Alright, let's get real, weddings aren't cheap. Whether you're having a small, intimate celebration or planning a big shebang, costs add up. We're not experts on everything wedding, but we are experts in wedding photography, so here's a realistic breakdown of how much of your wedding budget should be allocated for photography and why.
The Numbers: 10-12% of your budget should be dedicated to photography, JUST photography. This does NOT include videography costs. This means that if you're working with a $25,000 budget, you should be prepared to spend at least $2,500 minimum on photography.
The Facts:
- You're not just paying for the day-of shooting. You're paying for the photographers time for editing, processing, creating albums, packaging, etc. There's also pre-wedding preparation that has to happen.
- This might be a hard pill to swallow for some, but your cousin Gerry who bought a really nice DSLR camera on Black Friday is not a proper substitute for a professional photographer. When it comes to your Wedding Day, you'll want a photographer with experience. To make sure you don't end up like this couple, reference our Top 5 Questions to Ask A Potential Wedding Photographer.
- Most photographers have packages that combine multiple products/services such as a select number of prints or a complimentary album. They may also have a package that includes an Engagement shoot or Bridal Portraits. Packages are the photographers way of giving you the most bang for your buck. Pro tip: A lot of photographers are flexible and their packages can be customized. Always use the information a photographer has provided you as a starting point for a conversation, not the end.
Keep in Mind: Your photos are how you will remember your Wedding for the rest of your beautiful life together. Photographers catch the big and small moments that made your day so special. So, in our humblest opinion, photography is one expense that shouldn't be spared.
Have any photography budgeting tips? Share them in the comments below!
