Don’t Undervalue Your Wedding Photos
I want to take a moment to talk about a referral I saw today that genuinely surprised me. A wonderful photographer and friend shared in our group chat that a couple had reached out looking for someone to photograph “just the ceremony and a couple of pictures afterwards” for $100–$250.
Nevermind that the venue they chose was incredibly expensive. And nevermind that they were looking for someone to document what most people consider one of the most important moments of their lives—maybe only comparable to the birth of a child. Your wedding is a monumental moment in your life.
I’m not saying you should pay more just because the moment is important. That would be unfair and unreasonable. I wouldn’t say cough syrup should cost more when you’re sick than when you’re well, and I don’t believe wedding photos should cost more simply because it’s a wedding. The pricing comes from the photographer’s experience, skill, preparation, and equipment—not the label on the event. It just happens that this particular event is a major one.
As a general rule, I charge around $350 an hour to photograph a wedding day. That’s about what some attorneys charge—and I didn’t go to law school. So why do I believe I’m worth that? And why does it shock me when someone at a destination venue thinks “just a couple of photos” should cost $100–$250?
I was honestly speechless. I still am.
I charge what I do because I am a professional in the fullest sense of the word. Your wedding day deserves someone who approaches it with intention, precision, and an uncompromising standard of craft. I’ve photographed enough weddings to move through the day with complete confidence—no nerves, no hesitation—just a clear understanding of the rhythm of the event and exactly where I need to be to preserve each moment beautifully. I work exclusively with top-tier equipment; the average camera and lens setup I carry is around $5,000, and I keep two complete systems on me at all times to ensure that nothing, not even an unexpected equipment failure, stands between you and the images you’ll cherish for a lifetime. I could expand on this endlessly (and I will in time) but to return to the matter at hand…
Maybe they don’t see the value of photos the way I do—and that’s entirely possible. Before I became a wedding photographer, I probably didn’t either. But I say this now as a friend, not a vendor trying to sell something. Even if you never planned to hire me, I’d still tell you:
Don’t cheap out on this. At all. Not even a little.
We’ve all had that moment where we stumble across a photo we didn’t know existed and think, “Wow… I completely forgot about that.” On your wedding day of all days, wouldn’t you want as many of those moments saved as possible?
But maybe not. Maybe to some people, photography looks like nothing more than pushing a button on a camera. I mean, isn’t grilling a steak just lighting it on fire for a few minutes and flipping it over?
Yeah… kind of. But not really—not if you want a good steak. Or good photos.
You may regret not investing time and money into capturing the key moments from your wedding day. I understand that $100–$250 is a lot of money for some people, and if that’s the budget, then vet your photographer thoroughly. Based on equipment costs alone, it’s hard for me to imagine what someone could realistically offer for that rate.
There’s no shame if it’s simply out of reach. One of my long-term goals is to eventually offer free or low-cost coverage for couples who truly can’t afford it—but I’m not able to yet. This article is really for those who haven’t stopped to consider what wedding photography realistically costs and why.
If you truly believe you can get solid, reliable wedding coverage for around $200, I genuinely wish you well. But speaking personally—I paid more than ten times that for my own wedding photos, and I wish I’d paid more.
Coming soon: “What Really Goes Into Wedding Photography That You Don’t See.”