How much should you budget for wedding photography services in 2024? Obviously, having a professional wedding photographer can be very expensive, but it’s also a precious way to preserve lovely, timeless memories of your wedding day.
The national average cost for a wedding photographer in the U.S. is around $2,500. Pricing can range anywhere from $1,000 to over $10,000 depending on a number of factors. A typical wedding photography package includes:
- 6-8 hours of coverage
- An engagement photo session
- Edited digital images
- An online gallery for viewing/downloading photos
- A second photographer
What factors affect wedding photography costs, and how can you adjust your budget accordingly? Let’s examine the main variables that influence costs.
Factors That Impact Wedding Photography Pricing
Like with other professional services, hiring a wedding photographer with expertise, a large portfolio, and a solid reputation will cost extra. Experienced photographers who have captured more than 100 weddings and refined their style will command higher fees than novices. Experienced photographers may charge an average of $3,000 to $5,000 or more.
Place and Need Major metro regions typically have higher prices due to higher demand and overall living costs. In New York City, for instance, the average cost of a wedding photographer is approximately $4,500, whereas in Columbus, Ohio, it is $2,000 on average. Due to demand spikes during peak seasons, popular wedding locations like wine country or coastal towns may also see an increase in costs.
It’s common practice to have two photographers document your day from various perspectives, but the cost will increase if you need to hire more shooters or assistance. A second photographer is often included in premium packages along with the principal shooter. The cost of hiring a third shooter might rise from $500 to $1,000.
Coverage Hours The majority of entry-level packages include 6–8 hours of nonstop coverage, which is usually sufficient for couples planning an afternoon ceremony and nighttime celebration. Higher rates correspond to longer hours; a 4-hour bundle may save money, but it will capture less hours. Beyond the bundle, additional hourly costs run from $150 to $400 per hour.
Travel Charges If your photographer needs to go further than their usual area, you will probably have to pay extra for travel expenses such as airfare, lodging, rental cars, mileage fees (which start at $0.50 per mile), and even meals for lengthy days of travel. These costs may raise the cost of a destination wedding by several hundred to thousands of dollars.
Editing and Items For photographers, going through thousands of photos and doing extensive editing and filtering can take a lot of time. Packages requiring more editing may be more expensive. It can also significantly raise costs to buy physical goods directly from your photographer instead of going through a third party, such as high-end albums, canvas prints, or other professional print materials.
What to Look for When Hiring a Photographer
Beyond just costs, there are several other key factors to consider when choosing your wedding photographer:
First Reservation The majority of couples reserve their dream wedding photographer 8–16 months in advance, sometimes even later if they have a Saturday wedding during the busiest wedding season. You’ll have a better variety and more availability the earlier you book.
Examine Their Portfolio Check out the photographer’s internet galleries to make sure you adore their editing style, capacity to catch genuine candid moments, inventiveness when it comes to portrait poses and lighting, and general technical proficiency. Their portfolio gives you an accurate idea of what to expect.
Make an Appointment To determine whether you truly “click” with the photographer, schedule a consultation via phone, video, or in person. Having a good rapport with the camera helps you feel at ease enough to be yourself. Ask them about their background, workflow, backups, and other topics during this time.
Receive Written Pricing & Packages Obtain a comprehensive price before making a reservation that clearly states all of the services and products that are included, from the number of coverage hours to the approximate time of delivery. Verify that there are no ambiguous clauses or extra charges. Examine contracts in detail.
Share the Important Shots To make sure you get all the pictures, ceremony, reception, and detailed images you want, talk about creating a thorough shot list in advance. A timeline checklist should be supplied by your photographer as well.
Ways to Save on Wedding Photography
Even with average costs around $2,500, there are still potential ways savvy couples can reduce their photography expenditures:
Book Further Out Many photographers may offer discounts of 5-25% if you can book 12-18+ months in advance when their calendar is wide open. Securing your date early when availability is less limited gives you more leverage.
Weekday Wedding Having your event on a Friday or weekday can mean lower fees than a premium Saturday rate due to decreased demand those days. You could save $500 or more going this route.
