• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Weddings
  • Seniors
  • Portraits
  • Reviews
The Beach Photographer logo

The Beach Photographer | Pismo Beach & SLO

Wedding & Portrait Photography

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Locations
  • Style
  • Say Hello
You are here: Home / Photography / Average Cost for a Wedding Photographer
Average Cost for a Wedding Photographer, SLO Wedding Photography

Average Cost for a Wedding Photographer

May 9, 2023 by Jessica

Many of my potential clients wonder, what is the average cost of a wedding photographer? Am I paying too much? Will I be disappointed with my wedding photos if I pay less?

I decided to do some digging and help shed some light on wedding photography, how much it costs, and why it can be one of the most expensive parts of a wedding ceremony.

Wedding Photography Considerations

The average cost of a wedding photographer varies depending on several factors such as the location, experience of the photographer, length of coverage, and services provided.

Although I listed the average cost below based on a 2022 survey by TheKnot.com, there are still more questions than answers since we do not know how many hours the photographer was present at the weddings in the study, if their packages included extras like an engagement session, if travel expenses were added as a separate charge and, ultimately, if couples were happy with their wedding photographer and wedding photos.

And Drumroll… Here is the Average Cost

In the United States, the average cost of a wedding photographer ranges from $1,500 to $3,500. However, in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, the cost can be significantly higher, with some photographers charging upwards of $10,000 or more.

It’s important to note that while cost is an important factor when choosing a wedding photographer, it’s also crucial to consider their experience, style, and portfolio to ensure that they are the right fit for your wedding day.

In The Knot 2022 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding photography cost was $2,600. However, this study includes all different types of wedding photographers such as hobbyists as well as licensed and insured professionals.

Why is Wedding Photography So Expensive

Wedding photography can be expensive for a variety of reasons, including:

Experience and Expertise

A professional wedding photographer often has years of experience and expertise, which comes at a premium. They have invested time, money, and effort into perfecting their craft and have likely honed their skills over many years of shooting weddings.

Equipment & Software

Professional wedding photographers use high-quality cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, and other accessories that can be expensive to purchase and maintain. This equipment is easily worth $10,000 and sometimes much, much more. They may also need to invest in backup equipment in case of equipment failure. Last, but not least, monthly software subscriptions add up quickly as well.

Time and Labor

A wedding photographer typically spends a lot of time before, during, and after the wedding, including consultations with the couple, scouting locations, capturing the wedding day, editing photos, and delivering the final product. All of this time and labor comes at a cost.

Post-Production and Editing

After the wedding, the photographer spends a significant amount of time editing and processing the images to create the final product. This includes color correction, retouching, and other adjustments to ensure that the images are of the highest quality.

Business Expenses

Running a photography business involves many costs, including marketing, insurance, rent, and taxes. These costs are factored into the price of wedding photography services.

While wedding photography can be expensive, it is important to remember that you are paying for the photographer’s experience, expertise, equipment, time, labor, and business expenses. These costs are all necessary for a professional photographer to provide high-quality images and a stress-free wedding day experience for the couple.

My Personal Wedding Photography Experience

As a wedding photographer, I have had the privilege of experiencing many weddings firsthand as well as getting married twice myself. I am also a frugal person so I completely understand wanting to get a good deal on wedding photography and all things wedding-related. Wedding expenses add up fast!

However, I have also experienced disappointment with wedding photographers that don’t seem to care and wedding photos that are less beautiful than I expected. At my first wedding, my former partner and I booked the first photography company we drove by just to knock one more thing off our wedding to-do list.

At my second wedding, we paid more for a professional wedding photographer for only a few hours. However, we simply chose a husband and wife photography team who lived close to us. Although their portfolio was beautiful, I think the wife may have been the better photographer of the two and the husband was the one who photographed our wedding.

For this reason, I strongly recommend investing in an engagement session before your wedding or selecting a wedding photography package that includes an engagement session. In my experience, this is the best way to get to know your wedding photographer before the big day and make sure their style fits what you like in photos. Also, I love landscapes and was disappointed our wedding photographer used a larger aperture for our photos so the beautiful beach we chose to get married at was completely blurred and unrecognizable in our photos.

A Timeless Heirloom

Yes, wedding photography is expensive. However, ideally, you will have the opportunity to print these photos in albums, hang them on your walls, and share them on social media on your anniversary for decades to come. Consider all this carefully before asking a friend to take your photos or hiring a hobbyist photographer. Is saving a few dollars now really worth less than amazing wedding photos? Ultimately, you and your partner will have to decide.

Filed Under: Photography, Pismo Beach Wedding Photographer, San Luis Obispo Wedding Photographer, San Luis Obispo Weddings, Wedding Photography Tagged With: Pismo Beach Wedding Photographer, San Luis Obispo Wedding Photography, Wedding Photography

Recent Posts

San Luis Obispo’s 25 Most Instagrammable Places

San Luis Obispo County and the surrounding area is a photographer's dream! Since we recently moved to central California, I quickly started seeking out all of the … [Read More...] about San Luis Obispo’s 25 Most Instagrammable Places

What to Wear for Outdoor Family Photos

You can never be overdressed or overeducated. Oscar Wilde Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself. Coco Chanel … [Read More...] about What to Wear for Outdoor Family Photos

Primary Sidebar

Search

Menu

  • Weddings
  • Portraits
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

Average Cost for a Wedding Photographer, SLO Wedding Photography

Average Cost for a Wedding Photographer

Many of my potential clients wonder, what is the average cost of a wedding … [Read More...] about Average Cost for a Wedding Photographer

The Beach Photographer Jess Lerner Photography

Jess Lerner Photography Rebrands as The Beach Photographer

Some of my happiest childhood memories took place at the beach. There's … [Read More...] about Jess Lerner Photography Rebrands as The Beach Photographer

Footer

Let’s Keep in Touch

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Call/text (850) 384-0887 or email jessica@thebeachphoto.com.

Say Hello

About

Jessica Lerner is a destination wedding and portrait photographer based in Pismo Beach, California.

Meet Jess

Locations

Serving Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, Arroyo Grande, Shell Beach, Grover Beach, Nipomo, Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, Cayucos, San Luis Obispo, California’s central coast, and worldwide.

View Blog
As Seen in The Knot Magazine weddingwire.com

Services

  • All Services & Pricing
  • See Reviews
  • Wedding Photography in SLO, Pismo Beach & Worldwide
  • Senior & Graduation Photography in SLO
  • Photography Business Mentor

What to Wear for Outdoor Photos

Join our email list to receive your complimentary style guide.

Unsubscribe anytime. Read our privacy policy.

Please check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Beach & Park Brands LLC · Licensed & Insured · Copyright © 2023 · Privacy Policy