Wedding photog cost?
Dec 21, 2017 07:35:18 #
When you consider setup, shooting, and post plus wear and tear on body and equipment, 400-500 is not a lot of money.
Dec 21, 2017 07:38:03 #
Are we still talking about photography...
gainesn wrote:
When you consider setup, shooting, and post plus wear and tear on body and equipment, 400-500 is not a lot of money.
Dec 21, 2017 07:43:16 #
I have been a wedding photographer over 25 years and recently retired from weddings. My packages ran from $2000-4000 and had a second shooter on all but the smallest package. Yes, Florida is a little but higher, I was in Ohio for the first 14 years and prices started $600 less. Product costs have increased and honestly a 10-12 hour day gets very long. It seems that weddings have become longer also as the norm was 8-9 hours before they pulled away in their decorated cars. I hope you find what you are looking for but don't cheap yourself on one of the most important days of your life.
Dec 21, 2017 07:50:53 #
Another approach I heard is to start the pricing at a full package with tons of bells and whistles above $5,000. Then remove things. This avoids things like, "I did not know the cover of the wedding album was extra!"
Dec 21, 2017 08:19:24 #
In the New York/Long Island area wedding photographers get $4000-$10,000 for a wedding, depending on what you want. If you want just photos taken, or if you want a wedding album.
While I have seen people get photographers for less money...you get what you pay for.
Having done a few weddings myself. It is exhausting, 10 + hours on your feet, then you first have to go home and process the images.
***I thought as professionals on the job they shouldn't eat while working.***
Really, you want someone to go 10+ hours without eating anything. That is just wrong!
While I have seen people get photographers for less money...you get what you pay for.
Having done a few weddings myself. It is exhausting, 10 + hours on your feet, then you first have to go home and process the images.
***I thought as professionals on the job they shouldn't eat while working.***
Really, you want someone to go 10+ hours without eating anything. That is just wrong!
Dec 21, 2017 08:19:24 #
Jeffcs
Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina
roxiemarty wrote:
No need for name calling. The poster probably does not realize how long a wedding day can be. Maybe he has never had a child get married before? Yes, it can be a very long day, but no need to call them names. This person just asked a simple question.
Nope not at all it's people like this whom contract a photographer that may not be a wedding shooter and expect to pay $800 for the day and expect $5000 worth of results! The OP is someone who in theory because they are on the HOG should know the value of a pro.
Dec 21, 2017 08:37:24 #
I Googled the question and found this: In 2015, 250 photographers were queered and these were the average estimates:
Real Estate Day Rate: $1082
Engagement Half Day Rate: $646
Events Day Rate: $1341
Food Day Rate: $1177
Portraits Day Rate: $954
Product Day Rate: $1457
Large Wedding Rate: $4000
If one factors cost of living increase, in 2017 the same estimates would be:(Assuming 2.5% yearly inflation rate)
Real Estate Day Rate: $1140
Engagement Half Day Rate: $678
Events Day Rate: $1408
Food Day Rate: $1237
Portraits Day Rate: $1002
Product Day Rate: $1530
Large Wedding Rate: $4202
Mark
Real Estate Day Rate: $1082
Engagement Half Day Rate: $646
Events Day Rate: $1341
Food Day Rate: $1177
Portraits Day Rate: $954
Product Day Rate: $1457
Large Wedding Rate: $4000
If one factors cost of living increase, in 2017 the same estimates would be:(Assuming 2.5% yearly inflation rate)
Real Estate Day Rate: $1140
Engagement Half Day Rate: $678
Events Day Rate: $1408
Food Day Rate: $1237
Portraits Day Rate: $1002
Product Day Rate: $1530
Large Wedding Rate: $4202
Mark
genocolo wrote:
Pricing in S Florida and Keys appears to be $400-$500 per hour. Does this seem high to you?
I’m not trying to denigrate anyone’s skill or experience or right to charge “what the market will bear.” Just caught me by surprise.
I’m not trying to denigrate anyone’s skill or experience or right to charge “what the market will bear.” Just caught me by surprise.
Dec 21, 2017 08:47:51 #
Mac wrote:
People spend thousands of dollars on dresses, venue, catering, cake, DJ, etc. but want to go cheap on the photog. But what is it you show friends and relatives, children and grandchildren? Not the menu or the DJ's play list. It's the pictures.
There is more to wedding photography than grabbing a camera and snapping some pictures.
There is more to wedding photography than grabbing a camera and snapping some pictures.
Boom. Drop the mic...
