What is an appropriate budget for a photographer?!

Hi Alexandra,

I've just seen your question and thought I could offer some advice for you too - seems like you have some great answers here already!

You could certainly find someone to cover your wedding with photo and video for that price, however it is quite low for a professional to provide a long day's coverage if you wanted someone with experience and who is well established.

There are a lot of extra costs associated with covering a wedding - all the camera gear, insurances, computer equipment, training, backup drives to keep your photos safe, as well as the many hours spent before your day to prepare and after your wedding to select, edit and deliver the best photos to you.

There are many reasons for a lower price being offered by photographers, some of these may be:

- Someone starting out generally will offer lower rates to get the experience and build their portfolio - they may have all the skills but just lack experience and the photos they need to market themselves and their photography to other couples

- They may have low overheads, eg saving money on things like not investing in much equipment (eg backup gear in case things break on the day, multiple lenses, computer equipment, backups etc - the costs add up fast!), not spending much time editing your photos, may not have insurance, or other things like that

- A more experienced photographer may be able to lower their price by photographing for less hours

I don't want to sound negative at all, just providing some additional information to help make your decision - everyone values things differently and a higher price certainly does not always mean better quality!

It's totally up to you and what you're after, have a look at people's portfolio and prices and see what fits for you. Their price, personality, and their portfolio photos all form part of it and it's completely to your own preference!

Hope this helps!

Please feel free to contact me if there's anything else I can help with

Having been in the wedding industry for a couple of years now. I have noticed the vast varitey with prices. I believe $1000-2000 is a great price range to start if you are looking for something afforable , yet the perfect package to take those priceless shots which isn't over the top and not leaving you with a hole in your pocket at the end of the day.

At the end of the day the only thing you have to remember and reflect on your wedding day is likely to be your photos and maybe video. Saving $1000 and going with a photographer is something you may well regret for years to come. Its a funny thing you know. Couples are happy to spend 3.5k on a new computer or TV which in the long run might only last 3-5 years but a wedding is for keeps. Id definitley look at a photographer who is accredited with t he Australian Institute of Professional Photography. 3 Key elements clients book a photographer: 1/ Style of work, 2/ Trust 3/ Budget. Style of work: make a shortlist of work you really like,Trust: Go and meet the photographer and make sure they are the actual person photographing on your day. Make sure you connect. Budget: Make a short list of what you actually want: DIgitial high resolution images, actual prints, An album ( ask where it is made. Find out about add ons). Framing, Acrylics, Canvas prints find out about these. The more research you do the better armed you will be. Ive been shooting since 2001 and from my experience for anyone descent you need to spend 3-4K. Spending less is a road to disatisfaction and disappointment. Why ruin your one special day with substandard photographer. It just simply isnt worth it.

Full Wedding day with An A2 size Print of your favourite photo $ 1,200 This is the Gold Package

Photo's on Disc and Bride keeps copyright, Because they are your Photo's.

My SILVER PACKAGE $950.00 Photos to mock cake cutting, also you choose your favourite photo An A2 photo

With Disc included.

MY BRONZE PACKAGE $550.00 2 hour shoot and with A2 size printed photo of your choice

You keep copyright with Disc included.

Hello Alexandra, 

The short answer can come down to this. Spend 15% or more from your total budget on your wedding photographer. 

If your wedding is going to costs $40,000 then a great rule of thumb is to spend $6,000 on your photographer. 

Hey Alex, seeing heaps of great responses here.  We really think that after meeting with your photographers you'll know which one you'll want there with all your people. An appropriate budget is very personal and based on the style you like and want. x

An appropriate budget for a wedding photographer is simply what you can afford. Does this guarantee you will get a good photographer, no. You can spend $7000 or $1500 and still not be happy with the final product.

Why? because you are chosing from a budget perspective not a quality perspective. Choose the photographer like you would choose your wedding dress. Simply must have this person because I love their work. Basic rule is if you love the photos you see and read the reviews then you can't really go wrong.

$1500 for a photographer is incredibly low. Why? Are we as photographers greedy? No. A professional photographer has an incredible list of expenses and time consuming tasks to perform. Every other supplier for your wedding day will finish when your day is done, but a photographer and Videographer still has at least a full weeks work to do after the wedding. You are not just paying for the day.

And don't forget anyone NOT registered for GST is NOT a professional photographer. I hope this helps )

Hi Alexandra, You may need to have a photographer for a shorter amount of time with your budget. I do 3.5 hours for $1000. Check out my high quality of work for this price. For this amount of time you only get the Ceremony and the Formal Photo shoot. The Reception is something you would have to consider leaving out? You may need to work out which parts of your day are more important than others. Good luck, and i hope this helps. Barter Photography

Hi Alexandra

I hope you find someone who will fit your budget I know I could but if only I was in QLD I am in SA. You are my type of client.

I love helping couples who just can't keep splashing out the cash make sure they capture their wedding memories to cherish forever.

Check out my pricing if you like and if you could cover airfares and accomodation it could be possible as long as you can find a videographer who will do the same.

If you want to save money there are other things you could consider sacrificing or changing up but the only thing left after your wedding day to remember it by are your photos it is important you don't take the photography out of your planning. You will be in tears wishing you did it differently

Just keep looking and I really hope you find someone who can help you out!

Happy wedding planning!

Sincere regards

Rebekah Bianca Photogrpahy

Hi Alexandra,

I know I'm a little late to reply but since your wedding is not until 2018, I'm hoping this is this helpful to you. As has been already mentioned below, price does significantly influence quality (experience comes at a higher cost) unfortunately and with your special day being a one off event, you definitely don't want to compromise the quality. Based on the industry feedback I hear, compromising quality of your photos and video is the single biggest regret from a bride and groom as that is one of the very few things you get to keep forever. If you are still looking for photography/video for your wedding, I am based in Brisbane and would love to catch up with you for a coffee and go over some options. I have also just completed an eBook on "Hiring a wedding photographer" and would love to email you a free copy if you are interested.

Thanks and hopefully chat soon,

Marty