When couples begin budgeting and inquiring with wedding vendors, it’s not uncommon to feel a bit of sticker shock as the quotes come in. Weddings aren’t cheap events, and building a budget that can accommodate the vendors you’re dreaming of is important. Oftentimes, the venue, catering, and photographer are going to be your biggest expenses for a wedding day. I know that it can feel overwhelming to see large quotes come in for photographers and that’s why I want to break down the cost of a wedding photographer. 

You’re Not Just Paying for One Day

Photographers work on your photos for far longer than the 8-10 hours we’re with you on a wedding day, and that’s just one part of what you’re paying for. Before your wedding day, we’re meeting with you and/or your planners to coordinate the timeline. Some photographers travel to venues to scout locations, and we work to plan aspects of your celebration. We also plan and photograph your engagement sessions! Then we arrive and actually capture your wedding day. Afterwards, we spend time backing up, curating, editing/retouching, and finalizing hundreds of images. When it comes down to it, we’re investing somewhere between 30-60 hours of time for your wedding day. The cost of a wedding photographer definitely factors in all of this work!

Expertise & Experience 

Your wedding photographer has experience that you’re paying for when you chose them as well. We’ve spent years mastering lighting, posing, and storytelling from photographing other events, workshops, and educational experiences. In addition to our technical experience, we’re also bringing our backgrounds to your celebration. Learning how to navigate wedding days, including those good and unexpected moments, and how to communicate and work as a team are also the experience and expertise that we bring to your wedding. 

Professional High-End Equipment

Another component of our wedding photography packages covers the upkeep and maintenance of high-end equipment that we use to capture your wedding day. We’re maintaining high-end professional cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment. Many photographers utilize dual memory cards during a wedding day to ensure that nothing is lost, and we maintain online cloud or other storage systems. Photographers have backup drives, computer equipment and more to maintain in their studios, too. All of this ensures that your images are captured, stored, and protected in the most efficient manner. 

Creative Skill & Artistic Vision 

Being a wedding photographer is about more than just snapping photos. Your photographer has spent time honing in on their skills to create images that feel editorial, timeless, and full of emotions. We have spent time creating an editing style and vision that is uniquely ours – and part of what you are choosing and seeking out when selecting a photographer. Creating a luxurious brand that matches your own vision and aesthetic takes time and energy in our studio as well. 

Business Expenses 

These are tied into maintaining our equipment, but your photographer is often paying for other business expenses too that are part of your equipment. Many photographers utilize online payment systems, gallery software, and editing programs. You likely found your photographer through their website or online marketing, which is also part of their business expenses. And that’s all before we get to taxes and licenses needed to operate a successful wedding photography business. Our wedding photography packages cover all of this – and more – so that we can create a good experience for our couples (and still pay our bills!). 

Customization & Client Experience 

When you pay for a wedding photographer, you’re also paying for our time to customize your client experience. A successful wedding photographer will spend time getting to know their couples and help them create tailored timelines, shot lists, and plans for their unique wedding day. This requires us to plan for pre-wedding consults, engagement sessions, and other planning support. You’re also paying for our support and access – fast and professional communication throughout the process. Wedding photography packages also include other aspects of our client experience, like heirloom products (artwork, wall hangings, and albums). 

The Value of Your Memories

Last but not least, your wedding photography is one of the most important aspects of your wedding day. After the cake is eaten and the flowers fade, photography is what preserves the emotion and story of your day. Honestly, you get what you pay for. Investment now means heirloom-quality memories forever – and paying for a high end photographer who knows what they’re doing across the entire experience is something that your future self will thank you for. 

When it comes to choosing and paying for a wedding photographer, remember that the cost you see is covering your entire experience with them – as well as all of the experience and education they’ve completed before ever meeting you. It helps us run businesses that accommodate the big special events in your lives, while supporting our own. I hope that this breakdown is helpful to couples trying to decide who to work with and why our packages are built the way that they are! 

Learn more about Myra Roman:

Myra is a Modern & Fashion-Forward Wedding & Portrait Photographer based on the East Coast. Ready to plan your wedding day or portraits for your growing family? Complete the contact form here!