Wedding Photography Prices: How much do they cost?

Most women have dreamed and planned for their wedding day for years before the engagement ring is ever slipped on their fingers. But what some may fail to imagine is how much a wedding really costs. Unfortunately, everything has a price, from the cake to the dress to the flowers sprinkled down the aisle by beautiful flower girls. Planning for one of the biggest days in your life can be time consuming and sometimes overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to break the bank.

One area that you may want to splurge on is your wedding photos. These are the mementos that will stay with you long after the cake is stale in the freezer and the dress is preserved and in the rafters. Wedding photography packages range from $2,000 to $10,000 for professional photographers, but an amateur photographer may be able to give you a much lower price. It may not need to be said but, you get what you pay for. Wedding photography packages are often broken down into categories including: booking or retainer fee (including assistant fee if applicable), the pre-wedding bridal portrait session (if applicable), proofs, and edited photos per shot and size, and final product fee with album pricing. Some photography packages also include rehearsal and rehearsal dinner photos as well.

You can almost guarantee that the more you review the proofs, the more photos you’ll want retouched, so try to over budget a bit in this area. It is better to have a bit of extra money in your budget than too little when it comes to the smiling faces of family and friends in your photos. Another thing to consider when budgeting for photography is who you plan to buy pictures for. Albums and photographs for family or bridal party members can take a big chunk out of your photography budget. So be sure to take that into consideration when you make those final budgeting decisions.

Make a plan for photography other than just the formal and candid shots taken by your photographer. You may want to ask a few trusted friends or relatives to keep their camera handy and take photos that your photographer may miss. Who knows you better than your own guests as far as whom and what you’ll want photos of? Also, think about if you want to hire a videographer and if that will cut into your photography budget.

By creating a structured and detailed budget and reviewing all pricing before making any decisions, you can save yourself headaches and cash. A wedding does not have to send you to the poorhouse, and it shouldn’t. After all, it is the first day of the rest of your life with one very special person, and you will definitely want to have some money left over for a honeymoon. No matter how grand or intimate the wedding experience is, keep peace of mind by being thorough in your planning.

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