Wedding photography - what's a good price?

We paid around $3700 for full day (up to 12 hours) coverage for photography for one photographer, 3 hours for a second photographer (we're using for the end of the guys getting ready, detail shots and additional angle at ceremony), a 20 page photobook and 6 hours of videography. We're located in South Jersey. A lot of photographers we found were around the **** range for full day coverage (not including videography) so I think we got a pretty good deal. We're having a bigger wedding (200 guests), so I think for a micro-wedding 6 hours is plenty!

I'm a photographer so was going to be picky about whoever we chose to shoot our wedding. A lot of this is regional, but the photographers I considered had starting prices typically ranging from $2000-$4000 and then going up from there (most had their least expensive package starting at around $3000-$3500). We landed with a $3000 package that included the main photographer for 7 hours and a secondary shooter for 5 hours, but no engagement session or print/album credit. It is standard to get the edited, high res digital files these days (either via digital download or USB), and you should not even consider anyone who charges extra for this or doesn't supply it.

I would say its unlikely you are going to find a talented, high quality, professional wedding photographer for less than $1500. That's not to say that there are not really skilled photographers who charge less. I've come across incredibly talented and creative young photographers or hobbyist photographers who price their work at a steal, but might not be confident enough to charge more, or they don't yet have an established business and haven't built the overhead of running a sustainable company into their pricing. With this lower price tag there typically are some caveats. Photographers who don't shoot weddings full time may not as easily adapt to difficult wedding photo situations, whether it be weird lighting, an awkward venue layout, or an uncooperative wedding party member. These photographers typically won't have the professionalism of a seasoned pro in terms of communication, clarity of contract, working with different subjects, etc, and also do not have a large photo network so may not be able to find an additional shooter if you need one for your event or would be less likely to find a fill-in if for some reason they were unable to shoot your wedding (emergencies DO happen). Photographers just starting out or who do photography "on the side" or as a hobby also may not be insured.

$3000 for 6 hours seems very reasonable, but its all about quality. I see people charge more than they should and less than they should all the time. I know photographers who make a living off of shooting weddings, engagements, family photos, senior portraits, and similar type of photography who take pretty boring, mediocre standard shots, and really talented people who "do it for fun" and charge so much less than they could for the quality of work they produce.

That's a bit high, depending on your area. Mine is for 8 hours and I paid just under 2500. I'm a photographer also and I'm happy to chat with you about things you should check for in a wedding photographer also if you haven't gotten it figured out.

I got our photographer for 1000 for 4 hours. We may end up adding an hour but I really don't need them there for the entire reception. We aren't doing the garter/bouquet/cake cutting so I think it'll be enough time. It does not include prints tho, just the edited files.

We had our photographer for 5 hours (get ready, details, ceremony, sunset beach wedding, & reception) we paid just over $1000 & price included a usb with all photos (edited photos numbering 800+) and licensing so we can print what we want when we want them. Extra hours would have been $150 & an extra shooter would have been $100 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours required.

We are in the Tampa Bay Area & only had about 30 guests including the Matron of Honor & Best Man.

Our photographer has been working with our beach front vendor for over 10 years. And also works other beach locations around our area. That said I did consider an up & coming photographer & decided not to go with them due lack of sunset beach experience (the savings was worth the risk in my case). Taking pictures in different locations & in different lighting makes a difference in the end results.

Here are a couple of ours even though both are totally outside but very different lighting.