Friday, August 14, 2009

What's Too Expensive For A Wedding Photographer?


Is the saying you get what you pay for true in regards to wedding photographers? I was doing research for work (I work for a wedding company) and I was trying to gather some information about wedding photographer and how much on the average it will cost. I found that the going rate for a "Good" photographer range from about $3,000 to $8,000. Maybe I am being a bit frugal but that is quite expensive! I understand the whole concept of they are your wedding pictures, memories blah blah blah! But come on, people!  I honestly believe you CAN find an awesome photographer for about $2,500 and  they may throw in an engagement session. I am curious, what did everyone pay for their wedding photographer and what was included in the package?















9 comments:

Ms. Understood said...

I understand how you feel. I am the walking definition of frugal (sometimes affectionately referred to as cheap, LOL). My wedding photographers (3 in total) cost $499. I have a team of people for the actual day, they charge $499 for both of them. Then I caught a deal on craiglist in May and he agreed to photograph us in October for free although he was offering the deal for June only. E-pics were a $100. My avatar is one of my e-pics.

Taryn said...

I really think it depends on where you live. For example, in MI, the amazing (i.e. you've died and gone to photographer heaven) photographers are around $3,000-$4,000. I've never heard of any that are $8,000...holy crap!

The average for the really, really good photographers around here is $2,500 or less. My photographer was $1,500 and includes unlimited hours on the wedding day, an engagement session, and all rights to my pictures. You can see the quality of her work in my blog (e-pics). I am very happy with her.

.:*aMbAr*:. said...

I think this whole thing is ridiculous!!!! Well first I'm a very "all or nothing" person, which is why I don't want to have a wedding. Because obviously I won't be able to have it all. I just want to get married, sign that little paper, a witness here, a witness there and voila! But $8,000 for pictures?!?!?!??!?!?! Are you serious??? Just put disposable cameras on everyone's tables, and make sure everybody uses the whole thing. That's it. You will have your beloved memories, as well as pictures from a lot different angles!

Stephanie said...

I think we paid about $3000 for ours but I got all the rights to the photos, he show anything wedding I wanted (shower, rehersal) and they did my viedo.

Miss K said...

Thanks Ladies!

@Ms.Understood cute avatar pic and I LOVE the price of your photographer. That's right up my frugal alley!

@Taryn My co-workers photographer was $6,000.00 (We are in Atlanta)..... (That price left me speechless)

@Ambar I just love you!! I love the disposable camera idea!

@Stephanie Normally I would give you the side eye because I would say $3,000 is a bit much (smiling) but HONEY you got a video too! Those alone run about $3,000--so you got a REALLY GREAT DEAL!! I love good bargains!!

Nicole-Lynn said...

The photographer we are looking at is in the $2,500 - $4,000 range. I know we'll be really happy with what were getting. We are also looking into videographers and those run high too.. so who knows! :)

Anonymous said...

The photogapher I used was only $700. And I got what I paid for....
crap.
I rented a rainforest conservatory for the day so I could get some cool exotic pictures with animals and things and they all turned out too dark to even see the flowers or anything!! I would definatly say on your wedding day go for the pricier photogs. My cousin's wedding photog was like $2,500 and her pics were used in a bridal magazine! you don't need to spend a fortune, just need to be realistic!

xox

A. Marigold said...

I'm in Los Angeles, and the photographers whose work I really, really loved turned out to be in the $6,000 + range (most were $5,000 minimums, and that didn't include any products, just the shots). I wanted to spend around $1,000, but the photographers I found in that range were pretty amateur. I ended up finding someone whose work I really liked for $2,500 (after I got $1,000 knocked off the "advertised" price).

Miss K said...

@YoungWivesTales I guess the old saying stands true "You get what you pay for". $700.00 is very reasonable but did you look at their work prior to booking them and not just go solely by the price? Either way, sorry about the your pics!

@A you got a got deal, especially if the going rate for photogs in LA is six grand! Great! I love to hear about great deals!