Wedding Photography Estimate
Whether you are just getting started or a seasoned professional, determining what to charge can be tricky. It’s important to make sure that your pricing is transparent and includes everything that your clients will be paying for.
Generally speaking, exceptional photographers have higher demand, which results in higher prices. This article will discuss some of the factors that go into a wedding photography estimate.
The Venue
When choosing your wedding photographer, it’s important to understand the value of their work and what others are willing to pay for similar services. Do your research and find a style that you love and feel your wedding budget can support.
Some photographers also have overhead costs such as website hosting, business insurance and equipment maintenance fees that will impact their prices. They may also have a set number of weddings they can accept per year to maintain quality and consistency, so it’s important to inquire about that in your conversation.
Many wedding photographers offer a variety of collections that span different price points. For example, some packages include a photography team of two or more professionals. The addition of an extra photographer can be helpful in ensuring every moment is captured, especially if your guest count is large or you’re looking for a more editorial photography style. This extra cost may increase your overall package price.
The Time
Wedding photographers spend a lot of time before and after the big day planning with clients, capturing photos on site and post-production editing. The more hours you want them to work at your wedding, the higher the cost will be.
It takes an average of 8-10 hours to capture everything from hair and makeup to all the fun of your reception. It may take even more time if you want to do a first look or a large group portrait session with bridesmaids and groomsmen, for example.
Another factor is if you want to have your couples portraits during golden hour, when the light is softer and more beautiful. And don’t forget about the time spent capturing the candid photos of your guests, too! A full gallery typically arrives in four to 12 weeks after your wedding day. But most photographers will send you 40 to 50 sneak peeks sooner. That’s a great way to relive your big day before the final images arrive!
The Experience
We all know that you get what you pay for and this is especially true when it comes to wedding photographers. Photographers with more experience under their belt charge more. They’ve experienced every scenario that could happen on a wedding day and have ways of solving those problems to deliver the best results for their clients.
They’ve also likely spent time on other aspects of their business, such as culling and editing images, blogging, running social media, and meeting with clients. All of this is reflected in their pricing.
Some photographers offer a la carte menus while others create packages that help keep their costs consistent across wedding types. These packages also eliminate the need for negotiation, which can be stressful for both parties. Most photographers encourage a two-payment system, with one payment due upon signing the contract and the final payment due 30 days before the wedding. This helps to ensure the photographer can book as many weddings as possible.
The Equipment
The equipment that wedding photographers use to capture their images can be quite expensive. A quality camera body can cost $2,000 or more and many professionals carry at least two cameras for redundancy and flexibility. Lenses are another major expense that can range from $1,000 to $3,000 or more. Wedding photographers may also need to invest in flashes, lighting equipment and modifiers.
Other expenses include photo editing software, online client galleries, hard drive storage for backup and advertising costs. Some photographers also spend time educating themselves through photography workshops and classes to improve their skills.
Once you have calculated your overhead and costs of goods, add in your profit to determine the final wedding photography price. Be sure to take into account any travel expenses if your photographer is going to be traveling for your event.