How much are you spending on photos?

[margaritaville83]

I am paying $3250 for my photographer (Engagement pics here, discs of all pictures, full week of coverage down there including some videography) plus his travel expenses, so in total about $4900. But, I am using the free person we get after booking 20 people are his trip, so I only pay $275 tax. Otherwise if he didn't get the free trip, I wasn't sure if I could have done it.

Photography was the most important part of my wedding and I was set on my photographer long before my wedding, just something I couldn't budge on! People think I'm crazy, but whatever!

check out my E-pics...

Winnipeg Wedding Photography-Holiday Mountain-Lauren & Brent | Moore Photography: Winnipeg Wedding Photographer. Destination Wedding Photographer. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

[avong1228]

I am paying $1400 for welcome drinks, rehearsal dinner and all day of the wedding plus

All of your edited images on disc

- DVD Slideshow

- Private online gallery (available for 3 months)

- $100 album credit

 

This is for two photographers. Originally it was going to be $2400 but she cut me a deal!

[JuliaR]

I am flying in a photographer from Texas who is listed as one of the 10 Best in the World by American Photo magazine and listed as a Kodak Photographer to Watch. Photography is THE single most important part of the wedding to me. All in all with travel and fees, their services are worth about $8000-10,000. Granted I am not paying their regular fee because they happen to be VERY good friends of ours, but I wanted to add my two cents here when it comes to the price of good photography.

 

Consider how many hours of work goes into your wedding.

 

1. 2 hours of consultation Pre-Wedding

2. 4-6 hours Travel to get to Destination, plus the days they are away from their studio where they could be shooting portraits or working with other paying clients. Lots of lost income here.

3. 2-3 hours Scouting Location: looking for the best places to photograph your wedding

4. 6-8 hours coverage on your Wedding Day

5. 2 hours TTD Day After Wedding

6. 4-6 Hours: Travel getting home

7. 1-2 Hours: Downloading and backing up 4000-5000 images.

8. 40 + Hours: Editing and retouching your 500+ files to make you look gorgeous

9. 10 + hours Album Design

10. 1-2 Hours Consulting with You to Choose Images and narrow down to 200.

11. 1-2 Hour Prepping and uploading Files for the print lab, burning discs.

12. 1 hour to package and assemble your prints for delivery.

 

And this is a conservative estimate.

 

 

TOTAL HOURS: 74-85

 

And you are paying them $5000 for your coverage and album?? That album costs them about $500-700 to produce (hard cash). That means they get $4200 in their pocket. That's $55 an hour to do a job that requires constant education, incredible training, facility overhead, and not to mention the wear and tear/depreciation on their equipment, plus all their marketing costs, employee costs, taxes, legal fees, membership associations, cost of goods etc.

 

The top wedding Photographers make at the most about $15-20 per hour. Photogs at the lower end make less than minimum wage! So when you call it expensive, make sure you really evaluate what your getting and what that photographer has to spend (time and money) to make your wedding the most beautiful event ever. Is it worth it to you? And when you take into account a photographer who is EXTREMELY talented and you KNOW you are going to get the images of a lifetime, wouldn't you WANT to pay them what they are worth?

 

Most wedding photographer do this job because they LOVE it. It is their passion. Treat them that way and they will give you EVERYTHING they have. There is nothing to them quite like an appreciative client, and wedding photographers will bend over BACKWARDS for brides who appreciate what they are doing for them.

 

 

Ok......back to regularly scheduled programming.

 

:-)

[bikegirl]

^ If I had $8-10K to spend on photography, I definitely would. When I first started looking, all the photographers were in that range, some even MORE. Unfortunately I, like many brides, simply cannot afford that. My entire wedding budget is under $10K.

 

Recently, I have found a number of quality photographers in the $3-4K range. While no, they have not had as much experience or as many international awards as the ones I originally sought out, I feel I would definitely be getting my money's worth. I'm not expecting photos like Elizabeth Messina or Jose Villa...then again, I'm not paying the price of EM or JV either.

[*Krista*]

I think getting a good "deal" on a photographer sometimes has to do with timing. I was lucky enough to find a wonderful photographer, who is just new in her wedding photography, but has been doing other photography for years. She is also very young and has a fresh eye, which I love. Since she has photographed few weddings, and no destination weddings (that I know of), she is willing to do my wedding for the cost of travel and resort. But I also booked her extra time so she could have some time to relax and enjoy herself. I definitely appreciate all the hard work that photographers put in and wanted her to have some time for herself! Also, I will be tipping her well at the end!

[Island Bride]

LadyTrunck- Her work is awesome! Buttt... I saw some pictures she did of a wedding at my same location and I was not so satisfied Guess I just gotta hope for the best! If not FI is going to kill me!! Shes a very nice lady so I guess thats a plus! And has good reviews! (<-- trying to convince myself I didnt waste $5k haha)

[Diva]

oooo island bride such a beautiful Rott!!! I grew up with Rotts and I miss them! One day when we get our home, I will have them again, but since I live in an apt now a little dog has to suffice!!

[Island Bride]

Diva- HIGHFIVE! Rotties are the best! I also grew up with them and of coarse got one of my own after leaving home. She is my world, and will actually be in my wedding! I even have her listed on our program as "Dog of Honor"

[LadyTrunck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Bride LadyTrunck- Her work is awesome! Buttt... I saw some pictures she did of a wedding at my same location and I was not so satisfied Guess I just gotta hope for the best! If not FI is going to kill me!! Shes a very nice lady so I guess thats a plus! And has good reviews! (<-- trying to convince myself I didnt waste $5k haha)

Don't stress- I think if you didn't like the photos from your location, try to pin point what exactly it is that you don't like, and make sure to communicate your ideas with her.

It's funny you say that your FI will kill you if you don't like her-im in the same
boat but with my dress. I got a knock off from china for my TTD- and I'm afraid that I will like it more than my wedding dress(different designer and style) i mentioned to FI and he said he would kill me

Anyway- I really hope you love the photos at the end! Don't forget to post!

[sorord1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diva oooo island bride such a beautiful Rott!!! I grew up with Rotts and I miss them! One day when we get our home, I will have them again, but since I live in an apt now a little dog has to suffice!!

Diva I had a Rott puppy a couple of years ago when I live in an apartment. It was not a good experience. You are so right those type of dogs need a house with yard space because they get so big. Eventually I had to get rid of him because he was outgrowing my space but all in all he was a great dog and I kind of still miss him.