Lauren Baker is a fine art wedding photographer serving Boston, New England, and available for destinations worldwide.
This is probably the most controversial topic in the wedding industry. What is the average cost of a wedding photographer? Certain places, like The Knot, say that the average cost of a wedding photographer is one number while others say another.
Let me start this blog post off by saying this: The average cost of a wedding photographer varies greatly and it depends on many factors. Factors such as, but not limited to, the photographer’s experience level and education, serve area location, their cost of living, and their cost of doing business.
An inexperienced wedding photographer will (and should) cost less than a photographer with years of experience under her belt. Not because she isn’t a quality photographer or that her potential is less. But rather, for the simple fact that she is inexperienced. Inexperience comes with inherently more risk on the buyer’s end. More could go wrong that could lead a client to be unhappy with their images.
What is the average cost of an inexperienced wedding photographer? On average, a wedding photographer with fewer than 2 years of wedding photography experience, will charge $3K or less. With that comes risk – a lot of risk. That said, we all started somewhere and needed someone to take a risk on us. If you plan to go this route for your own wedding photography, please do your research!
If you want to hire a moderately experienced wedding photographer, you will likely pay more than $4-6K. They will likely have a few more years of experience under their belt and may or may not be a full-time wedding photographer.
The average starting cost of a more experienced wedding photographer is somewhere in the $7-8k+ range. They will have more years of lead photography experience under their belt, are masters at finding great light, and are usually full-time photographers. Experienced wedding photographers invest heavily in their craft and often attend several master photography classes, workshops, and retreats each year.
And if you’re planning on having a luxury wedding, most luxury wedding photographers start around $12k+.
Wedding photography is an investment.
You’re investing in a professional artist who has spent years working, learning, and fine-tuning her craft. Your photographer has to cover her costs of doing business, pay taxes, save for retirement, pay her mortgage, pay for health and business insurance, put kids through school, and put food on the table.
An experienced wedding photographer has the same responsibilities adults with typical 9-5 jobs have…except they work for themselves so they’re probably working a lot more than 40 hours a week.
So, if you think, “Why should I pay someone that if all they do is click a button for 8-12 hours one day a week and slap a filter on some images?” let me kindly tell you that you are wrong.
These are just some of the things you’re paying your wedding photographer to do:
Essentially, you’re paying your wedding photographer to be excellent at everything before, during, and after the wedding day. And in contrast to portrait photographers who can redo their sessions if need be, wedding photographers only get one chance to get it right. Weddings aren’t something we can redo. All of that equates to one tall order.
The saying “You get what you pay for” is so true, especially when it comes to your wedding photographer. If you don’t have the budget for an experienced photographer, that’s ok. We all start somewhere and we all needed someone to take a risk on us. But set your expectations appropriately.
If you care deeply about your wedding photography, plan to work your wedding budget in a way so you can afford to hire an experienced wedding photographer.