Congratulations, you are in the thick of planning a wedding and now you are finding out the costs of putting one together, and particularly, how much does a wedding photographer cost!
I’ll save you time if you need a quick answer – if you truly value the experience of your photographer and the quality of your photos, you will be paying a minimum of $2500 for a full wedding or $1200 for a local elopement.
Your wedding photographs are the one thing you will take with you after the wedding. The cake will get eaten, food will go to waste, you will leave the venue, and the dress will likely not be worn again. So it’s important to invest in a photographer who will preserve your wedding beautifully, and protect it too.
The sooner you can find your wedding photographer, the better. With many photographers being a team of one, they cannot be booked multiple days. This could mean running into the issue of finding a photographer you love but them already being booked.
Arkansas Wedding Collection takes on the approach of sending associates to cover weddings. This is the practice where if I am already booked for a wedding, I will hire a photographer who shoots similarly as I do to cover the wedding. The benefit to couples with this option is if you want the Collection Experience or a specific collection offered, you are able to do so and have your day covered.
When considering “How much does a wedding photographer cost,” you should also consider payment schedules.
There are different payment schedules many wedding photographers accept. Here are a few variations:
If you are unsure about committing to a photographer, ask about an engagement session. This is a lower ticket cost, for about $350, and allows you to try out a photographer to see if he or she is someone you enjoy and if you truly love their photos.
Something we do to incentivize our couples (if they LOVE us and our work) after the engagement session is to remove the cost of the engagement and only charge for the wedding!
This turns the engagement session into a bit of a Free Trial!
How Much Does A Wedding Photographer Cost
The prices of wedding photography range from as low as $1000 to as high as $10,000. In Central Arkansas, wedding photographers average around $2000 – $3500. There is a wide array of styles with photography as well – light and airy photographs that are captured elegantly and near editorial, dramatic and moody which often captures the emotion of a day, or documentary-style which conveys the day as it is. However, style and price do not go hand-in-hand. In fact, price does not directly indicate the skill of the photographer. For some, it is based on experience (or how long they have been photographing weddings and annually raising prices), and for others, it is based on the experience they give to the couple. This can include luxury gifts, unique destinations, and out-of-this-world imagery.What’s Included in a Wedding Photographer’s Pricing?
I can’t speak of all photographers, but I can say for $3500, you can expect at least 6-8 hours of wedding day coverage, a local 1-hour engagement session, a single photographer, and an online gallery with downloadable images. A la carte items, such as heirloom albums and wall art, can affect what is included in the pricing as well. Heirloom albums tend to price for $1,000 and additional pages can be requested, while wall art can range from $300 – $1,000, based on the size and style of the item. Images are meant to be shared and not kept digitally. That’s why many photographers may also include a print release, which gives the couple the permission to print photos with the highest-quality print being at most an 8×10 size. It’s recommended for larger files, you order prints directly from your photographer if they offer this service. Professional photographers have access to print shops that only give access to photographers who have proof of doing photography as a business. While a rising trend, many photographers do not offer video as an add-on.Why Isn’t Video Included In All Packages?
As mentioned, it is a rising trend to include video in photography packages. However, many photographers do not because:- It is difficult to perform videography and photography services at the same time.
- Performing both services requires more hands on deck, which can drive a photographer’s costs of doing business up (this is a business after all).
- Videography and photography, while similar, require different skill sets.
- Videography requires different gear than photography, which the photographer may not have.
- Speaking of gear, having gear for both photo and video can get both extremely expensive and cumbersome.
Wedding Photographer FAQs
When should you hire your photographer?
The sooner you can find your wedding photographer, the better. With many photographers being a team of one, they cannot be booked multiple days. This could mean running into the issue of finding a photographer you love but them already being booked.
Arkansas Wedding Collection takes on the approach of sending associates to cover weddings. This is the practice where if I am already booked for a wedding, I will hire a photographer who shoots similarly as I do to cover the wedding. The benefit to couples with this option is if you want the Collection Experience or a specific collection offered, you are able to do so and have your day covered.
How can you find the right photographer?
First, you need to determine the style of photography you are drawn to. Dark and moody? Light and airy? Editorial or documentary? Thankfully, how much does a wedding photographer cost is not affected by the style of photography. Once you’ve determined the style you want, it’s equally important to see if you love the photographer – not just their work. Your photographer will be working with you on one of the most memorable days of your life. While the photographer’s work may be exceptional, if you do not get along or enjoy them as a person, you will not have the best photos you could have. You can usually get a good idea of what the photographer is like by reading their biography on their website or researching them on social media. Speak with the photographer directly by contacting them – and not ghosting them – so you can get personal with them. People sometimes portray themselves as something they are not online versus what they’re like in real life. Finally, have an idea of what your budget is, and be willing to be flexible. If you think your budget is $2500 for photography, but the photographer you want has the ideal collection at $3000, it may be worth adjusting your full wedding budget to make up that $500. If you can’t get it, see if you can work out a payment plan!Should you negotiate?
This is a gray area. While one could argue that people buying Jordans pay full price without negotiating deals, the other could say services are different than products. To this, I say the worst that can happen is the photographer say’s “No.” If you do decide to negotiate, please come up with an offer that is not offensive to the photographer. You don’t want to ask a photographer to reduce their price by $1000. (Trust me, it happens often, and it does not leave a pretty taste in anyone’s mouth!)How much should you tip?
Truthfully, I’m not much for tipping photographers. However, if you feel so compelled to tip, I would ask that you consider purchasing a print over giving a tip. If tipping, it’s not far-fetched to hear of couples tipping their photographer $200 – $300. But remember, this is the cost of what it could be to order a fine-print or wall art directly from the photographer.What is the typical payment schedule?
When considering “How much does a wedding photographer cost,” you should also consider payment schedules.
There are different payment schedules many wedding photographers accept. Here are a few variations:
- Full payment – Many photographers will offer discounts if the full amount is paid in full.
- 50% down 50% 30 days before – This option requires a 50% retainer and the remainder is due 30 days before the wedding. (e.g. $3,000 collection would be $1,500 down, $1,500 due 30 days before the wedding.)
- 50% down, 25% 25% – Book your collection at 50% down and pay two installments of 25%
- $1000 down, all else 30 days before – This option is an easy method, as it allows you to book easily with $1,000 down on any collection and adjust the remainder owed if you decide to upgrade your collection.
What It All Comes Down To
Ultimately, how much does a wedding photographer cost varies. You can find photographers at any price range. But as the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” How much a photographer costs relies on several things, and comes with different experiences. Cheaper photographers tend to be new to the game, which can come with a number of things to be wary of:- Unable to anticipate moments
- Lack the proper equipment
- No experience photographing a wedding
- Unprofessional attitudes
- No system for keeping your photos safe after the wedding
- No backups
- are able to anticipate moments, such as a dip during a dance or a spontaneous kiss after a speech
- have the equipment and backup equipment in case anything fails
- have years of experience photographing weddings
- uphold professional and fun attitudes
- developed systems to keep your photographs safe for years to come
- have plenty of backups
Try Before You Commit
If you are unsure about committing to a photographer, ask about an engagement session. This is a lower ticket cost, for about $350, and allows you to try out a photographer to see if he or she is someone you enjoy and if you truly love their photos.
Something we do to incentivize our couples (if they LOVE us and our work) after the engagement session is to remove the cost of the engagement and only charge for the wedding!
This turns the engagement session into a bit of a Free Trial! 
