What’s up with Photographers Pricing?

Wedding Tips

May 16

One question that comes up quite a bit is: Why do photographers vary in price so much?. I can totally understand why people question this because looking for something like wedding photography isn’t something you do every day! You can find wedding photographers in a HUGE price range here in San Francisco.

As photographers, we don’t just push buttons— we showcase connections. Almost anyone can take a nice snapshot or a cute selfie, but it takes a photographer that really loves weddings to capture the unspoken language that a couple in love has with each other.

Photos help carve out a moment in our lives, show how we dressed, the way we loved and record a moment that can come flooding back to you years later when you see the photo again. My approach to your wedding is to capture those natural, candid moments as unobtrusively as possible.

Part of the cost for professional photography comes with the gear we have to invest in: professional camera bodies, lenses and other gear like flashes, modifiers, and batteries. Then there is the annual cleaning and the proper maintenance of gear to ensure that the photos created are safely recorded in their digital format.

Since weddings are once-in-a-lifetime events, we also have to have backups of all that gear. Because if one camera goes down during a wedding, I always have another camera within arm’s reach! Keeping my camera gear in the best shape possible is SO important to your wedding photos’ outcome.

Insurance is another factor— all professional photographers need to carry liability insurance. Little known fact: many wedding venues won’t let you photograph there unless you can provide proof of insurance. It provides safety and protection of ourselves and our gear.

Making sure those memories are safe is another important piece of the puzzle. We need computers and hard drives for the safe storage of those files, plus the backup of those files, as well as battery backup for the computer in case of a power outage. After backing up all of your photos, the editing process starts, and for that, we need the necessary software to produce the best possible images for you.

Supply and demand are something that you want to consider as well. By that, I mean that photographers that are experienced and in-demand are going to command a larger price tag and book out more quickly than photographers who are in the earlier stages of their career and may not be as well known in their market.

If you’re getting a “great deal” on wedding photography, then there’s a chance that your photographer is cutting corners in places that you don’t want them to or they aren’t upfront with our friend Uncle Sam. Either way, that’s worrisome because what that means for you is that you’re placing a whole lot of trust in someone who isn’t fully invested in preserving those memories— and there are no “do-overs” in wedding photography.

How do you know if who you are considering is legit? It’s important to do your homework before you commit to working with them. Check online reviews, look through their online portfolio, their social media, meet with them, and ask lots of questions— nothing is too silly! I expect questions from prospective couples during the consultation call because this usually isn’t a process they’ve had a lot of experience with.

You want to find a photographer who makes you feel comfortable, who has work that you love and whose vision you trust. Those are the magic ingredients, right there! Don’t be afraid to keep looking if you don’t connect or feel uncomfortable about the photographer’s process or business practices. Signing a contract should feel like you made the right match!