- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
How much did you or are you spending for on your wedding photographer or engagement photograper? And how much are prints going to cost you? Please don't feel like you have to disclose your wedding budget, but I'd love some ballpark numbers! I have no idea what's reasonable vs. what's extravagant.
We are also interested in having someone take a little bit of video footage, but my FH thinks the offers we've gotten are just over the top. Our wedding is going to be overseas (in India) and we're planning to work with a photographer based out of Delhi or Calcutta, so we won't have to pay a destination photographer's prices from the U.S. Still, because of our remote location, we are taking a hit having to fly them from the big city to a small airport near the Himalayas, but I don't think it's outrageous.
We really need to know what other couples are spending, and I think when he sees how pricey it is even in the States for a non-destination wedding, he'll realize I've found a fairly good deal!
If I don't get help from the hive, I think we're going to end up with a cheap, crummy photographer, and wedding pictures are REALLY important to me, so please let me know how much your photographer and prints are costing!
DSC_0449.jpg (71.1 KB, 159 downloads) 2 years old DSC_0448.jpg (134.8 KB, 64 downloads) 2 years old DSC_0451.jpg (73.7 KB, 49 downloads) 2 years old DSC_0000.jpg (75 KB, 70 downloads) 2 years old 
$1200 includes:
www.theweddingphotographer.com
Most other brides I've talked to are spending over $3000 -- but that inlcudes albums and prints, which I didn't want.
Photographer costs are so incredibly dependent upon where you are getting married. On the Gulf Coast of Florida I had a very hard time finding the quality I wanted for less than $3,000 - and that was for only four hours of shooting! I kept digging and found a phenomenal photographer -- young and new-ish but with a dozen weddings under her belt already -- for half the price with a very similar style. Plus, she is shooting for eight hours and throwing in a $200 print credit and a CD of all images, which most photogs don't give you for less than several hundred dollars. I totally lucked out, but I realize that most people won't get as lucky as I did. Even with this bargain price, photography is easily the most expensive thing at our small, intimate wedding, and it was something I was prepared to splurge on.
We spent $4700 for a destination wedding package that included...
*an engagement session in the city we lived in
*travel and hotel expenses to the city we were married in
*all day wedding day coverage with two assistant photographers
*photos from both sessions (100+ photos from the engagement, 650+ photos from the wedding) on CDs
*$1300 product credit
I am planning a vow renewal in the same city that CarolineG is getting married in, but I've picked to have it at a local resort that has a special meaning to us, but also comes with a list of people you have to use...so we're paying a LOT for a photographer. Probably around $4k, but I'm ok with it. It's two photographers for 8 hours and I love their work.
Caroline, I totally know what you mean. Our wedding is going to be very private and romantic, but no matter how few people we have, the photography is going to cost more than any other single expense for the big day! I'm not sure exactly how I feel about that, but in a way I guess our pictures are going to be my gift to myself, all our friends who can't make the wedding, and one day our children and grandchildren. There's nothing quite like seeing the intimate moments a good photographer can catch during people's weddings, but the pricetag is more than a little scary!
3000 + tax.
It includes 6 hours of photography - 2 photographers. Although they said they will come earlier and stay later (and I believe it for many reasons). It includes around 600 proofs. It also includes a high resolution CD/DVD with negatives and the rights to use them.
They take a few thousand photos at the wedding and then pick the best.
$2900 for 2 photographers, high-res images on CD after the wedding, unlimited hours of coverage. Travel was included and there was no tax (yay Delaware).
8355.jpg (14.2 KB, 37 downloads) 2 years old
holy crap ....i should've gotten married in delaware. 
our cost is #3750 for 9 hours (1 photographer)
we paid $275 to own the digital rights to our photos
includes engagement session (lasted an hour)
includes a bonsai photo album (it looks like a mini-album)
includes a $300 wedding album/print credit
includes photos uploaded to a online gallery for friends/family
Photography was #1 on my list of priorities (besides marrying my beau 
). I am paying $2000 plus tax for:
It was $500 more than what I wanted to spend, but he is sooo going to be worth it! http://frankamodo.com/site/index.php
Louisville, KY
$1345 (he has since raised his price to $1590 for the same package) for unlimited time on the day of the wedding, DVD with full rights to the edited/final images, and he does a slideshow during the reception with a sampling of quickly edited photos from the ceremony. We didn't want hard copy prints or albums at this point, but we can always upgrade if we want to later.
