A big part of wedding planning is budgeting for different vendors and services. While every aspect is crucial to the grand success of your event, wedding photography holds a special place in the concoction, as it is responsible for offering you the most cherished memories of your life. After all is said and done, your wedding pictures will be the sole tangible source of reminiscence of one of the most wonderful experiences you had in your lifetime.
For all these reasons, spending on wedding photography should never be an afterthought. It should be a carefully planned and executed budget allotment that takes into consideration your priorities as an engaged couple. Oftentimes, it is an overwhelming decision to make; the first glaring question to address is “how much to spend on wedding photography”.
This article addresses that question and more, giving you direction and clarity on budgeting for a wedding photographer.
The ideal margin
When budgeting for a wedding, it is common practice to set aside a certain margin of the entire budget towards different vendor services, including photography. Considering the multiple crucial moving parts of a wedding, this should be done thoughtfully, with a primary focus on your priorities.
In this regard, most industry insiders including online sources consider a 10% margin for photography to be ideal. However, for modern couples with a strong wedding vision, this may be an underestimate, as professional photographers today offer much more than a collection of life-less pictures. It is wiser to consider setting aside anywhere between 10% and 25% of your overall budget on wedding photography today, as it provides precious keepsakes to preserve for posterity.
A veteran wedding photographer will meticulously document the priceless candid moments, create stunning portrait pictures, and provide an exceptionally vivid collection of wedding pictures that will let you relive the experience each time you flip through them, all while giving you a stress-free partnership. Undoubtedly, this not only demands a bigger budget but also gives you a worthwhile outcome.
How much does a wedding photographer cost?
The cost of a good-quality wedding photographer can vary widely depending on several factors such as their experience level, the number of hours of coverage required, their style of photography, the number of photographers, and the overall package inclusions covering specific additional services. Comprehensive photography companies typically offer customizable packages with an array of services that can be tailored to fit your unique requirements and budget.
On average,
· An entry-level photographer can cost between $2000 and $3000.
· A mid-range photographer charges between $3000 and $7000.
· A high-end photographer can charge between $7000 and $15000, and upwards in some cases.
This wide range of prices is justified by the different types of benefits each service provider brings to the table.
Here is a look into some common factors influencing the prices of wedding photographers.
Location
Chicago, being one of the busiest and largest cities in the US, is undoubtedly an expensive place to live. A wedding photographer naturally charges an amount that reasonably covers their cost of living in the city. Service providers in smaller, less busy cities may charge lower, while those in more populous cities like NYC may charge much higher. The location thus directly impacts the charges of a photographer.
Experience
The modern world of professional photography is warm and inviting for entry-level service providers as well today. While they may have a good level of expertise, there are certain attributes such as problem-solving skills that come only with experience. This level of knowledge and efficiency comes at a cost. Solid experience allows photographers to handle challenging situations and complex visions with ease and efficiency. For example, optimizing tricky lighting situations, night-time photography, location scouting, handling overrunning timelines, etc. are all skills that only an experienced wedding photographer can offer.
Photography style
Photographers follow different styles of documentation that directly impact the outcome. Aside from simple themes like “light and airy” or “moody,” they may also have different techniques of shooting, such as photojournalistic, which throws focus on capturing natural and candid moments. The more vivid and immersive-quality pictures a photographer can provide, the better. Professionals whose styles are much sought-after are more likely to charge a premium.
Package inclusions
As mentioned earlier, comprehensive photography companies provide a range of services as part of their packages. The price they charge depends on the services you choose to include with your package, such as pre-wedding photoshoots, wedding albums, a second shooter, printed files, etc. It is important to choose a photographer who provides enough clarity and transparency in terms of services and their charges so that you can make more informed decisions.
Labor hours in a wedding package
To gain some perspective on the cost charged by a wedding photographer, here is an insight into the hours and kinds of labor involved in a typical single wedding package.
– Consultations and discussions – 1-2 hours
– Wedding planning, timeline creation, and prep work – 2-3 hours
– Pre-wedding photoshoot – 3-4 hours
– Processing and delivering the pre-wedding pictures – 1-2 hours
– Wedding-day coverage – 8-12 hours
– Setting up and breaking down of equipment and traveling – 1-2 hours
– Processing and delivery of final wedding pictures – 15-25 hours
– Album design, creation, and delivery – 4-5 hours
These working hours describe an average package and do not include a second shooter or the value of their equipment, gas, software, marketing efforts, taxes, etc. Suffice it to say, that a service provider charges for 50+ hours of work at a base level, with additional services accounting for higher levels of quality and expertise.
Wrapping up
While the decision on how much to spend on a wedding photographer, remains a personal choice, it is always wise to attain a comprehensive knowledge of the value you receive when choosing a package. The above-mentioned factors and price ranges represent typical service providers in the city, however, with in-depth research, you may well find photographers who offer a mix of ample value and reasonable prices. As a general rule of thumb, set aside a portion of your wedding budget that fairly covers your priorities in photography, and invest in a comprehensive wedding photographer in Chicago to achieve the best results.
To discover finely tailored wedding photography packages that will suit your budget, contact Shan Photography!
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