... and the reason why our prices vary.

I think every wedding photographer can say that no matter how low their prices are they’ve received the response, “You want that much for photos? I can have my relative take photos for free!” Every person has a different idea of how much wedding photography should cost and what goes into it. Here is a breakdown of some wedding photography elements that affect pricing so that you can better understand what you’re paying for.

T I M E

It’s not just the hours the photographer is present at your wedding. Every photographer has a different plan for post-processing, but rarely will it just take a few minutes, or even an hour to make sure your photographs are perfect. Different photographers will put in a different amount of time to edit your photographs. They may go through every single photograph or only edit a certain amount of predetermined photographs. Either way editing takes time and the more experienced the photographer is the more money their time is worth.

E X P E R I E N C E

It’s a given that a photographer who has been shooting for ten years will/should be charging more than a photographer who has been shooting for one year. But there’s other experience a photographer should/could have. Years shooting for a newspaper are different from years shooting weddings; years editing with a certain program; training in photo editing programs and camera equipment; weddings shot as second shooter to another photographer. Every photographer is different and has different skills and strengths that will affect their pricing.

E Q U I P M E N T

For a photographer, equipment means everything. Not only is it costly and requires insurance coverage and maybe even warranties, it’s the basis for quality and ability. When you hire a photographer you are also hiring the equipment they use. From lighting, to lenses, to the bag it’s carried in. Every photographer needs to guarantee that their equipment will work to shoot a wedding and with that comes charging batteries, checking camera systems.

A R T I S T I C   R E L E A S E

Just like a painter or sculptor, a photographer, even a wedding photographer, is using their artistic integrity to capture your wedding day. Photographers charge different amounts to release the photographs to you for personal use. Some photographers will include it in their pricing while others will require separate payment to obtain the photographs.

Overall what you pay for a wedding photographer should be based on how a particular photographer fits your needs. There is no right or wrong answer in how much you should spend and as long as you feel comfortable with your photographer and confident in their abilities then you’ve made the right decision.

LT Photography provides free consultations to all of our potential photography clients. We’re always happy to share our experiences, and discuss your needs.  For more information contact us today!