Cutting Costs, Cutting Corners: The Truth About What Wedding Photography Really Costs
When it’s time to choose your wedding photographer, sticking to a budget is completely understandable. After all, planning a wedding involves balancing countless expenses. That said, this post is designed to set clear expectations about the true costs associated with wedding photography.
Photography isn’t just about showing up, pointing a camera, and clicking a button. Behind every beautiful image is extensive pre-wedding planning, meticulous editing, and ongoing business costs like marketing and equipment maintenance.
Let’s dive into a breakdown of what truly goes into the cost of wedding photography—and photography in general.
Pre-Wedding consultations
This is a big one for me—I genuinely love the opportunity to get to know your vision, discuss it in detail, and watch it come to life from start to finish. Often, before having consultation calls with any vendors, you might still be unsure of exactly what you envision for your wedding day. Meeting with professionals not only helps clarify your ideas but also ensures you’re hiring vendors who truly align with your expectations and will contribute to making your day magical for you and your loved ones.
That being said, while I can only speak for myself, I’ve noticed that many professionals in the industry incorporate consultations as a standard part of their process. These consultations are typically free and come with no obligation to book—which means, from a business standpoint, they represent an investment of time and expertise without a guaranteed return.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should feel pressured to commit to any vendor after a consultation. This is your day, and you deserve to feel confident in your choices. However, it’s something to consider when preparing to hire your vendors. By the time you’re ready to sign on the dotted line, you’ll want to feel assured that every conversation you had along the way was meaningful, insightful, and helped you make the best decision for your wedding.
Wedding day coverage planning
While I can’t speak for every photographer, I personally place a high value on having a detailed schedule that outlines where I need to be and when. This not only gives you peace of mind, knowing you’ll receive the photos you want and deserve, but it also allows me to approach your wedding day with a clear understanding of how the day will unfold from start to finish.
Coverage planning is a key part of my photography process because it helps ensure that no important moments are missed. Once the contract is signed (yes, a contract is always provided for your protection and peace of mind), my planning process is divided into three key parts:
Engagement session - If your wedding package includes an engagement session, this is the perfect opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera and experience my photography style firsthand. It’s a relaxed, low-pressure setting where we can build a connection, helping you feel more at ease when your wedding day arrives. Many photographers offer engagement sessions either as part of a package or as an optional add-on. Regardless of how it’s included, it’s a valuable experience that helps you feel confident with your photographer—an important factor when making such a meaningful investment for your wedding day.
Questionnaire - I’ll be honest—I’m a bit of an over-planner, especially when it comes to weddings. The last thing I ever want is for you to feel disappointed because a special moment was missed, a tradition wasn’t captured, or certain photos didn’t meet your expectations. That’s exactly why I use a detailed questionnaire as part of the planning process. This questionnaire covers everything from your getting-ready moments to the final shots at the end of my coverage. It helps me understand your priorities, must-have shots, and any unique details you want highlighted. Plus, it plays a crucial role in shaping the next phase of the planning process, ensuring that nothing important is overlooked.
The final call - The final call typically takes place about four to six weeks before your wedding day. During this conversation, we’ll review the details of your questionnaire thoroughly, going over each section with a fine-tooth comb to ensure I have a complete understanding of every aspect of your day. Using the information from the questionnaire, I’ll also create a detailed, hour-by-hour schedule. This ensures that I’m exactly where I need to be at the right times, capturing all the important moments seamlessly. This final step helps us align expectations and guarantees that nothing is left to chance on your big day.
The day of your wedding
While it might seem redundant to mention, it’s worth emphasizing: when you hire a wedding photographer, you’re not just hiring someone to take photos—you’re hiring a professional who will make decisive choices that can influence not only how your photos turn out but, at times, how smoothly your day flows.
Thanks to all the preparation we’ve done together, everything should run seamlessly. By this point, I’ll know your timeline, key moments, and priorities inside and out, allowing me to work confidently and independently. The only direction I’ll need will be for any spontaneous requests that come up during the day—so you can relax, be present, and trust that I’ve got it covered.
Post wedding - Editing / Gallery sharing
After your wedding day, the next phase begins—editing your photos. The turnaround time for this process can vary depending on factors like the size of your wedding, the length of coverage, the number of photos taken, and the photographer’s workload. Generally, editing can take anywhere from one to three months, with the longer end of that range being typical for full-time photographers managing multiple weddings.
During this time, we meticulously review, cull, and edit your photos to ensure they meet the highest quality standards—both ours and yours. After all, you chose your photographer because you love their work, and we’re committed to delivering images that reflect that same level of artistry and attention to detail.
Once your gallery is ready, your photographer will notify you and share the images through their preferred client gallery platform. I personally use Pixieset, which provides a seamless, user-friendly experience for viewing, downloading, and sharing your photos. As a general rule of thumb, galleries remain accessible for around 90 days, though this timeframe can vary depending on the photographer’s policies.
It’s also important to note that the tools used in this process—editing software, gallery hosting platforms, and client relationship management (CRM) systems—represent significant ongoing costs for photography businesses. These programs are essential for maintaining efficiency, organization, and the overall quality of service, serving as the backbone of any professional photography operation.
Now that you’re armed with a better understanding of what goes into a photographer’s pricing, keep this in mind when reviewing quotes: the time and effort a photographer invests in preparing for your wedding is immense, all to ensure your day runs smoothly and every important moment is captured. Additionally, the costs of maintaining a photography business—such as editing software, gallery hosting platforms, and client management tools—can add up significantly behind the scenes.
That said, there are talented photographers available at a variety of price points. Some work part-time or as a creative side hustle, while others are full-time professionals dedicated solely to their craft. Regardless of your budget, it’s essential to do your research, compare options, and find a photographer whose work, approach, and values align with your vision. I encourage all of my clients to shop around—even if they plan to hire me—because finding the right fit is key to preserving your memories the way you envision.
And to my fellow photographers reading this: KNOW YOUR VALUE!
