One of the most common questions about wedding photography is this: how much does it cost? Today I’m breaking down an understanding of just where that money goes and what to expect at different price points.

The Overall Differences in the Cost of Wedding Photography

I personally find the overall difference in cost is the experience of the wedding photographer. Why do some photographers charge over $6,000 for 10 hours of coverage while others charge just $2,000 or less? Well, simply put, a photographer’s ability to best serve clients increases the more weddings they have photographed! Those who start out in the photography industry typically keep prices low to gain bookings, experience, and positive client reviews. While it is possible for a photographer to simply put their prices high without having much experience (yikes!), I would say the rule holds in general. If a photographer is full time with pricing that starts in the upper range, it is because they consistently book weddings at that price.

In the photography world I’ve heard a way of explaining the tiers or level of photography service that I like. The 3 tiers are named as such: budget, lovely, and luxury. It takes a lot of time and experience as a photographer to create consistent images and to be able to provide an excellent experience under the demands of the day. (We photographers often speak of it as “our brand.”) The lighting at every wedding is different – and yet if you are a luxury photographer, you know how to make your clients look high-end no matter the venue (though typically venues at the highest price point would also tend to be high-end to begin with!)

Disclaimer for those who will disagree with my pricing tiers & assessment: I am based in Minnesota, and every location determines the “numbers” for each tier. New York and North Carolina photography pricing is VASTLY DIFFERENT than where I live! So adjust the “numbers” to your own area!

Signs of “Budget” Priced Wedding Photographers

Less than $2,500 (in Minnesota at least!)

In recognizing those in the “budget” tier of wedding photography, I will say first: everyone starts somewhere! The lowest end of the budget tier hosts a lot of red-flag policies, but many photographers who shoot 8 hours for $2,000 and up are hoping to build their way up in the industry! I usually see these commonalities in booking a budget phtoographer: low cost, lack of certain business practices (such as consistency in delivery of galleries and having insurance), and variable images/ inconsistency in the look of the photos. A wedding day photography cost with a budget photographer is usually under $2,000 for 8 hours of coverage, which is perfect for those who don’t want photography to take too much of their wedding budget! Image consistency can vary highly between weddings with some photos dark with lots of contrast, some being lighter. This is because the honing of the craft takes time to establish. In the budget category, photos can range from looking like high quality smartphone photos to being stunning! (Everyone starts somewhere, so if you find a consistent photographer in this price point, know that they are probably rising up and will be worth much more in years to come!)

Typically someone just starting out in wedding photography has not honed editing skills or a system to implement their own editing with a unique and consistent style. Photographs taken by new photographers tend to be closer to what we call “RAW” photos, aka, straight out of camera. A budget wedding photographer might not have business insurance and may or may not own their lenses and camera gear, but instead rent to keep costs down. (And, worse – they may not have a backup camera body in case theirs stops working!!!) Camera gear is expensive, you see!

One danger I would like to highlight is that every wedding photographer should be shooting with TWO MEMORY CARDS at all times. These days, most cameras have dual slots to allow for this, but sometimes in the budget category, the gear isn’t top notch. So you might be gambling with your wedding day. All it takes is a dog biting a memory card or a foot stepping on the card to completely destroy your wedding memories! The last red glad I see among budget photographers is the lack of experience translating to suffering of images and service. They simply have not had enough hours or photography education under their belt to handle it well.

Hallmarks of “Lovely” Priced Wedding Photographers

From $3,000 to $4,900 (in Minnesota at least!)

In the second tier of wedding photography I include those who price $3,000 to $4,900 for 8 hours of wedding coverage – speaking to my area in Minnesota! (Obviously in New York or California, this range might be more like $6,000-9,000). Typically a photographer in this tier has gained a good deal of consistency in shooting and editing, in posing clients in a way that looks great, and in their ability to make their work look cohesive. They probably have raving reviews from clients, because they offer good service!

Think of your favorite coffee shop. Would you be happy if your latte tasted quite a bit different every time you ordered the same beverage? Probably not. You appreciate that when you order almond mocha latte that it tastes a certain way. Photographers in the lovely tier know how to produce consistent work that looks like their work. A couple booking a photographer in this category would be shocked if their light & airy photographer produced a wedding gallery sporting photos in a dark and moody vibe. This isn’t what I expected would be the thought!

A wedding photographer in the lovely tier has figured out how to provide a consistent wedding experience for his or her clients, and it shows! Referrals from past couples as well as wedding planners bring bookings their way instead of just hoping for an inquiry and posting on instagram.

Signs of Luxury Priced Wedding Photographers

$5,000 and up (in Minnesota!)

The highest tier of wedding photography I call “luxury,” simply because it looks so luxurious! Those who price 8-10 hours of wedding coverage at $5,000 or more fall into this category in my book. Typically luxury wedding photographers have the highest level of consistency in their brand compared to those in the lovely tier. In places like New York or California, this tier would probably include those who consistently book at $9,000 and up for 8 to 10 hours of coverage. When you look through the portfolios of wedding photographers such as KT Merry, The Komans , Mallory Dawn, and Amy & Jordan you instantly recognize a brand. Consistent look, consistent feel, consistent vibe. Editorial. Often photographers in this tier have a lot of featuring in the press (such as wedding magazines) and wedding photography recognition nationally.

There are so many wedding blogs and publications that feature their work! To name a few: Ruffled, Brides, Grey Likes Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Once Wed, Style Me Pretty, and many more. You might see icons on a luxury photographer’s website touting these names. Obviously, those who book with a luxury photographer highly value the look of their wedding photos as well as their experience. Couples seeking a luxury wedding experience would not hire a budget photographer simply because they want the best service, the best photos, and perhaps the opportunity to be published! You may also note that many luxury wedding photographers shoot with real film (or offer hybrid coverage, both digitally and with film). “Fine Art Wedding Photography” is a phrase that photographers often use to describe work in this tier. It is magazine-worthy quality!

Where the Cost of Wedding Photography Goes

In general, your wedding day cost covers the wedding day as well as all the editing and client services that comes along with it. A photographer is not just shooting images! Photographing is about 20% of the job – the other 80% is running the business! Whether your photographer outsources certain tasks or does it all his or herself, here is a list of duties to be done & costs to be paid:

Marketing to bring in bookings, Website Creation and Maintenance, Maintaining Camera Gear, Acquiring Camera Gear, Culling Photos (choosing which ones to edit), Editing Photos, Designing Albums, Writing blog posts, Emailing clients, Video chatting/in-person consultations, Payment for Software used to receive payments and scheduling, Insurance, and more!

In addition to the cost all of these tasks, a wedding photographer hopes to take home a paycheck! (We have mortgages, children, and living costs, too!) Photography is a cost heavy industry, with much of our expenses going towards travel, gear, and the overhead to be able to do our jobs well. Photographers are most often self employed, so taxes take a big chunk out of earnings (like a 20%-28% chunk depending!)

I hope this post was helpful to you as you navigate the wedding photography industry! If you’re looking for a photographer in Minnesota, I would love to serve you! View my work here or inquire here! ❤️

Joyfully,

Jennifer