To splurge or not to splurge

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I think that engagement shoots are included with most photographers. Have you considered giving her your budget and asking her to work with you? Also, while $3k-$5k is pretty average for weddings, I noticed that you mentioned only five hours for the wedding. I feel like most photographers that I have researched are contracted for 8-10 hours (for first looks, getting ready photos, etc)

My photographer is more than $3k and she is traveling which is included in that price (make sure to inquire about fees like travel, lodging, breaks even if she is local).

View Quoted Comment Sounds pretty average to me. I'm in the dfw metro area in Texas and that's a good deal here, especially if you love their work.

It's definitely a lot of money (my photographer is the same price)! The way I look at it is; you can never get a "redo" with those photos. For me it is going to be worth it to get photos I know I am going to love and can reflect back on for the rest of my life. It's the one thing FH and I both agreed was something we wanted to splurge on!

Hi!!
In my area the photographer to get costs about $5,000. With my MIL saying she would pay for it, I still said no. It’s just too much money!!
Personally, I have found a local photographer who has a full time job and does photographer in “mini sessions” and weekends. She was going to charge me 1,000 for 3 hours of wedding coverage. Honestly, the pictures I were even wanting was our first kiss and dance. All other candid shots will happen by others and your guest. All in all. Don’t splurge!!

Sounds about right. 3K-3.5K where I'm from is the average

That's going rate around here. Some are less expensive but usually I found cover day of only. Looked at a wide price range from $1,000 to $10,000. I finally found an amazing lady that was just meant to be and she's worth all the overtime I'm working! She made a package just for what we were looking for. We work so much we didn't have time for an engagement session so she offered to shoot our rehearsal dinner instead. She offers a boudoir in her packages as well. I'm just as excited to have her as to be married!! Some things are worth splurging on!

I think 3k for 5 hours is a little much...were you planning on having getting ready pictures? Mine is for 7hrs and I think that’s cutting it close.

It depends on where you are at. The photographer we are meeting with that we love is $2700 for 8 hrs, she gives us 400+ prints, a 8x8 wedding book, "special gift" , and the engagement session is included. But if you love what she does then I say splurge! The one thing you will have forever is those pictures.

That's close to what we're paying, ours is $3800 for 6 hours, because we're covering her travel to us since we live in the arctic tundra of the middle of nowhere Colorado haha I agree with what a lot of others are saying though, you walk away with your partner and your photos!

View Quoted Comment The photographer I am hiring is $1500 for 8-10 hours, two photographers, a boudoir shoot or engagement shoot, a USB card, and an album.


Photography is my hobby so I look for specific things and I would like to edit some of the photos myself. So, ask a ton of questions, look far and wide, and go from there.
I'd rather skimp on the flowers and splurge on the photographer but again... I love photography.

So I read through a TON of these posts. I found a photographer from a hashtag associated with the NY State Park we are getting married in. She charges $2,500 for 8 hours of coverage, second shooter, an engagement shoot, and a few prints afterwards. I always said that after your wedding you are left with the pictures, memories, and the promise you made each other. Photos are super important to me and my FH and I were willing to spend a little more on someone we really liked. I realize only so many of them will ever get printed and framed, but it's SO important for me to look back and show our future kids.

It sounds like the photographer you found seems really good! I'd say do what you feel is best. I really wanted someone I liked at a personal level and felt like I would be comfortable with for an entire day!

I'm not quite sure about that, keep looking before making a final decision. For $2200 I am getting /got Engagement, bridal and Wedding Day from an awesome photographer. I decided to "splurge" on my videographer. I will say though, the three things that were most important to me were photos, video and music

View Quoted Comment That they are

Look at it in this manner you get what you pay for, ask yourself when you go shopping do you look for quality or base off price alone? You cannot compare prices as well because everyone values their work differently. If you like the persons work go with them solely off that alone and shift your budget around. Hope this helps