What's a good Price for a photographer to charge for a wedding??`?

Question

I am a photographer who just graduated from college. I have a degree in Photojournalism but, I'd like to get myself started in Wedding Photography... I was wondering what people would think is way to expensive to pay for a wedding photographer or what is a really good price to pay for??

I know I'll set my own prices and such, but I was just wondering what people really think, since the customers opinion is the most important...

Check out my portfolio if you'd like:

http://www.khphoto.blogspot.com/

Answer 1

Hello from a fellow North Carolinian! You have some nice action shots. In a way, wedding photography is like shooting sports, except every action shot matters because there's no tournament next week for a do-over. I would suggest shadowing or assisting an established wedding pro for at least a few weddings before hanging our your shingle.

Wedding photography prices vary widely, depending on location and package. Also, the influx of "Uncle Bob" and newbie photographers who have a digital SLR and will shoot and burn 2000 snaps has hurt the perception of value.

You will probably need to do your first couple free or at cost in order to build a portfolio. There are photographers who command ten-thousand or more a gig, and there are the CD only $400 ones. You will probably be somewhere in the middle. Your price also depends on your business plan. Do you plan to keep the files (which also means you have to maintain and resource them) and have your clients order prints, enlargements and albums through you? Or will you offer a DVD or CD of print ready images? The guys who take print orders usually get less up front and depend on subsequent orders to make money. The CD/DVD only photogs get their money up front.

I am not a great model for pricing. I work in a rural, somewhat economically depressed area. (Loss of textile jobs, another story) I don't have to make a living from shooting weddings, do no advertising, and don't actively seek out weddings to shoot. Every year I shoot more than the previous year. This year I will probably end up shooting about 20 weddings, with some additional portrait work, engagement shots, etc etc. For a wedding I charge $500, which includes coverage of the wedding day, corrected print-ready images on CD, and negatives and film proofs, if I shoot any film. Other than the wedding day work, I usually have maybe 8-12 hours post processing, depending on how many images I deliver, usually between 250 to 400. That is, of course, on the low side for a professional who must make a living from doing it.

You also have to consider your overhead and how much your break-even point is. Don't forget to pay yourself! Some business knowledge is essential to be successful. There are a lot of talented and skilled photographers who have failed at wedding photography as a business, and many mediocre ones who are booked solid through next year.

Good luck in your venture!

Answer 2

Very nice!

Okay, skills aren't an issue and you'll know how to take the shots given a description and exemplar.

I don't shoot weddings as a primary photographer. If there is one area of photography I am not interested in, it's wedding photography. Having said that, I do cover the candids and most of the reception shots.

Pricing? Go with the market in your area for the different wedding packages. Make sure that 'all up', you costs are covered and you pay yourself. Markets are locally sensitive. Here, in San Francisco, a price for a decently sized wedding with a second photographer (me) would run about $3,500 and go up from there. That's pricier than it would be in Sacramento, an hour away.

You real money is going to come from up sales. There are albums to be sold to couple's parents, grandparents, specials for Bridesmaids and so on.

You should do exceptionally well with this since you can bring the eye of a photojournalist to the job. This is a growing interest in wedding photography that most can't do well. They aren't trained to see that way and you obviously are.

You pricing for the up sales will be based on the pricing you set for images, plus any extras like albums, framing, and whatever else you can think of that makes for value to the customer.

I would sell to future customers that not only can you provide the expected wedding coverage, but that your photojournalist training means you will be bringing something special to their wedding. And it will. It's why perfectly good wedding photographers hire me instead of other perfectly good photographers to cover a wedding. As they say 'Every picture tells a story.'

Sorry I can't be of more help, or maybe any, on the specifics of your pricing, but it should be easy for you. I wouldn't charge any less than just over the median in the area for a standard package and charge as appropriate for extras or special shots that wouldn't fall within the bounds of something you would expect for a wedding photo.

I would become very familiar with the non-photographic aspects of wedding shooting. You will, or should, be the conductor orchestrating all the activities.

I won't wish you luck, you have to much skill to really need it, so profits to you!

Vance

Answer 3

Great portfolio!
I am a photographer, but I dont do weddings...however most of my friends do. The prices are based on experience, and the package you are offering. The more photos/prints, time you spend shooting and editing, should reflect your package price. Here inToronto for a basic package, $800-1000 is a fair price. I've heard of people charging as much as $4000+ for a large package.
The best way is to ask other successful photographers in your area. They will give you an idea of the price ranges for different packages.

Answer 4

you have some good answers here mainly from fotogs,

if you want to survey the "consumers" ask in the weddings section of Y/A

thats my angle, hope you see the sence in it?

PS your work is excellent, looks like a star is rising!

a

Answer 5

I see you like action shots. As long as it included some large prints, hundreds of dollars seems reasonable.

Answer 6

It depends on what city you live in...800-1000.00 on the west coast or NYC might be okay, but Midwest (unless Chicago) 400.00 -600.00 is okay...If you are new, you'll be competing with long standing artists, so be competitive...