the 10% myth! You'll be a wedding planning super hero!
You will want to not only consider the cost of a wedding photographer, but also choose a photographer that focuses on what you value most.
What to consider when creating your wedding budget
The photographer, is arguably, one of the most important decisions you will make for your wedding day. To ensure that you book exactly what is best for you, you will want to not only consider the cost of a wedding photographer, but also choose a photographer that focuses on what you value most.
When you think of it this way, you will begin finding photographers that you LOVE instead of focusing on what other brides are spending.
Tip #1: Think about and even write down what photos and wedding moments are most important to you.
Are GORGEOUS detail shots that perfectly showcase your style and wedding day vibes important for you? Are photos with your girls or your family members that show your fun loving relationship on your list of must haves? Maybe its more about capturing the candid moments happening on the dance floor or your grooms face when he sees you for the first time and can't hold back his smile. Maybe you really want the fine art posed photos or out of the box posing? Narrowing down a list of must have and important moments will help you choose a photographer that is the best fit for you.
Tip #2: What editing style do you like best?
There are photographers in every artistic category! Which style do you prefer? Some like their images to come across natural, true to color and clean. Others like to follow whats on trend or edit with a moody feel. When you are considering a photographer, think about what style you prefer; true to color/natural, light and airy or dark/moody.
Average Ohio wedding photographer price points
As you may already know, there is a wide range of rates for photographers. So how do you know what to expect? To help you gauge how much YOUR photographer should cost, let's take a look at the groups below.
Beginner Photographer: $0-$1,000 (Just starting out and may not have shot a wedding yet)
This photographer may have never shot a wedding or has had limited experience second shooting for other wedding photographers. Hiring them could be risky! They are most likely trying to "build their portfolio" and may even have just purchased their first entry level camera. They may not have an understanding of posing or how to handle different lighting scenarios. Their editing style may be inconsistent and you could possibly risk having missed moments and out of focus images. This photographer will most likely not be able to offer guidance for your wedding timeline, photography schedule and struggle with organizing group photos on your wedding day.
Amateur or Hobbyist Photographer: $1,000 - $2,000 (Has some experience as a second shooter and may have a few "solo" weddings under their belt)
This photographer may have worked under the direction of a professional photographer as an assistant or second shooter. They may not be in high demand and are still growing and crafting their "style". They are most likely working toward getting professional gear and price themselves below average in order to be an enticing offer for brides. They may be able to offer posing direction, but struggle with various lighting scenarios.
Semi-Professional or Seasoned Amateur: $2,000-$3,500 (Has a higher demand and is crafting their client experience)
This photographer has a significant amount of experience and will probably have a portfolio that can give you a good idea of the consistency they provide. This photographer is active in investing in their education about weddings and photography. At this level, it is common for the photographer to be investing in professional level gear, back ups and insurance.
Professional: $3,500 - $5,000 (typically considered full-time professionals are in high demand and known for their style, expertise and etc.)
At this price point, the photographer is very established in their style and structured business. You can expect this photographer to have years of experience and understanding of posing, lighting and photography concepts. They will also have professional level gear and will deliver high quality photographs. They'll make you feel cared for and will create a personalized experience that most often turn into a life long relationship.
Luxury: $5,000+ (typically very established with a refined styles, luxury offerings and experience )
This photographer can handle high-profile events with ease. Their reputation is known for excellence and refined style. The photos and products they deliver are of the highest quality. They can guarantee an incredible, personalized experience and guarantees pristine imagery.
Our Photography ONLY Collections begin at $3,500. Photography and Video Collections begin at $5,000.00 and Video ONLY collections begin at $2,500.00
Why do photographers cost so much.....or so little?
It can be, without a doubt, confusing when you're trying to find your perfect fit photographer and you're faced with so many options! To say, "you get what you pay for" may sound cliche, but several factors go into photography pricing. It is a challenge to put a "one size fits all" answer, but in this section you will get a good idea of what goes into pricing and be able to better define whats the best fit for you.
The short and sweet answer to the question is that there are several factors that affect the cost of wedding photography: location, expertise, what's included in the packages and the cost of doing business. Expertise goes hand in hand with experience; including the amount of years they have been a photographer, as well as a diverse portfolio.
Let's break it down a little more though.
EXPERTISE
Although these elements are different parts of the pricing puzzle, they do go hand in hand. So what exactly do I mean by expertise?
Expertise typically involves the following:
Actual photography skills (e.g., skills in handling different lighting scenarios like bright light and low-light and everything in between, understands the mechanics of their camera, lighting and the concepts of composition/posing)
Skills in handling interpersonal situations (e.g., ability to help guide day-of communication so that cooperation between multiple people can is achieved, such as getting family organized to do family formals)
Confident and relatable communication skills to put you and others in a comfortable frame of mind
Business skills that create stability and service to consistently deliver results
LOCATION
The average cost of a photographer can be affected by the location. If you live in a big city area with a higher cost of living such as Chicago, New York or L.A. then you can guarantee that the cost will be more expensive than a photographer located in a smaller, rural area.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES
Some photographers create set collections and can range from all digitals to heirloom albums, engagement sessions, canvas prints and more. While others, start with a base rate and let you customize your collection based on what you want; increasing the total even more.
Some things to look for when considering different collections are:
Is there a second shooter already included or will it be an additional cost?
Is the second shooter also a professional level shooter or an amateur shooter under the direction of the professional? ( This can greatly affect the quality of delivered images)
Does the collection include a custom designed heirloom album?
Does the collection include an engagement session?
Does the collection include a pre-wedding consult or venue walk through?
Are there any other tangible products such as canvas, prints, custom ornaments or parent albums included?
Every tangible product has a direct cost that the photographer has to cover. Professional, heirloom level items are more expensive and often come with guarantees. Engagement sessions, pre-wedding consultations and venue walk throughs all require additional time from the photographer. The average amount of time required for a photographer from inquiry to gallery delivery can be 60+ hours. Your 8 hour wedding collection is just a drop in the bucket of whats required to make your experience magical.
COST OF DOING BUSINESS
Every licensed, professional business pays 30% of their income to taxes. In addition to license fees, insurance fees, studio fees, equipment fees, staffing fees, professional level gear and technology. The baseline professional level camera begins at an average of $3000 not including lenses, bags, sd cards, hard drives, back up hard drives, gear bags and batteries.
What does it boil down to?
You read this article to find out just how much does wedding photography cost? Ultimately, you’ll spend what you can and agree on the budget you can afford. You need to find the photographer that is a best fit for YOU!
In reality, wedding photography is worth whatever you’re willing to invest. If the photographer has a solid reputation, you love their full day portfolio, you mesh with their personality, and they make you feel comfortable, then book them whatever their price is (as long as it’s in budget, right?). Just remember to do your due diligence and research! Narrow down your options by the style you love, their reputation and consistency in their portfolio and then go for it!
For some brides, their budget is $500. For others the budget can range from $5k to $10k, or even $20K+. Just remember, your higher priced photographers have more demand for various reasons and tend to book several months even a year or more in advance. Their demand is usually associated with skill, style, etc. Of course, you can find cheaper photographers that are “worth” more than their current price range and display great skill and personality, but it can be a gamble.
In the end, what is most important is to find a wedding photographer that helps preserve your wedding memories for you, your kids and future grand-kids. Undoubtedly, the photographer you choose is going to be working incredibly hard to do their best and under lots of pressure to get all the special details. Be sure to love and cherish them dearly. After all, the only thing that will last forever from your wedding day is the photos you get to cherish AND your legacy of love.