There are photographers that are MUCH more, of course, but we just couldn't afford it. This guy has great photos for a price we could swing, keeping in mind that photography was important for us. We looked at some inexpensive/inexperienced photographers, but none of them made me feel confident about their work.
IMG_0085222.JPG (56 KB, 74 downloads) 2 years old birdcage1.jpg (62.2 KB, 64 downloads) 2 years old
Nejireta, your photos are going to be AMAZING. I cannot help but envy you completley! That is STELLAR work! I hope I can see some of them...
And thanks everyone for sharing! It really is a big help to hear what you're getting included in your package. Should I ask my prospective photographer how many pictures he thinks he'll take throughout the day?
I_DO_09.2_(Small).jpg (47 KB, 36 downloads) 2 years old
Our photographer is costing $4,000 for our destination wedding in Mexico, this includes:
-2 hour engagement session before our wedding day
-unlimited coverage on our wedding day with an assistant
-all photos on a cd and website
-airfare/lodging for 3 nights for photographer only
-$2,000 wedding credit towards professional photo album
medium.jpg (16.2 KB, 46 downloads) 2 years old grazia_v.jpg (15.1 KB, 39 downloads) 2 years old
Agree with the others that so much depends on where you are getting married/hiring your photographer. We lucked out and are getting a fabulous deal from a talented local. We'll end up paying just over $3K for 8 hours of coverage with two shooters, unlimited digital capture, all our images on CD, fully designed wedding album and online access to pictures/prints. This is pretty snazzy for an experienced photographer in the Bay Area. :)
ulla_maija_-_back.jpg (102.7 KB, 68 downloads) 2 years old ulla_maija_-_front.jpg (40 KB, 66 downloads) 2 years old
Dallas, TX
I paid $2700 for:
- unlimited day of coverage
- 2 photographers (which became 3 when the photobooth attendant tagged along for the entire day)
- engagement photos
- bridal photos
- all images edited on DVD with reporduction rights
- photo booth at reception
Her work is beautiful - I can't wait to get my pro pics back!
8120_103787499633787_100000076113257_1.jpg (57.3 KB, 61 downloads) 2 years old 8120_103787316300472_100000076113257_1.jpg (41.9 KB, 45 downloads) 2 years old
Yeah, see, FH has been cringing about spending around $1000. We're on a very young-couple budget, but I just don't think we can get anything-especially on location-for less than that! Should I just tell him to suck it up? I think the end result is going to pay off completely, and that photos really are going to prove to be very important to us.
What should I do/tell him?
8120_103787562967114_100000076113257_1.jpg (56.3 KB, 41 downloads) 2 years old 8120_103786739633863_100000076113257_1.jpg (64.6 KB, 35 downloads) 2 years old
Yeah, see, FH has been cringing about spending around $1000. We're on a very young-couple budget, but I just don't think we can get anything-especially on location-for less than that! Should I just tell him to suck it up? I think the end result is going to pay off completely, and that photos really are going to prove to be very important to us.
What should I do/tell him?
I'm paying $3000 for unlimited coverage with two photographers, about 800 images, on a high res-DVD with copyright release. It also includes a 10-pg small book, online ordering with image book, and a $300 certificate toward purchasing other images.
This is in western/upstate NY. Most photographers here seem to be about $2500 and up, although many are between $1500 and $2500, and a few are significantly above $3000. In short, it depends. The most expensive package I saw in my area was for $11,000.
Wow! That is INSANE! We could never afford $11,000 worth of photography, though I'm sure it would be fabulous! Ahhh, to be young, crazy in love AND wealthy...oh well, I guess two out of three ain't bad.
