How much can you expect to spend on a small wedding photographer?(50 guests @ a small church)?

Question

I am only having about 50 guests and I want just a few 8X10's maybe 3. And about 10 5X7's and the rest just 4X6 for my wedding albulm. I would also want it on disk to post on Myspace. I don't even want photos of the reception. My family will take those...Just the wedding itslef and bridal party etc.

Answer 1

I concur with Yun and Dr. Sam,

it depends on the individual. Look at the photos they've taken and see if you like them or find out from other people they've photographed and see how satisfied they were. ust because someone is a professional (definition: over 50% of their income derives from photography), doesn't mean they're a better photographer. Chances are better but not at all guaranteed.

Professional wedding photographers depend on high paying gigs for their livelihood; they have a vested interest in keeping the market rates high. If you are on a budget, look for student/freelance photojournalists in your area. But do look at their recent work. Art photographers are hit-or-miss because some of them do not have the people skills to work the social flow of a wedding.

I would think you're going to have to pay a semi-professional $300-500, depending on the hours. (In my wedding photography experience some of the best shots are pre-ceremony because everyone is so emotionally charged before the production.) A professional would probably charge $700-2000, depending on where you live.

Answer 2

I agree with the previous answer. The size of the church and number of guests have nothing to do with the costs, since the work by the photographer will be the same.

It sounds like you are going on a tight budget, but these are still the most important photographs you will ever have taken. If you tell the photographer that you want this size "package" and that you do not want any reception pictures, you might get a reduction from the usual fee. On the one hand, you are still probably tying them up long enough that they can't accept another job for that day to make up for the loss in income, but on the other hand, your job will require much less "post-production" work, which is where much of the time is spent anyway.

So... Depending on the photographer and your area, you might spend from a couple hundred for an "advanced amateur" to a couple thousand for a seasoned professional.

In my younger days, I gave a few people their wedding pictures as my gift, since I couldn't afford to buy them anything nice any more than they could afford to pay a real photographer. Maybe you know someone like that. No, they don't have the same caliber photographs that they would have if they hired a pro, but at least they have _something_ to remember the day. They got one set of prints and the negatives so they could have nicer prints made in a few years when they could afford it.

Answer 3

In my area - a major metropolitan area in the midwestern US - a professional wedding photographer might charge around $1,000 for four hours of coverage and hand you a disk with high resolution copies of the images. I believe that's at the low end of the range. Obviously, they can also cost a great deal more!

(It might be difficult to get a professional to cover a wedding for less than four hours. A wedding may still entail a few hours of prep work. In addition, it's very trendy now to include pictures of the bride and/or groom getting ready for the ceremony, so the time won't be wasted.)

It's certainly possible to find pros who will work less expensively, or talented amateurs who are looking for experience. However, if the photos are at all important to you - and you know you will be heartbroken if they don't come out - hire a professional with plenty of experience. Talented amateurs can find ways to get the experience they need elsewhere, but you'll only have this wedding ceremony once.

Answer 4

I'd strongly encourage you to find a good, experienced pro. You can often negotiate for a smaller package if the coverage and products you want are more limited than usual. This is especially true for non-Saturday weddings, which are days most of us pros are less likely to book and thus more likely to be flexible on for our pricing.

For every person who loved the photos that their friend, family member, photo student, etc... shot, there are two who were terribly disappointed, regret the decision, and may have had the relationship with that family member or friend impacted over it.

Every now and again you may get lucky with hiring a non-pro... but do you really want to roll the dice with one of the most important days of your life?

As far as pricing, it varies WIDELY according to where you live and the caliber and experience of the person you're looking to hire. The pricing doesn't typically vary by size of the wedding, but is determined by:

1. Time of coverage
2. Amount of editing expected (I typically spend 2 hours editing for every hour shooting)
3. Will there be additional photographers/assistants?
4. What products will be provided
5. If digital files are provided, what resolution and what rights are given

Be sure to make sure that anyone you hire has a backup for every essential piece of equipment. This is a VERY common shortcoming among the less-expensive photographers, because they can't afford all of the redundant kit. Cameras and other gear fails, usually at the worst possible moment. A true pro has backup.

Answer 5

Find a photographer who will photograph to your budget and supply you with images written to CD or DVD.

With a disc you could arrange to have you own enlargements printed. Tell the photographer what size prints you want so that you will get the right file sizes on your disk.

A professional photographer needs to make a living and may not be able to meet your budget. As a retired professional I don't recommend going to a "semi pro".

It sounds as though you are on a tight budget and you may have to.

At least ask to see samples of work both on disk and printed to albums. A reputable 'semi pro' will have images upon a laptop and several albums to show you.

Best of luck

Answer 6

For our wedding day my husband hired a photography student from a NYC school. We also went to a studio for some very pricey formals at my parents insistence. Thank God we did, because the student claimed the lab "lost" all but one mediocre roll and we got 12 pictures. The studio pictures still hang on our wall, his are relegated to the drawer.

Now I have been a professional photographer for over 30 years and I advise people til I'm blue in the face not to go amateur. Some get lucky, most don't. If you are on a budget, many photographers will charge less for a "no reception" wedding. Check them out and make sure you choose a photographer whose work you see and like...not just a studio who sends out someone you haven't checked out.

Deb obviously has issues with photographers who know their craft and charge accordingly.

Answer 7

It all depends on the person you find.

Some of them will charge the same price, no matter the size of the wedding (they are usually pretty good ones). Some will charge based on the time. Some will charge based on number of pictures.

I would suggest, if possible, that you get a friend with some skills in the area to do it. I got married 8 weeks ago, and the photographer goes to church with me. He has (so far, I'm working on overcoming this) refused to let me pay him for it.

Answer 8

IF you're wanting a pro(feels they know it all and you're going to pay dearly)then yes, you'll pay plenty. If you don't mind a semi pro(wants to learn it all and works cheap) then that would be your best bet. Chances are the semi pro will put more heart into it. If you have a local Picture Me studio or a Sears Portrait studio near you it's highly likely that they know of a local photographer or do it themselves.Good Luck!

Answer 9

My best tip would be to look on Craigslist if you don't have much to spend.