I think photogs will travel anywhere if you pay, or they'll even cut their rates and travel if they're new and your wedding sounds like it's good for their portfolio.
Usually they give package rates, but on average it's about $1,500-3,000 for the actual photography. Price depends time covered, quality, and whether an engagement shoot is included. About $300-500 for DVD with all the digital files, and $1000 for 1 album.
we got a bit of a discount since I've known our photographer for so long but even after everything it still adds up fast. Our photographer drove up from about 5 hours away, we paid gas, 2 nights hotel too- so figure in those additional fees as well.
When I was looking around, I found a range from $1k to about $10k. We eneded up going with a package that is $3k and the photographer is locally based in Colorado. He actually got married at our site!
Finding a great photographer was one of my most important tasks. Like ErinMarieMack, I found prices everywhere from $1000 - $15000 but I quickly found that you usually get what you pay for. More established photogs are more expensive and usually less willing to bargain because they have business lined up around the block. With cheaper prices usually comes cheaper coverage or no frills. Also, remember that a big bulk of the package price will be the quality of the album.
We were blessed to find a couple who were just beginning their business & willing to negotiate. We reviewed their work & fell in love with their blog. Because fantastic photos were a priority for me, we were able to negotiate a deal that cost us $2000 and included fantastic coverage, unlimited images,plenty of prints, and a hi-res DVD for anything we want to reproduce later (practically unheard of pricing in SoCal!). We managed to take over $1000 off of the listed price by not getting the album. I've already started hinting that buying it would make a great first anniversary gift for someone...
I think it depends a lot on what city/area you are in. Photogs in cities with much higher costs of living tend to be more expensive (probably becasue they have to live in those expensive cities) than less expensive areas.
Where is your wedding going to be?
Mine was in a relatively cheap part of the country (upstate NY) and good photographers ranged in price from $1,500 - $4,000 depending on what kind of package you get.
As mentioned above, there is a HUGE range in prices that vary wildly by geography. We're in the Bay Area, which is not at all cheap, but got a great deal from a mutual friend who is a professional photographer. She's fabulous, which is great because our next choice was going to be at least double for a bare bones package. Yikes!
Wow, photogs can range depending on what you want, it's like a menu at a restaurant, just the appetizer or the 4 course dinner with white glove treatment?
On the small, DIY budget we are on, I sent out the 'word' to all my vendors and friends looking for someone who was 'starting out' or just wanted something to do that day. (My father is a photographer, can't have him behind the camera that day) It worked, we hit the jackpot. $600 for 10 hours of the wedding day, Woo Hoo. And she'll just hand over the CD that she makes.
She happens to be a photo-journalist who does weddings on the side, and key words, photo-journalist, not so traditional! Depends on your style, we wanted her to capture the moments and tell the stories with the photos, don't pose people. So, to make a short story Long, while searching, use unique wording as in photo-journalist verses photographer, might bring you a whole new set of options. Good Luck!
The best way to go about this is to start with an overall wedding budget first. You can use one from www.theknot.com to give you a general idea of what you can spend in certain categories. That gives you a good idea. Based off of these categories, you can then decide what is more of a priority (a splurge) and what really isn't a priority (something you may cut back on or limit yourself to spend on because it isn't important).
That way, when you go looking for photographers and other vendors, you'll have a general idea.
Like the others have mentioned, where you are located will play a large role in what type of prices you may find for equiavalent work in other parts of the country. Larger, metropolitan areas will have higher priced photographers on average but that's not to say you won't find someone more economical.
What is the ideal budget to set for a photographer? I'm in the beginning process of trying to find one in our area for a good price.
Also, how far do you think photogs are willing to travel?
posted by BriLJL 99 posts 6 months agoI think photogs will travel anywhere if you pay, or they'll even cut their rates and travel if they're new and your wedding sounds like it's good for their portfolio.
Usually they give package rates, but on average it's about $1,500-3,000 for the actual photography. Price depends time covered, quality, and whether an engagement shoot is included. About $300-500 for DVD with all the digital files, and $1000 for 1 album.
Good luck!
posted by cyshas 262 posts 6 months agoyep- its 'spensive!
we got a bit of a discount since I've known our photographer for so long but even after everything it still adds up fast. Our photographer drove up from about 5 hours away, we paid gas, 2 nights hotel too- so figure in those additional fees as well.
posted by beesknees 273 posts 6 months agoWhen I was looking around, I found a range from $1k to about $10k. We eneded up going with a package that is $3k and the photographer is locally based in Colorado. He actually got married at our site!
posted by ErinMarieMack 263 posts 6 months agoFinding a great photographer was one of my most important tasks. Like ErinMarieMack, I found prices everywhere from $1000 - $15000 but I quickly found that you usually get what you pay for. More established photogs are more expensive and usually less willing to bargain because they have business lined up around the block. With cheaper prices usually comes cheaper coverage or no frills. Also, remember that a big bulk of the package price will be the quality of the album.
We were blessed to find a couple who were just beginning their business & willing to negotiate. We reviewed their work & fell in love with their blog. Because fantastic photos were a priority for me, we were able to negotiate a deal that cost us $2000 and included fantastic coverage, unlimited images,plenty of prints, and a hi-res DVD for anything we want to reproduce later (practically unheard of pricing in SoCal!). We managed to take over $1000 off of the listed price by not getting the album. I've already started hinting that buying it would make a great first anniversary gift for someone...
posted by sweettea 13 posts 6 months agoI think it depends a lot on what city/area you are in. Photogs in cities with much higher costs of living tend to be more expensive (probably becasue they have to live in those expensive cities) than less expensive areas.
Where is your wedding going to be?
Mine was in a relatively cheap part of the country (upstate NY) and good photographers ranged in price from $1,500 - $4,000 depending on what kind of package you get.
HTH :)
~ Mrs. Radish
posted by radish 156 posts 6 months agoAs mentioned above, there is a HUGE range in prices that vary wildly by geography. We're in the Bay Area, which is not at all cheap, but got a great deal from a mutual friend who is a professional photographer. She's fabulous, which is great because our next choice was going to be at least double for a bare bones package. Yikes!
Good luck in your search.
posted by missm 485 posts 6 months agoWow, photogs can range depending on what you want, it's like a menu at a restaurant, just the appetizer or the 4 course dinner with white glove treatment?
On the small, DIY budget we are on, I sent out the 'word' to all my vendors and friends looking for someone who was 'starting out' or just wanted something to do that day
. (My father is a photographer, can't have him behind the camera that day) It worked, we hit the jackpot. $600 for 10 hours of the wedding day, Woo Hoo. And she'll just hand over the CD that she makes.
She happens to be a photo-journalist who does weddings on the side, and key words, photo-journalist, not so traditional! Depends on your style, we wanted her to capture the moments and tell the stories with the photos, don't pose people. So, to make a short story Long, while searching, use unique wording as in photo-journalist verses photographer, might bring you a whole new set of options. Good Luck!
posted by HiLife 29 posts 6 months agoThe best way to go about this is to start with an overall wedding budget first. You can use one from www.theknot.com to give you a general idea of what you can spend in certain categories. That gives you a good idea. Based off of these categories, you can then decide what is more of a priority (a splurge) and what really isn't a priority (something you may cut back on or limit yourself to spend on because it isn't important).
That way, when you go looking for photographers and other vendors, you'll have a general idea.
Like the others have mentioned, where you are located will play a large role in what type of prices you may find for equiavalent work in other parts of the country. Larger, metropolitan areas will have higher priced photographers on average but that's not to say you won't find someone more economical.
posted by JCM9608 470 posts 6 months ago