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How much does a Wedding Photographer cost? 2023

Average Price
$1,250

How much does a Wedding Photographer cost?

Looking for a wedding photographer to tell the story of your big day but not sure of the cost? Read our price guide to find out how much your professional will charge based on their experience, the package type, seasonal variations, and more.

Updated Feb 2023

Benefits of hiring a Wedding Photographer

With all the months (or even years) of planning everything to the very last detail, the last thing you want on your wedding day is to be worried about who will get the perfect shot of you walking down the aisle or saying your vows. With a wedding photographer there to capture every moment, you can relax and enjoy every minute. Find a Wedding Photographer near me.

A wedding happens once, but hiring a wedding photographer means you can relive it for a lifetime. 

(Psst - looking for other wedding price guides? You might find our wedding cake price guide helpful.)

How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost?

If you’re confused about wedding photography costs, you’re not the only one. A wedding photographer could charge anything between $500 - $3,000 depending on your requirements. Services could include anything from taking a few snaps to providing an entire package that comes with retouched prints and a USB digital album. 

As a general rule, most people put around 10-15% of their overall wedding budget towards their photographer. To give you a general idea, we’ve put together the average cost of wedding photography based on US professionals: 

Average cost (in total)$1,250
Minimum cost (in total) $500
Maximum cost (in total) $3,000

What affects the cost of a Wedding Photographer? 

The cost of a wedding photographer can vary depending on different factors. These include: 

  • Location

  • Experience

  • Type of package 

Location 

Location is a big factor when it comes to the cost of a wedding photographer. Photographers in big cities like New York are generally more expensive than other parts of the US, and you could end up spending almost double the amount for the same service in smaller cities! 

You could easily spend between $2,000 and $6,000 for a wedding photographer in the big apple, so bear this in mind when planning your budget. 

Experience 

If a wedding photographer has over 20 years of experience capturing the perfect day for countless couples, you’ll pay more than a junior photographer starting out in their career. It's likely you’ll get a higher quality of photos the more experienced your photographer is, but an inexperienced photographer may be willing to discuss price reductions to build their portfolio - it’s a trade-off. 

Type of package

Most wedding photographers accommodate different budgets by offering package options with tiered pricing. 

  • Basic - A basic package will include photos of the wedding ceremony including digital photocopies. 

  • Mid-range - Mid-range packages should include around 8 hours of coverage to capture the most important moments of the day. 

  • Full package - Full packages could include anything from pre-wedding consultations to engagement photoshoots and having a second photographer on the day. 

Additional price factors 

  • Luxury packages -  Looking for a touch of luxe with your wedding photos? A luxury package includes anything from private online photo galleries to mobile apps to store you photos. They can climb up to $10,000 depending on the service.

  • Length of time - Typically, you want to hire your photographer for at least 8 hours,  to capture the most important moments of the day. However, if you want them there from the moment you wake up to the moment the last guest goes to bed, expect costs to be higher.

  • The number of digital photographs and prints - The more photos you, the higher the price. Simple.  

How to save money on Wedding Photography  

Wedding photographers can be pricey, but don’t despair! Here are our top tips for hiring a wedding photographer on a budget: 

  • Consider weekday weddings - Weekday weddings are less expensive than weekend weddings, but it’s always worth asking your guests if they’d be able to book the time off work before booking anything.

  • Book early - Ever heard of the saying ‘The early bird catches the worm?’ Many photographers will offer discounts for bookings made far in advance. Photographers normally get booked up pretty far in advance too, so it's worth getting in there early. 

Capture every moment of your perfect day, find a Wedding Photographer on Bark. 

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