Why Wedding Photographers Charge What They Do

One of the most common questions we get is, “why do wedding photographers cost so much?” Although the number at first might give you sticker shock, there are a lot of factors that go into a photographer’s rate for your wedding day.

Preparation

A photographer’s work begins months before your actual wedding day. From learning shot lists to calls with you to plan out your photos, hours of work go into their wedding day photography rate before they’ve even shown up to shoot.

Day-Of

On the day of your wedding, your photographer has a lot of responsibility — organizing family and friends for photos, choosing the best photo locations, and actually capturing all of your dream moments on camera.

After the Wedding

This is where a lot of the hours come in: sorting through thousands of photos, editing, organizing into albums, and sharing with you and your loved ones. This process can take weeks or months!

Expertise

When you hire a photographer, you’re not just hiring them for their product — you’re also hiring them for their expertise and talent. It’s taken most photographers years of experience to be able to create this product and experience for you (not to mention thousands of dollars worth of equipment) and that will cost a bit more.

Responsibility

Your wedding photographer takes a lot of responsibility by being your wedding photographer. These are some of the most important photos you’ll take and you’re trusting one team with it — that’s a premium service!

Photos by Warm Up Lab, Forged in the North, Chaz Cruz Photographers, and Kelly Vahos Photography.