Cost of Wedding Photographer and What to Look For

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When getting married, photography is a very important aspect, as photos from the wedding are wonderful keepsakes to look back on and reminisce about the special day. A couple should only select a photographer after carefully considering professionalism, cost, and personality, to ensure that you are going to get the most perfect shots, at the right price. Continue reading to learn the average cost of wedding photographer.

How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost?

Below is a basic breakdown of typical wedding costs, and how much of your budget you should expect to pay for these costs:

  • Ceremony: 2-3 %

  • Attire: 8-10 %

  • Entertainment/Music: 8-10 %

  • Flowers: 8-10 %

  • Gifts: 2-3 %

  • Parking/Transportation: 2-3 %

  • Photography/Videography: 10-12 %

  • Reception: 48-50 %

  • Stationery: 2-3 %

  • Wedding Rings: 2-3 %

  • Miscellaneous: 8 %

One should also allow 5% of their budget for a “just in case” fund.

The average cost of wedding photographer in 2015 was between $2341 - $2641. In 2014, the typical cost was $2556, increasing by around 5% from the previous year (2013), where the average cost was $2440. That being said, this particular prize seems to vary more than any other wedding cost, and some couples have paid upwards of $5000 for professional wedding photography.

Typical Costs for Different Types

When considering wedding photographers, there are four categories: luxury, upscale, moderate, and budget. Luxury wedding photographers cost anywhere between $5000 - $10000, upscale photographers cost around $3000 - $5000, moderate photographers cost around $1000 - $3000, and budget photographers cost under $1000.

If you have a very limited budget for your wedding, then you can consider asking one of your guests to take pictures of your ceremony, just ensure that they are not actively participating in the ceremony.

Extras: Most wedding photographers offer extras, typically consisting of special photo books/albums, extra photographers, extra hours of coverage, and/or extra shoots.

Wedding photographer costs also vary by city and stage, here’s a chart for your reference:

How to Book the Most Suitable Photographer for Your Wedding

You will likely meet with the photographer before your wedding to discuss the ceremony, theme, as well as any specific pictures or poses you wish to have photographed. Photographers also spend a great deal of time editing the photographs they have taken, all of which is included within the cost of wedding photographer. To best determine whether you are getting good value for your money, you should consider the following things:
1

Image Quality

As you will likely be spending a large amount of money for this service, you want the photographs to be extremely high quality.

2

Style of the Photographer

The style of the photographer is very important, ensure that the photographer you choose has the ability to take the perfect picture.

3

Personality of the Photographer

As you will be sharing you special day with this person, ensuring that they do not have a horrible personality is important. You should pay attention to their reputation with other couples they have photographed weddings for, as well as how they present themselves.

4

Photo Book/Album Quality

If you wish to purchase a photo album, or any other item included in the photography packages, then ensure that the quality of these products is high.

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Before deciding on a photographer, one should first:

  • Get Referrals

Getting referrals from those whom you trust is a good way to ensure that the photographer you choose will be right for you. You can also ask the photographer to provide you with testimonials from their previous customers.

  • Research

Use the internet to research wedding photographers in your area, learn the cost of each photographer and how good their work is.

  • Meet the Photographer

Before making a final decision, meet the photographer to ensure that you feel comfortable with them. This is very important as you will be spending your wedding day with them, as well as dealing with them after the wedding.

Try to find a photographer who is passionate about their job, as this will ensure that they do everything possible to take the perfect pictures for you. Once learning the average cost of wedding photographer, and ensuring that the photographer you choose is right for you, you will be on your way to having the best pictures possible that you can cherish for the rest of your life.

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Note:

Good wedding photographers often book up fast, so as soon as you have decided on a date and vendor, ensure to let the photographer know and begin communications with them.