Anyways, one photographer who is considering working for us would photograph a casual shoot the afternoon before the wedding, the ENTIRE day of the wedding essentially from wake-up-and-get-ready-time until we leave our reception venue that night, take some video footage, bring an assistant along to help AND allow us rights to all the photos in their digital formats for around $1000.
Now granted, this is in India, where $1000 is A LOT of money, but still, my FH is balking at that price range. I think its a joke to expect anything at all for less than that.
Any suggestions for getting him to realize that we'll be glad we spent some (if not a lot) of our small budget on this in the end? I really believe the pictures are worth it, but all he's seeing is the ratio of that in comparison to how much we've managed to save on everything else. I'm not sure what to do, and I don't want him to be upset about an element of our wedding that's supposed to be so nice.
Oh, and just so everyone knows, I do read every post, so you're input won't get overlooked!
Photography was only a medium priority for me. While it's the only thing you really get to keep (other than a dress in a box in storage), out of the hundreds of shots taken only 20-30 need to be steller (or so my fiance says...)
So our photography package is $1550 plus $50 for travel and includes:
all day coverage -- getting ready 'till party's over, a high res. CD of all wedding images with reproductive rights (I'm all for those
), digital images online for ordering, and contact sheets and negatives for all non-digital images.
Now while photography was not a big priority for me, I had to fight like a bitch in heat to get my fiance to agree that this was a necessary expenditure (I believe his response to photography prices was "How Much?! Forget it, we don't need pictures!"). I had to remind him that the only thing we get to keep is the memories -- and nothing works quite like a photograph to conjure some pretty ones.
So, no matter how much a grand is in India, a grand for photography with all printing rights is a steal, and will be totally worth it. And with the falling value of the American dollar, it's practically free.
Hahah! Jean, I love you. "Fight like a bitch in heat..." Seriously. There is nothing that could have made my night more than that.
Thanks for all the input everybody. I uploaded a bunch of examples of professional photos I like on my blog today, so you could check it out if you have any tips or whatnot aside from getting FH to buy into this...maybe also ideas for good pics around our venue, which you can also see on the blog.
We paid $1300 for ours, which included a studio sitting in our hometown, travel to our wedding 3.5 hrs away, 6 hrs of shooting time (prewedding, cocktail hour, wedding, reception) and in the end a really nice digital album. I thought I would hate the digital album, but I've been to the studio a couple of times to check out what other people did and I think it's actually pretty classy and will stand the test of time. My wedding is in three weeks, so if you really want to know if I like it, ask me in 4 wks. :)
Sarah,
Your studio looks really good and your price doesn't seem half bad either. Congrats! You should totally put up your pictures for everyone to see!
I am paying $900 but we paid $250 for the e-pics and got a $100credit. We are getting unlimited time on the day, two photographers, a CD with copyright of edited images, and a slideshow of the best shots. And did I mention our e-pics were so amazing that I teared up. I think we are so lucky becuase we went with a photographer who had been working for years but has just started out with weddings. We booked her before she even had a website. IMO, $4000 for a photographer is silly...because of the pricetags people convince themselves they see something different.
We are paying $4600 for all day coverage with 2 photographers, photoshopping of all images, the rights to all pictures, 300 printed proofs, all pictures on a DVD, an online slideshow, an album, and an engagement shoot.
Photography was VERY important to my FI and I and we had very specific things that we wanted. FI is a former journalist and an amateur photographer so he sees the difference between "real" photojournalism and some other things. From the very beginning (even before we knew how much he cost), the photographer that we choose was my personal favorite. After we met with him and realized that we all had the same goals from photography I was even more in love with him. He was far and away the best photographer that we met with and our personalities seemed to click. What more can you ask for? This was more money than we wanted to spend so FI and I tried to find flaws with our photographer but all we could come up with was the cost. My dad taught me that if the only flaw you can find with something is the cost, you might as well go ahead and spend the extra money to get what you really want instead of settling and being mad later.