Dec 21, 2017 08:50:21 #
berchman
Loc: South Central PA
Mac wrote:
People spend thousands of dollars on dresses, venue, catering, cake, DJ, etc. but want to go cheap on the photog. But what is it you show friends and relatives, children and grandchildren? Not the menu or the DJ's play list. It's the pictures.
There is more to wedding photography than grabbing a camera and snapping some pictures.
There is more to wedding photography than grabbing a camera and snapping some pictures.
My first wedding was in the rabbi's office with just the immediate family present. My brother-in-law took some snapshots. There was a large reception and no one took any pictures. I have no regrets. My second wedding was in my friend's living room. No pictures. The reception was a tent in my back yard. As a wedding gift a friend took some pictures with his Leica. Again, no regrets. To me, huge expensive weddings with video and still photography are a total waste of money when that money could be used in setting up a household.
Dec 21, 2017 09:26:34 #
Nobody has mentioned the hours spent on post processing which can far exceed shooting hours
Dec 21, 2017 09:27:05 #
I posted earlier that I thought the photographers we used for our two daughters weddings earned their money well.
However, we did have a few issues.
For the first wedding, the photogs was a 'photojournalist style' wedding photographer. We liked her style, but I wanted her to include a couple of traditional posed shots of the wedding group and family since several members were international travelers who rarely get together in one place. You would think I was asking her to abandon her religion! At first she refused. She finally relented when we were prepared to drop her and try somebody more flexible. I respect her artistic perogative, but it was our wedding after all.
For the second wedding, my daughter had selected a photographer, paid the deposit and had a signed contract. A couple of months later, the photographer wrote saying she had made a 'mistake' and had double booked the day even though our booking had been made 18 months in advance.. She did return the deposit, but I think it was highly unprofessional of her. I don't believe she made a 'mistake'. I think she got a more lucrative engagement or something that involved less travelling time. By the time she cancelled, the choice of available photographers was significantly reduced. My daughter nearly had a nervous breakdown. Bridezillas are real creatures.
Unfortunately, photography seems to lake any enforceable code of ethics, which is why I hesitate to call it a 'profession'. Photography may be an art, a skill, a trade or a craft, but it is not a profession when photographers put $$$ before clients.
However, we did have a few issues.
For the first wedding, the photogs was a 'photojournalist style' wedding photographer. We liked her style, but I wanted her to include a couple of traditional posed shots of the wedding group and family since several members were international travelers who rarely get together in one place. You would think I was asking her to abandon her religion! At first she refused. She finally relented when we were prepared to drop her and try somebody more flexible. I respect her artistic perogative, but it was our wedding after all.
For the second wedding, my daughter had selected a photographer, paid the deposit and had a signed contract. A couple of months later, the photographer wrote saying she had made a 'mistake' and had double booked the day even though our booking had been made 18 months in advance.. She did return the deposit, but I think it was highly unprofessional of her. I don't believe she made a 'mistake'. I think she got a more lucrative engagement or something that involved less travelling time. By the time she cancelled, the choice of available photographers was significantly reduced. My daughter nearly had a nervous breakdown. Bridezillas are real creatures.
Unfortunately, photography seems to lake any enforceable code of ethics, which is why I hesitate to call it a 'profession'. Photography may be an art, a skill, a trade or a craft, but it is not a profession when photographers put $$$ before clients.
Dec 21, 2017 09:31:15 #
Yankeepapa6
Loc: New York City
genocolo wrote:
Pricing in S Florida and Keys appears to be $400-$500 per hour. Does this seem high to you?
I’m not trying to denigrate anyone’s skill or experience or right to charge “what the market will bear.” Just caught me by surprise.
I’m not trying to denigrate anyone’s skill or experience or right to charge “what the market will bear.” Just caught me by surprise.
My daughter was married in October. That price is more than reasonable.
Dec 21, 2017 09:38:23 #
I have never done weddings professionally but it seems that the hourly rate is a general term. Most I have met base their price on the details of what the the couple will get as a result such as number of prints, books, videos and such. You could attend a 3 hour wedding and only have 20 minutes of actual photo work then as mentioned, the work done after the event.
Dec 21, 2017 09:43:10 #
Some one once said to me,"A week after the wedding the bride and groom and their parents will remember the wedding. Two or three weeks after that even they won't have clear memories. The only memories that anyone will have after that are the photographs that I took and they will have that memory forever: what is that worth to you?"
Dec 21, 2017 09:50:53 #
Neil Barry wrote:
Some one once said to me,"A week after the wedding the bride and groom and their parents will remember the wedding. Two or three weeks after that even they won't have clear memories. The only memories that anyone will have after that are the photographs that I took and they will have that memory forever: what is that worth to you?"
Heck, the next morning some people will be trying to forget the food and drink that likely cost a lot more.
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