Probably the main thing that affects what a photographer charges is time.
Usually a photographer will offer different packages according to how long he is at your wedding for.
This might start at just 1 hour for a low key, civil ceremony at a registry office, and go up to 12 or 14 hours to cover the bride getting ready in the morning to the couple leaving the venue at night.
One of the curses of digital photography is that after the wedding the photographer has to edit all the photos on a computer. And for 1000+ photos that could take another 1-3 days.
Prices are beginning to reflect this increase in time, due to the opportunity cost of the photographer. In the past he might have been earning money photographing portraits during this time, but now he has to spend more time in front of a computer and less time shooting.
The upside to this is that you now have access to a far greater range and quality of digital products, as well as (in theory) better quality photos.
Other areas that require a photographer’s time are planning meetings, location pre-visits and album-planning.
Like with any other professional service, wedding photography prices vary on the photographer’s hourly rate, which will be based on his experience, training and market position.
2. Photos
The quantity and sizes of photos also affects how much the package will cost.
Photos may be included as loose prints or included in the main album. Generally, photographers operate an economy of scale, so the more you buy the cheaper they are.
The issue is, how much is a photograph actually worth?
To answer this you have to think about what a photo is. It’s obviously more than just a piece of paper, which in itself is worth pennies.
To the viewer it’s a memory, documentation of a person or event, or an artistic creation.
To the photographer it’s the result of training and experience in composition, framing, lighting, exposure and post-production. It expresses his artistic vision, his ability to be in the right place at the right time and his skill at capturing the moment.
As a result, how much value a photographer places on each photograph will reflect his experience, training and achievements within his field, as well as equipment costs, expenses and overheads.
So a nationally or internationally known wedding photographer will charge far more for his work than somebody who’s just starting out.
3. Albums
Assuming a package includes an album, this is the other major factor that affects wedding photography prices.
When talking about wedding albums, I’m talking about professional albums that are only available to professional photographers.
Wedding photography prices can vary on the make, size, style and quality of the wedding album included in the package. So it’s always a good idea to find out which album manufacturer you potential wedding photographer uses.
Some photographers will hold an album-planning session with their clients, which may take several hours. During this time they will create the exact layout of the album on a computer.
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Usually a photographer will offer different packages according to how long he is at your wedding for.
This might start at just 1 hour for a low key, civil ceremony at a registry office, and go up to 12 or 14 hours to cover the bride getting ready in the morning to the couple leaving the venue at night.
One of the curses of digital photography is that after the wedding the photographer has to edit all the photos on a computer. And for 1000+ photos that could take another 1-3 days.
Prices are beginning to reflect this increase in time, due to the opportunity cost of the photographer. In the past he might have been earning money photographing portraits during this time, but now he has to spend more time in front of a computer and less time shooting.
The upside to this is that you now have access to a far greater range and quality of digital products, as well as (in theory) better quality photos.
Other areas that require a photographer’s time are planning meetings, location pre-visits and album-planning.
Like with any other professional service, wedding photography prices vary on the photographer’s hourly rate, which will be based on his experience, training and market position.
2. Photos
The quantity and sizes of photos also affects how much the package will cost.
Photos may be included as loose prints or included in the main album. Generally, photographers operate an economy of scale, so the more you buy the cheaper they are.
The issue is, how much is a photograph actually worth?
To answer this you have to think about what a photo is. It’s obviously more than just a piece of paper, which in itself is worth pennies.
To the viewer it’s a memory, documentation of a person or event, or an artistic creation.
To the photographer it’s the result of training and experience in composition, framing, lighting, exposure and post-production. It expresses his artistic vision, his ability to be in the right place at the right time and his skill at capturing the moment.
As a result, how much value a photographer places on each photograph will reflect his experience, training and achievements within his field, as well as equipment costs, expenses and overheads.
So a nationally or internationally known wedding photographer will charge far more for his work than somebody who’s just starting out.
3. Albums
Assuming a package includes an album, this is the other major factor that affects wedding photography prices.
When talking about wedding albums, I’m talking about professional albums that are only available to professional photographers.
Wedding photography prices can vary on the make, size, style and quality of the wedding album included in the package. So it’s always a good idea to find out which album manufacturer you potential wedding photographer uses.
Some photographers will hold an album-planning session with their clients, which may take several hours. During this time they will create the exact layout of the album on a computer.
Comments Off on Wedding Photography Prices: 3 Reasons Why Photographers Seem To Be So Expensive
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