Photography Budget?

Denver Sarah · March 2010

We're pulling our hair out over photography and video! We've seen prices all over the map and everyone tells us something different.

How much are you spendign on photos and/or video?

Thanks in advnace for your suggestions!

charlsie26 · March 2010

It just depends on what you want from your pictures. Put priorities on each of the items you want and go from there.
-Do you want professional albums made, or can you do them yourself on shutterfly?
-You can get digital copies/shared copyrights, then you can print the pictures yourself. So you don't have to worry about a "print credit"
-How many hours of coverage do you want...All day/unlimited to just a few hours.
-Engagment pictures important to you or not? (you don't really need them, but just nice to have)
-one photographer or two...how big or small is your wedding? can help decide that one.

hope that helps just a bit?

Kellyarches · March 2010

We spent about 3k on Photography. We had decided in advance that was our "No Holds barred" item. It's the only thing you have after the wedding day, and I want it to be as good as possible. Most ranges we saw are about 1,500 to 4,000. I'm sure it's like a car...you pay for what you get.

carrie1025 · March 2010

I think a lot of it depends on if you get an album or not. If you want a good album, then the price can go up 1-2k for a photographer on top of what they charge for just the photography coverage. I think it also depends on how important photography is to you....it's the only thing that will last and I personally wouldn't want to take a chance and skimp on it.

I would say that 2k-3k for photography coverage is a fair price for good, professional work from someone who is established and has a good reputation. Yes, you can go way below that, but I found that the photographers in the $500-1500 range were hit or miss. Some were good, some were absolutely terrible! My best friend got married this fall and paid $1500 for her photographer (actually it was someone recommended on here quite a bit...) and the pics were so bad...my grandma could have taken better shot with her point and shoot.

So it really comes down to your budget and how important it is to you....

jessicaanderik · March 2010

This is the one area where we both agreed to splurge to get the right photographer. Like other posters said, it's the only thing you have to look back on and I would hate to look back and not like the pictures. All that being said, we are spending about 3k on 2 photographers, a DVD of all our photos, 4x6 prints of all the photos they touch up after the wedding and then we get a printing credit in addition. We have the option to order an album as well but it adds another 1k to the cost and I am a scrapbooker and think I can do it myself. Hope that helps.

chelbell326 · March 2010

we spent just under 2k for photographer & 500 bucks for videography. Our photography package included: 6 hrs of photographer time, an engagement session, several prints (I think we got 8 large prints & 10 5x7s), plus a professional album (which I LOVE). I was very pleased with our photographer - Rachel Terry of Stellar Photography.

newlyplanning · March 2010

Im in the same boat as you and not sure about prices etc. I figure photos are all you have later on to remember the day so after the reception expenses it will the next expensive thing on our list. In saying that I do think you can get someone really good and reasonably priced nowadays. Friends of mine are using Fresh Photography and I think I might too as prices are reasonable and I really like that photographic style. www.freshinlove.com

My wedding is not until next year so Im in no rush to book anyone yet so let me know who you finally go with.

loveboat1015 · March 2010

I second Fresh Photography! We decided to go with someone different because my fiance prefers a more traditional style, but Melissa is FANTASTIC and when I met with her she was genuinely interested in our event, and us! She was willing to work with our budget ($1500) and offered us everything we asked for!!

ssilverman25 · March 2010

I think I am going to use Andrea from Autumn Twilight. She is new to the scene so her prices are VERY good......but from what I have seen from her work she is just as good as anyone else whose prices are under 2K.

key721 · March 2010

check out AMK Photography (google it as I don't have the exact website right now.) If you do talk to Mark, tell him the florida bride sent you. Really personalized service.=)

MissKite333 · March 2010

We decided to invest in a good photographer as well. Everyone says that your wedding day happens so fast you will not believe it, so we wanted to remember all the details and have some great memories to look back on. We are getting married in July 2010 and are going with Tony Gallagher. He is SO nice, has a lot of experience and is well established in the field. We are going with a pretty basic package which includes six hours of coverage with Tony and an assistant and a DVD of the touched up photos. We will make an album ourselves i think. He also does engagement sessions. We are paying about 2,200 bucks i think. Really reasonable, once you start looking around. I totally agree that you get what you pay for with photographers.

Good luck! =D

www.tonygallagherphotography.com

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