morilee4507back.jpg (27.6 KB, 89 downloads) 2 years old morilee4507.jpg (19.6 KB, 88 downloads) 2 years old
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px">IMO, $4000 for a photographer is silly...because of the pricetags people convince themselves they see something different.>>>>
Just to clear something up, since I think I'm the only one who mentioned that they were paying $4000 plus for their photographer. We're doing our ceremony/reception in a resort town (where they filmed the Truman Show! seasidefl.com) We were given a list of photographers to choose from and their prices ranged from $5600-cheap and their talent ranged from great to horrible and not worth the money. The two we've narrowed it down to are on the more expensive side, but they are the ones who we liked. I don't think they are better than other photographers because they cost more, I think they're better because they're more talented. I would have LOVED to find a photographer that has work close to the two we've narrowed it down to for less, but it didn't happen and photography is very important to us. We eloped the first time, so we only have one wedding picture. Now that we're renewing our vows, I'd really like to have a ton of pictures of us and our family and friends. It's just different priorities and budgets, no need to be snippy.
I second KateMW's response. Different brides, different priorities. As a graphic designer/amateur photographer I have been behind the camera a lot. My biggest priority was photography, next my dress. I took photo classes in college and I was on the yearbook in high school and literally spent every big moment behind the camera. {Homecoming dance, game, every graduation/prom except mine, etc.} At important family functions, I'm the one who has the camera. Since this was my big moment to have someone else taking the photographs, it was very important to me to go all out.
I bookmarked over 50 photographers that I sort of liked and were in my area and found that many of their photographs looked like ones an amateur could take. The color was dull and lifeless, but still $2000. They lacked the art direction and natural talent of my two favorite {and more expensive} photographers. I liked their photojournalistic style combined with informal and formal portraits. I also liked that they had current websites and blogs. This is their job, so they update frequently and I was able to see a lot of their work and get to know them a little bit.
I chose to go with one of the two more expensive photographers, their packages and coverage were nearly identical. I am paying $4000 for unlimited coverage {getting ready until the last guest leaves the ballroom}, two photographers, an engagement session, approximately 600 images {they take 1000+, but correct and show you the best 600 or so}, a reception slideshow of the ceremony images. Since we don't live in the same state as the wedding, we've already had an e-pic session here, but are glad to have a second one to use as a getting to know you session with our photographers. Plus, we're hoping to be able to show them around my hometown to find some neat places for photographs after the wedding. We are paying extra to purchase the digital images so I can create my own album.
I am really pleased with our photographers, and I know spending that much it is not for every bride.
- Engagement session half a day, 3 locations
- Big engagement picture collage in a frame
- Formal shots at the studio as bride and groom
- Formal shot at the studio with the family
- ~ 400 printed proofs
- High resolution files on DVD/CD - optional one year later for release for free or to buy
- 2 small hardcover parents albums sized A7
- One big hardcover wedding album with 80 pictures
- Full day coverage of the event
We paid 3000 for it and were very satisified.
Photography was low on the priority list for us. (Neither of our parents have photos from their wedding, so we don't have much meaning associated with them). We simply wanted some good portraits and ceremony photos. However, we both have design backgrounds and can discern great photography from mediocre, so we found a good photographer that was willing to work a la carte.
$1000 for 4 hours, proofs, and a CD of touched up images.
Wow. I read all the comments and started to panic a little that I'm paying a lot. I just booked a photographer and was really (still am) excited about my decision. Just to note: I'm in Chicago and my photographer is from Indiana. We are expecting to pay $6000 for a mid-level package with add-ons. So the mid-level package will include - two photographers, unlimited coverage, online proofs, color-corrected images, "sneak peak" of 50 images 3 days after the event, and $2000 album credit. Then we added on the engagement session, the DVD of the engagement session, and the DVD of the wedding images for an additional $1,500. I feel like i'm paying a lot compared to what these other brides are paying, but I'm also keeping in mind of my area (I've seen packages as high as $11,000), along with the fact that photos were one of my top priorities.
