The cost for wedding photographer never has one answer.  Why?  There’s a tremendous amount of variables that go into it.

When planning a wedding, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is whether or not to hire a professional photographer. While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, a skilled photographer can capture the memories of your special day in a way that lasts a lifetime. However, the cost of a wedding photographer can vary greatly depending on a number of factors. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of hiring a professional photographer and help you decide if it’s worth the investment.

When thinking of the cost for wedding photographer, don’t go into it with a specific dollar amount.  That will drive you up the wall.  Instead, begin with what you want for your wedding day and research that.  Below are a list of things you should take into account when budgeting for a photographer.  While this can be applied to other aspects of your day, this one is photographer specific.

• What do you want photographed on your day?  Do you need the whole day from getting ready to the reception covered?  Do you only want your ceremony covered?
• Where are you getting married?  If there is one thing that changes the dollar amount of anything, it’s location.
• What is the range of costs in your area?  This has a lot to do with location as well.
• Does experience matter to you or do you mind if someone just starting out shoots your day?
• Does your photographer have insurance?  Ask this. It’s important.

 

COVERAGE

The more of the day you want coverage for, the more you are going to pay.  It’s simple logistics.  The longer someone works, the more they will get paid.  While having less time saves you money, ask yourself if having the whole story of your day covered is important to you or not.

LOCATION

Again, location really does matter.  There is an easy way to figure this out, as wedding photography is not the only thing that changes cost wise with location.  Think of how much it would cost you to take a vacation to the place you’re getting married.  For example, big cities are going to cost more than small towns.

RANGE OF COSTS

See above.  It’s kind of the same thing, but still a little different.

EXPERIENCE

This is a huge one and why people pay the amount of money they do for weddings.  You can have people with little experience work on your wedding all you want.  It’s totally up to you. But in the end, do you want to have to worry about your photography?  Or anything on your day, for that matter?  Experienced photographers and other vendors make it their job to make sure you do not have to think about anything but getting married on your wedding day.

INSURANCE

This is big in every aspect of life, weddings included.  If your photographer falls on your day and gets hurt, do you want them to have liability insurance?  Or do you want to help pay for their medical bills?  If one of your drunk guests knocks over a light and smashes it (this has happened to us twice) do you want to pay for it?  Or would you rather have a photographer that has insurance on their equipment.

It’s a lot to think about, but it’s also a big day.  Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and it’s natural to want to capture every moment. While it may be tempting to rely on friends and family to take photos, a professional photographer has the skills and equipment to capture high-quality images that you’ll cherish for years to come. From the first kiss to the last dance, a professional photographer can document every detail of your special day, ensuring that you have beautiful memories to look back on for a lifetime.  The nice thing is, if you hire pros, they think of all this for you.  You just have to realize what is most important to you.