Average photographer cost?

I'm honestly willing to work with most any budget... I also offer financing. But what I mean that I'm willing to work with any budget is that If you are only able to pay $600 I let you know that I can only cover 2 hours... But those 2 hours will get you some amazing photos. Usually that includes the ceremony and some portraits afterwards.

I live in the Tampa area, we booked Jason Angelini Photography @ $1195 (for 10hrs of service).

The costs of wedding photography really depends on what type of photography you are looking for. You could spend upwards of $2,000-$3,000 on a good photographer that spends a lot of time editing your photos.... Such as Limelight Photography, but you are paying for the photo editing... Or you can spend around $1,000 and get a great photographer (like ours) who does minimal photo editing.

Personally, I would rather have the clean/original photos because the edited styles will change. You can also find up and coming photographers who offer pretty good work for under $1000 because they are trying to build their portfolio.

If you are just looking for someone to take the photos and really do not care about the talent behind it, you can hire a friend or normally find someone on craigslist that will do it very inexpensively.

* You also have to pay attention to what is included in the photographers package prices... If they include a disc, generally that costs about $500. 2 Photographers cost more than one.... etc...If you do not need some of the items listed in the photographers package but love their work, it never hurts to try and negotiate the price if the items are removed.

Un fortunately cost is going to be factor whether it should be considered or not. I expected to spend about $3000-$4000 for photography services but that is because I knew what I wanted in a photographer and I had already asked other friends what it had cost them. I would assume that traditional posed shots that don't require a lot of artistic work and editing would be less expensive.I on the other hand want artistic shots and are wiling to pay for them within reason. Brian you make some very good points but please don't turn away the couple that asks about price first....they may be trying to figure out if its worth your time or theirs if your packages are out of their price range. I'm a negotiator but many brides are not they don't know to ask if something can be taken off or substituted or ask if there are specials.

Oh, I definitely don't turn them away... for sure. I'm just saying that based on my past experience, 95% of the people that write and say

"Hi I'm looking for a photographer,

what do you cost?

thank you."

are just sending out mass emails and are just looking at price. I always respond to them individually and let them know my prices and what is included. That's also why I include my prices on my website.

I have booked a few that way, but I know not to get my hopes up.

I usually ask brides what they are looking for, what they want included in their collection, and go from there. Some brides buy an album 2 years down the road when they can afford it. So a base wedding package works best for them. By the way, all of my collections include a disc, So if the bride wants to print out photos she can do that.

I aim more at selling Large wall portraits, so I'm happy to not worry about selling 8x10's(I use http://www.pictage.com for my order fulfillment for parents or friends of the B&G)

Hey Libra, your wedding is getting really close... You must be excited! what photographer are you using? I'd love to see their work.

WOW...I'm almost ashamed to share the price of my photographer cost, lol. Photography was actually something I really wanted to save money on. I know the photos will be our only memory but I honestly think that a photo is a photo and it captures the moment no matter how re-touched, edited or whatever else photographers do to them. So with that said, and after doing a quick search and getting a few quotes...I went on Craigslist and found a local girl (just out of high school and just getting her photography career started) who was doing a $200 special. I saw some of her photos and booked her. So far...she has done my bridal and engagement pictures and I have no complaints what so ever. But like everyone has said, it's up to you on the kind of photos you want...I just went with what I was willing (and able)to spend and I'm happy with that. Good luck!

I'm with leti, I got my photographer from Craigslist and she is fantastic. She did my engagement photos last weekend and already has then cleaned up and online. my FH making funny faces in about 300 of the pictures isn't the photographers fault. thats why I love him! but we only paid $700. I did speak with some other brides she had worked with and she showed me some other weddings she did and they are great. I mean it may not be $4000 worth of making the picture look fake (I think when you touch and retouch a picture it starts to look fake) but they look clean and their good.

Florida is a big market, you'll easily find a photographer that will fit your budget. Widen your search. If you want to go the budget way check out craigslist. There are plenty of up and coming photographers willing to shoot weddings for cheap/free.