just to add - I love my photographer. She regularly updates her blog to show images of what she has shot recently. I love all of her pictures and feel that I am paying a bit more for peace of mind. I know couples who are perfectly happy with standard photos, others who really want that photojournalistic style. I am in between so I was looking specifically for someone who was flexible and could do both. I also know of couples who pay for an expensive photographer and are disappointed with the results. It may be a hit or miss with expensive photographers...just make sure that if you are spending the $$$, you are SURE (as sure as you can be) that you will be getting the photos you want. :)
branch5.jpg (39.3 KB, 57 downloads) 2 years old branch4.jpg (41.9 KB, 75 downloads) 2 years old branch3.jpg (50 KB, 39 downloads) 2 years old branch2.jpg (43.2 KB, 51 downloads) 2 years old branch1.jpg (34.2 KB, 40 downloads) 2 years old
Wow. Those pictures better be good! Wish you luck! My pics were color corrected too. About 400 of them.
I lucked out and found a photographer just for the ceremony for $300. She'll be there for about 2 hours, then I'll have friends and family take pics of the reception.
Bonny_243_back.jpg (48.4 KB, 53 downloads) 2 years old Bonny_243.jpg (40.7 KB, 54 downloads) 2 years old 
MINNESOTA:
$2995
3 hours of coverage before the ceremony
3 photographic locations
ceremony coverage
a collection of several hundred images in a custom preview book
70 images in a custom digital album
30 photographic units (prints for ordering)
1 11x14 wall portrait
2 photographers
& free engagement session
:)
DSCN0379.jpg (36.2 KB, 66 downloads) 2 years old DSCN0376.jpg (38.4 KB, 56 downloads) 2 years old 
We splurged in this area:
$7000
- Engagement session (turned out to last 2.5 hours vs 1 hour)
- all day coverage on the day of
- hand bound album
- unlimited number of high res photos all on DVD/CD
Seemed like a lot until I found out a friend of ours spent $10k.
Bonny_449_back.jpg (91.2 KB, 20 downloads) 2 years old Bonny_449.jpg (107.3 KB, 20 downloads) 2 years old
Wooow! I wish I had that budget! Something I'm trying to keep in mind is that EVERY single wedding I've seen looks beautiful in professional pictures, and while I know what styles I like, I'm not sure if they require a really pricey photographer.
It would be a huge help bc I'm not too savvy in this area! You can leave comments straight on the blog without having to sign in or anything. Thanks!
NY/NJ
$3,750
Girl, I'm getting my photography for free99!
Actually, I'm the incredibly lucky recipient of a photographer's inate generosity.
You can read all about it here: http://brokeassbride.blogspot.com/2008/07/dreams-do-come-true.html
I just wanted to join the thread to let y'all know ANYthing is possible!
Good luck to you!
xo -Dana
Hi there,
We are in the SF Bay Area of California and we are paying $7K for:
- 2 photographers
- 11 hours of coverage
- unlimited pictures
- digital negatives, edited and on a CD
- shared copyrights
- web hosting
- an engagement session, 2 hours long at place of choice
- an album
- all proofs, edited and unmarked.
Since we have the shared copyrights, we can print anywhere and whenever we want. Even at home. :)
I'm in Tennessee. Photography was our #1 priority.
So far we have spent $2400. That includes:
- 8 hours on the wedding day
- Engagement session
- 2 photographers (main photographer + assistant)
- Proof book
- Images on website
Then if we decide to get a CD of the images (which we can't until our first anniversary), it's $1500 extra. Prints and albums are also extra. We're also probably going to add on a TTD session and maybe a boudoir session. We're probably looking at spending close to $5k when it's all said and done.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| Lyndzo | 46 |
| funkymunky85 | 26 |
| AshleyR83 | 24 |
| rebwana | 24 |
| mypinkshoes | 23 |
| his chippymunk | 23 |
| Ms. Salamander | 23 |
| Brielle | 22 |
| beargoose | 22 |
| kat2014 | 22 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| caseyleigh10 | 4 |
| mousegirl | 1 |
| MrsStrawberry24 | 1 |
 CassidyR |
1 |
| GeekChic | 1 |
| monique1218 | 1 |
| beargoose | 1 |
| redhead46 | 1 |
| canadianplum | 1 |
| vreelans | 1 |
