How much should I spend on my wedding photographer?
Hey there, bride-to-be! Are you wondering, “how much should I spend on my wedding photographer?” Well, I’m a wedding photographer in Nashville, TN, and I’m hear to give you some insight on that!
Planning your dream wedding involves making countless decisions, and one of the most important ones is choosing your photographer. Your wedding photos will be cherished for a lifetime, so it’s crucial to invest wisely. Let’s talk about how much you should budget for your wedding photographer.
“You get what you pay for.”
All photographers fall into different price ranges, and of course, there is no “one size fits all” for pricing. However, there are consistent things I have noticed as I worked my way into the price range that I am in, so I have personal experience in each of these categories as I grew to where I am today.
$500-$1,500
Brand new photographer who is just starting out as a side hustle. They may have worked a few weddings either as an assistant or a second shooter. They will be super kind and thankful for the opportunity to shoot a wedding as a lead. This photographer would be a great option for a bride that has a tighter budget and isn’t afraid to take more risks when booking a photographer.
$1,500-$3,000
Getting into the professional photography world. Someone who has most likely second shot/assisted at several weddings, and they may have started being the lead shooter at weddings recently. Their experience is growing, and they are continuing to gain confidence and pursue more education to further raise their prices. They are probably in lower demand.
$3,000-$4,500
Professional photographers who may be photographing full-time or they may be getting close to going full-time. They have been the lead shooter for a couple years now, and they have a consistent editing style.
$4,500-$7,000
High end professional photographers who are photographing full-time and have high quality gear, offer heirloom products (albums, canvases, prints, etc.), give a top tier bridal experience, and are 100% confident in their lighting and posing in all scenarios. They are in higher demand and are limiting the amount of weddings they take each year to make sure each couple gets their best.
$7,000+
Luxury professional photographers who have a very refined and consistent style, very sought after, and are booking significantly less weddings than all other photographers. This category of photographers is similar to the $4,500-$7,000 range photographers in their offerings, but the volume of weddings they are taking each year is much less than the $4,500-$7,000 range photographers.
Contact me now to receive my full pricing guide where I can help you decide how much you should spend on your photographer, and just maybe, we might be a perfect fit for each other!
The 10% myth
You might have heard a rule of thumb suggesting you allocate about 10% of your total wedding budget to photography. While this can be a helpful starting point, it’s important to consider your personal priorities and values. If having beautiful, stress-free, and confidently captured memories is a top priority for you, it might be worth investing more in your photographer. Your more experienced and skilled photographers are most likely priced higher than that 10%. If your photography experience is one of the most important for you, it would be smart to lower your budget slightly in other areas of your wedding, and invest more in your photographer. Let me tell you why!
#1 Location
Firstly, location plays a significant role in the way a photographer is priced. Photographers in larger cities like Nashville, Dallas, or Atlanta often have higher fees due to the higher cost of living and increased demand for their services unlike a very rural area where there may only be a handful of photographers and the cost of living is significantly lower.
#2 Experience and Expertise
Secondly, experience and expertise are incredibly important considerations. Photographers with years of experience and a strong portfolio of wedding work typically command higher fees. Their expertise ensures they can handle any lighting situation and navigate through your wedding day with ease. A photographer who has only shot a few weddings won’t be charging as much as a photographer who has been shooting weddings for multiple years.
#3 Package Offerings
Lastly, package offerings can greatly affect pricing. Higher end photographers include extras like engagement sessions, second shooters, and heirloom photo albums in their packages, while newer photographers most likely only offer hours of coverage and maybe an engagement session. Understanding what is included in each photographer’s packages can help you choose the right one for your needs and budget.
Questions you should ask yourself
Below are some questions you should be asking yourself when choosing your photographer:
- Do I trust this photographer to handle my wedding day confidently, kindly, and easily?
- Does this photographer include a second shooter and an engagement session in their packages?
- Does this photographer offer professional printing services (albums, canvases, etc.)?
- How does this photographer make sure my images are safe after the wedding?
- Is this photographer insured (business, liability, etc.)?
At the end of the day…
The decision on how much to invest in your wedding photographer should reflect your priorities and what you want to remember from your special day. Take the time to research and find a photographer whose style and personality resonate with you, and who can provide you with the level of expertise and quality you desire. Hopefully this blog was able to answer the question of how much you should spend on your wedding photographer. Happy planning!
Check out my Instagram!