The only thing is that you need to adjust your expectations accordingly. If you are not willing to pay a lot, then don't expect world class results. That does not mean that you might not get lucky and get a great photographer, but just be mindful that one does usually get what you paid for.

I'd suggest you go check out Full Sail, the art school, prolly get a student to do it for a lower rate and will still be great. Or even check their boards/website...might have a teacher who does some freelance work.

I agree with everyone here who says the photographer is worth the splurge, which is why mine plus my venue eat up about 75 percent of my little budget. But personally I can't justify hiring someone who would charge me more than $1,000 for their service.

I just want to make it clear on what $4000 will get you. Professional photographers shouldn't be spending hours and hours making your photos look fake. Over-edited images usually look like crap and are usually the mark of a non-professional.

a $4200 collection will get you the following:

8 hours coverage with 2 photographers

Engagement Session(2-3 hours)

$1700 credit for 12×12 flush-mount leather 20 spread album or Wall Portraits

That's 25 hours of work right there not including editing.

After editing it will come to 40-50 hours of work.

Then on top of that is is the actual cost of doing business.

I implore you to look at my work and tell me if you think it looks "fake" or "over-edited." http://www.losangelesweddingphotography.org

I'm sorry that photographers have left the impression that they are expensive just because they edit the photos. I do edit my photos, but there is a specific style I'm going for.

Yes, a photo is a photo, but you're paying for a professional artist

After looking at some of the prices other brides have gotten their photographers for I don't want to list what I am paying (it is on the higher side). But I knew going into it photography is something I wanted to spend money on because it's our memories. Also, I'm getting a lot for what I am paying and really clicked with my photographer when we met. Another thing is, in my area the few photographers all were around the same price for the same services so I think the price I'm paying is about average for the area.

As a photographer i can tell you that wedding photography is a lot of work! Scheduling, fitting in all shots that the couple wants, post processing( can be up to 15hrs an image, depending on what the client wants) On average i charge 30 dollars an hour for an 8 hr day, and then post processing etc. My wedding packages start at 500-3000 depending on if the client is wanting the entire day photographed, family images, bridal party images etc. I always throw in the engagement session for free for those who book the full day. your pictures will be the one thing that will last forever for your day! A professional photographer is able to give the client the artistic and unique images that an amateur just won't know how to do. So my best advice is don't scrimp on your photos! they will last forever! make sure that who ever you hire has that connection with you, spell out exactly what you want, if they are good this will have a list of suggested images, don't be afraid to make sure they put

It in writing! write everything down for your protection as well as the photographers! Good luck and congradulations!

Brian...my wedding is over a year away....I wish it was close. I originally had Bella but after more careful consideration I chose David Hartcorn....here is his website http://www.davidhartcorn.com/ let me know what you think

Wow, he makes some beautiful images. I really liked the

"American Gothic" throw-back...

You are gonna be really happy with your photography.

congrats on hiring an artist.

Word of caution using students... I took one under my belt last year that I knew for a wedding shoot as an educational experience for him. He was in his final year of school for photography. For the entire 8 hour duration, I might have had a handful of images that were usable. Wedding photography is NOT easy by any stretch of the imagination. Nearly every photo that he took was severely underexposed and had motion blur, rendering them unusable. If you're going that route, you'd be best off seeing if one of the educators is available. In most cases though, the educator will be a person that actually has a studio and the school is contracting to come in and teach. Case in point, I took a lighting class this spring through a local college, and the instructor owned a studio about 45 minutes away. Ironically, we spoke after the class, and he said, the students he typically sees, he never ask to shoot a wedding for him.

Thanks Brian!

Might I suggest www.costofweddings.com? Visit this site, put in your zip code, and it will tell you what the average is that brides and grooms have paid for whatever part of the wedding you would like to check.

I high recommend this because every area is different -- if you get a suggestion from a magazine or forum regarding budget, please understand that more than likely their "suggestion" will not take into account what the costs are in your local area.

Best wishes on your special day!!

Mindy & Joriana