AVERAGE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER COST-DOES PRICE MATTER?

It’s time. You’re excited, but also nervous. Time to roll up your sleeves and hire a wedding photographer!! What you didn’t realize was just how complicated it is, and that’s okay. We’re here to help. Along the way, we’ll answer that all important question: what does the average wedding photographer cost? Ready?

Budget Breaker

Perhaps the most important thing to do is to decide early on what your budget is. Sure, you can find cheap photographers, but are they really worth it? A photographer that costs $2,000 might be at that price point for a reason. Maybe they lack experience, or maybe they’re new to the industry. Perhaps they don’t have the best equipment. Remember, you get what you pay for. Be realistic about what you can afford.

All About Style

Are you a little bit country or a little bit rock and roll? Do you prefer golden hour or true to color? Are you into nature, or more of a city person? These are things to consider. Each photographer has a certain style. Some can do it all, some are more specialized. Start with Pinterest. Search photographers to help you decide what your style is. Social media is another great resource. Even TikTok can be useful.

Next, check out the popular wedding websites like The Knot or Wedding Wire. If you’ve selected a venue, ask them for recs. Then, of course, there’s the old tried and true: Google. Search “wedding photographers near me.” To dial it down even further, add in the town where you’re getting married.  Whittle down your list until you have at least three solid candidates, then reach out to each of them.

Location, location, location

A hidden cost are travel fees. Some photographers are up front about this, others, not so much. Find out what city your photographers is based out of, and then ask if there are travel fees. Sometimes this is just fuel. Other times there might be a hotel involved. It’s reasonable to expect to pay for travel if your venue is more than two hours away.

Size Matters

It’s not that a photographer should have a decent-sized camera, it’s that they need storage space. You want to hire someone with dual slots. What’s that? SD card holders. Why? Because SD cards go bad. You don’t want your wedding photos to be gone forever. Believe me, we’ve seen it happen in real life. Ask photographers how they backup their images. And if they store photos online or on a disk or (preferably) both. Get to the bottom of how responsible they are. What happens if there’s an emergency and they can’t shoot your wedding? What are their plans if the weather is bad and they can’t shoot out of doors? These are all important questions.

Sample Plate

It’s not only about the average wedding photographer cost, you need to see a full sample of their work. Ask for access to photo galleries. Look at ALL the photos, not just the pretty ones posted online. You want a photographer that delivers consistently great photos, someone that’s good at taking images all the time, not just in the right light at the perfect time of day. This really relates to how much experience your photographer has. Don’t be afraid to ask how long they’ve been in the industry.

Dial It In

One of our favorite tips is to talk to your professional. Listen, you’re not going to click with everyone. A quick phone call will tell you if you’re speaking to someone who gets your vibe, or could care less about your business. Chat them up and see if you mesh. If your potential photographer doesn’t want to talk to you on the phone, that’s a huge red flag. 

You can also try your photographer on for size. Schedule a couple’s session or engagement photos. Believe me, there’s nothing worse than being stuck with someone you don’t like on your wedding day! 

Bottom line, there’s more to consider than the average wedding photographer cost. Google says the average cost in California is between $2,500 and $6,500, but what are you getting for that price? That’s the question. Make sure to do your research, and use our guide to help you find the perfect fit!!