The very first question I’m asked by prospective brides is…”How much will you charge?” While this question is very important because you’ve set a budget, which is very smart. I believe it’s not the first question a you should be asking, nor should the first question be directed to your potential wedding photographer.
The first question…
The very first question should be directed to yourself.
“Who are the most important people we need to hire, and in which order?”
Whom do I book first…
This is where it gets tricky. At least for me to try and explain why without sounding bias. 100% of the, over 300, couples that I’ve photographed have booked their reception hall first. Which has dictated their budget for the rest of the vendors that they’ll need for their wedding. The next few vendors vary depending on the couple, but it’s a mix of DJ, caterer, florist, photographer, cake, etc…
In no way am I saying that this is the wrong approach. Especially if you have an unlimited budget. However, I would like you to consider this question.
“Which of these wedding vendors is going to provide me with a tangible product that I will have for the rest of my life?”
While the church, reception venue, and any outdoor locations, are important to setting the scene for your wedding, a talented wedding photographer can, and will, create beautiful pictures anywhere. Sometimes the photographer is one of the last people to get booked. This is puzzling to me because, the food and cake get eaten, the music stops, the flowers wilt and die, but the memories captured by your photographer last a lifetime. My mother still sits down with her grandchildren and her wedding album to show them, that one time, her and grandpa we beautiful and in love.
Responsibility…
A wedding photographer has a tremendous responsibility on the wedding day, there are many moments to capture as well as group and family photos that must be shot for the couple’s parents and grand parents, and all on a day that can’t be repeated.
Equipment…
The pieces of equipment a photographer carries around is not your typical point-and-shoot. High-end camera bodies average around $5,000 each. High-end lenses are around $2,000 each. Photographers also carry back-up equipment in case their primary equipment fails, which adds to the cost of the wedding photography prices. In case your photographer is living in the Jurassic period and hasn’t switched over to digital (there are a few out there, somewhere), you also have to factor in the cost of film. Good wedding photographers easily can bring over $15,000 worth of equipment to shoot your wedding. Add in the prices of computers and editing programs like Photoshop, and costs begin to skyrocket.
Insurance…
Because cameras and equipment cost so much, photographers are smart to insure them. Just in case your drunk (who your mom insisted on inviting) cousin Jimmy decides he wants to spray champagne all over the wedding photographer’s equipment for a joke.
Photo extras…
If you knew how much albums cost you’d have a heart attack. Albums are extraordinarily expensive and are often added into the wedding photography prices. Don’t forget the time and skill it takes to design them as well.
Education…
The more educated a photographer is, the better techniques and specializations will be used while shooting a wedding. As everything else, that education comes at a cost through instructors, college degrees, extra classes and seminars, etc. Intangibles such as expertise aren’t easy to measure monetarily, although we try!
So while you may be asking, “why does photographer X cost so much more than photographer Y?” the answer might be simple: Photographer X has spent more money developing his or her business into a full-fledged photography service, which ends up costing more money than an inexperienced photographer who moonlights part time on the weekend.
Chicago Photographers .
.png)
.png)
no comments