Is $2900 for Photo-journalistic photography for my wedding good, bad, or average?

Question

Includes-
2 photographers
8 hours of coverage
One Bridal session in studio
One Engagement session in studio
a couple of 11x14 prints
a couple of 8x10s and 4 4x6s
all photos on cd/ proof-free
any poses

To answer some questions:

I have seen the work by the photographers, and it is by far some of the best photography I have seen while looking into booking. Yes, it is with the photographer and his partner, not with the assistant photographers.
The album is a seperate 900 cost. My fiance and I opt to get that after the wedding cost. It is an Leather Craftsman artistic book, 20 pages, all digital matte and very professional. I have seen examples and it blew me away.

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm just not sure what the average is so I'm trying to make sure it isn't over priced (or maybe even under) !

Answer 1

If this helps, this is what I am getting for paying the same amount:

You receive
• Professional Coverage 1 Hour before Bride leaves for Ceremony though to 1 to Hour at
Reception (5 - 7 hrs approx) with TWO photographers
• Approx. 250 to 400 Quality Photographs, including B/W or Sepia & X-Process taken
• 6 x 4” Photographs presented in Quality Leather Look Cover Slip Album
• 3 Free 8 x 12” Enlargement
• 1 Free 24 x 16” Wall Enlargement
• 50 Personalised Thank You Cards
• 2 Coff ee Table Album Books
• Negatives and CD off all Professional Images
• FREE Honeymoon Accommodation


I know it's alot of money, but I don't mind splashing out on the photos because really, what else have you got left after 'the big day' is over and done?? (Besides a beautiful husband.. lol)

Answer 2

I would negotaite out the prints. You can get them done cheaper at a Kodak kiosk.

If you are trying to cut costs another good way is to limit the hours of coverage. Do you really need 8 hours? The two biggies are the wedding and the reception, maybe an hour in between for the formal shots. Just think about if you really want to pay someone that kind of money so you can have professional pictures of you putting on makeup.....or would pics taken by the bridal party work just as well?

Do you need two photographers the whole time? Having two for the ceremony is a great idea....but do you need two at the reception? During the ceremony guests can't really take pics but during the reception they will be shooting like crazy. If for some ungodly reason your photographer misses a big moment there will be plenty of backups.

Do you want to pay for a bridal session? You will have oodles of pictures from the wedding day.

How many pictures are they taking that day? Also ask them see an entire, unedited roll of film from a previous wedding. Blind squirells find nuts so make absolutely sure that you aren't hiring someone who may only get 20 good shots out of a few hundred. Also read between the lines when they show you a portfolio and provide you with refrences. They aren't going to give you a number of a bad review and the portfolio is only the cream of the crop in terms of shots. How old are these? If they have a 32 page book did it take a few years to get so many great shots, or are they pretty recent.

You have the one big requirement brides should demand of their photogs. ALL THE NEGATIVES AND/OR PROOFS ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE. It doesn't sound like a bad deal depending on their reputation and experience but i wanted to give you a few things to think about.

Answer 3

Whether it is too much depends on your budget and on the talent of the photographer. Professional photographers range from $800 up to $20,000. I have heard that, to get a good photographer, a bride shouldn't expect to pay less than $1,500.

Your package seems reasonable considering that you are getting two photographers and eight hours of coverage. Also, because it includes all the photos on cd, it will be a little more expensive than a package that does not.

The one drawback: I was surprised that your package doesn't come with a wedding album included (either the traditional photo-album style or the coffee-table/magazine style). All the photography packages that I have seen do come with a wedding album.

Answer 4

FWIW, the average total cost of wedding photography in the US in 2005 (most recent stats I have) was about $2500.

Whether or not its a good deal depends on how much you like the photography, but I'll tell you as a pro that the studio isn't exactly making out like a bandit.

Answer 5

Thats an awesome price! Just 2 questions: have you seen the photographers actual work? and are you guaranteed that you get THOSE two photographers?

Answer 6

That sounds pretty good. Photography is very expensive. You're paying more for that than I'm paying for my whole wedding.

Answer 7

Where I'm from this is WAY too much. A good four times what it would in my area - and that would have included many, many more prints.

Answer 8

I paid 700 and I was very pleased, I would not pay thay much unless money was not a problem( no I still would not pay that much)

Answer 9

personally, i thinkit is too much. but the photographer is probably very good and reputable. also, you are paying for the prints.

Answer 10

Its on the higher end of average. If you are happy with it thats all that matters.