Hourly Packages Opt for a photography package with a shorter hourly rate (e.g. 4 hours) instead of full day coverage of 8+ hours if you have a tighter schedule or smaller elopement-style ceremony. You’ll sacrifice capturing as many events.
Digital Files Only Forgo printed albums/products and just purchase the digital image files with print release to save money upfront. But keep in mind you’ll need to order prints/albums yourself from another vendor.
Use Newcomers Consider hiring photography students, assistants just starting their own business, or semi-pros who offer lower introductory pricing to build their portfolio. But thoroughly vet their skills first.
Enlist Help See if any friends or family members with photography experience are willing to serve as semi-professional assistants or “third shooters” to lower costs for extra coverage.
Cutting back too much on hours/services could mean missed memories, so balance cost-savings against your must-have photography priorities.
Hidden Costs & Fees
Even after securing your photographer’s primary package, there may be several additional fees to account for:
Engagement Photos Many photographers offer an engagement photo shoot or “buddy session” as an add-on for an extra fee of around $200-$500, though some include it. Useful for “warm-up” photos and save-the-date cards.
Wedding Albums Premium album costs can range from $500 for a basic parent album to $1,500+ for a thick, layflat album with customizations like acrylic or metallic cover options. Be sure to factor album costs into your total if you want physical prints.
Assistant Fees
Having an assistant photographer present to help your main shooter with lighting, gear toting, or additional angles may incur an extra $150-$400 assistant fee.
Travel Expenses For a destination wedding, you’ll need to cover all airfare, hotel stays, rental cars, gas, and any other travel costs for your photographer(s) to get to the location. Costs can skyrocket for international destinations.
Tips & Gratuities Similar to other wedding vendors, it’s customary but not mandatory to tip your photographers 10-20% of the total cost if you’re satisfied with their service.
Taxes & Service Fees Don’t forget to account for any applicable sales tax and potential service fees on your photography package total as well.
Be sure to get a full estimate of any additional fees beyond just the photography package base pricing to avoid unpleasant surprises!
Read more : How Much Is a Wedding Photographer
Is It Worth Splurging on a Premium Photographer?
At the end of the day, the photography cost is an investment in preserving priceless memories of one of life’s biggest milestones that you’ll cherish for decades to come. So is it worth spending top dollar to hire a highly sought-after, premium wedding photographer?
There are pros and cons to consider on both the budget and luxury ends of the pricing spectrum:
Budget Photographer (e.g. <$1,500)
| Pros | Cons |
| Lower cost | Less experienced |
| Great for tight budgets | May miss key moments |
| Good for shorter coverage | Lower quality editing |
| Can be skilled student/semi-pro | Inconsistent portfolios |
Premium Photographer (e.g. $4,000+)
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly experienced & passionate | Higher costs |
| Creative, editorial-style images | May have to book further out |
| Great at capturing candids | Still requires thorough vetting |
| Provide ultimate peace of mind | Additional fees can add up |
While top wedding photographers can easily cost $4,000 or more, many couples feel the investment is worthwhile for:
- The irreplaceable ability to capture every key moment flawlessly
- An experienced professional to lean on for advice and calmly handle any day-of issues
- Top-quality equipment, editing, and product options like luxury albums
Conclusion
At the end of the day, photography is one of the most important and prudent investments for your wedding day. While the national average cost of $2,500 for a professional wedding photographer provides great value and ample coverage, your actual costs could be higher or lower based on your specific photography needs and priorities.
Factors like your location, the amount of coverage required, the number of shooters, level of experience of the photographer(s), desired products like albums, travel costs, and add-on fees can all impact the final price tag. By doing your research, booking early for best availability, and finding a photographer whose style truly speaks to you, it’s possible to secure incredible photography while staying within your set budget.
The key is to not sacrifice quality for savings when it comes to capturing the precious memories and once-in-a-lifetime moments that you’ll undoubtedly want to cherish and relive for many years to come. By budgeting appropriately and partnering with a trusted professional, you can have confidence that your wedding photography will forever encapsulate the beauty, love, and magic of your special day.
