Wedding photographers are important vendors on the wedding day. The photo artists capture the lovely moments of the bride and groom celebrating their love for eternity.
Photographs help to hold the memories for a lifetime. Selecting the perfect photographer for your big day can be a challenging task as it should add value to what you’re paying for. The cost for the wedding photographer may vary depending on the packages and the photography style.
The camera person is responsible to capture the beautiful flower decorations, joyful moments of the newlyweds and guests, food, drinks, and wedding cakes, preserving these memories for cherished recollection in the future.
Hiring a photo artist has never gone out of trend but the prices for their services have fluctuated throughout the years.
How Much Does A Wedding Photographer Cost?
The average cost of a wedding photographer with intermediate experience can cost $1,500 to $2,500. The cost may exceed $6,000 depending on the photographer’s experience.
According to Wedding Forward, wedding photography takes up to 10% – 15% of your budget. The budget plan is only for the basics if you want to add more creativity or professional work the charges may hike.
As per Kaylie Miller, an Arizona-based wedding photographer, there are six types of photo artist costs and the services we get from them.
| Level of Photographers | Price Range |
| Beginner | $500 |
| Amatuer | $500 – $1,500 |
| Intermediate | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Proficient | $2,600 – $3,600 |
| Professional | $3,800 – $6,000 or more based on experience |
| Luxury | $7,000 and above |
Wedding Photographer Services And Prices
The services provided by the cameraperson apart from clicking pictures include editing, print, albums, additional shoots, and more.
The fees for the above-mentioned services may differ based on the location of the venue or the amount of time a photographer spends shooting the event.
As per the Brides, the photographers in New York charge between $2,5000 to $5,000 on average while the Bay Area price range between $3,000 to $4,700 on average. There are two types of pricing structures some provide packages with bundle discounts while others may offer custom pricing.
According to photo artist Mark Davidson, these are examples of general packages that a cameraperson offers.
1. Package one ($3,500 with no discount)
- 8 hours of photography coverage
- digital downloads of photos
- edits on all pictures
- online gallery
2. Package two ($4,500 with $200 discount)
- 8 hours of photography coverage
- digital downloads of photos
- edits on all pictures
- an online gallery
- second photographer
- engagement session
3. Package three ($5,500 with $500 discount)
- 8 hours of photography coverage
- digital downloads of photos
- edits on all pictures
- an online gallery
- second photographer
- engagement session
- 10 x10 album
The estimated prices for the add-ons may include:
- Engagement Session – $600
- Second Cameraperson – $600
- 8 x 8 Wedding Album – $1,200
- 10 x 10 Wedding Album – $1,600
- 12 x 12 Wedding Album – $2,200
Here are some of the names of the cameraperson and their prices in the major cities of the USA.
Boston Wedding Photographers
If you are planning to tie the knot in Boston then you can expect to pay around $3,500 – $12,000. Be sure to book the photographer 9-12 months before your big day since the last-minute booking in such a bustling city during the peak season may cost you more than the average.
The list of top Boston photographers includes:
- Ben Schaefer
- Simi Rabinowitz
- Alex Paul
- Kayla Rice
- Nicole Chan
- Alex Gordeev
- Yuri Kriventsoff
- Connie Miller
- Gleb Budilovsky
- Katie Kaizer
San Francisco Wedding Photographers
Booking a professional budget cameraperson in San Francisco may cost you around $3,000 to $4,700 on average. The top photographers of San Fransisco include:
- Sylvie Gil
- Ashley Kelemen
- Onelove Photography
- Larissa Cleveland Photography
- Melanie Duerkopp
- Andrew Weeks
- Adriana Klas
- Janine Licare
- Kevin Chin
- Anna Marks
Los Angeles Wedding Photographers
Fees for photo artists in Los Angeles range from $2,000 to $15,000. The bride and groom normally spend $3,500 – $7,000 on average.
Capture the wonderful moments of your big day with the help of these popular photographers from Los Angeles.
- Blushing Bride Photo Video
- Jesse Madison
- Michael Segal
- Gina & Ryan Photography
- Kevin Dinh
- Peardon Carrillo
- The Big Affair
- Alex W Photography
- Lulan Wedding Photography
- M. Hart Photography
Chicago Wedding Photographers
According to Snappr, the average fee for a photographer in Chicago begins from $3,500. The prices may hike based on the packages and experience of the camera person.
The top Chicago photographers with the best portfolios include:
- Kent Drake
- Averyhouse
- Studio This Is
- KingenSmith
- Jacqui Cole
- Olivia Leigh
- Tim Tab Studios
- Clary Pfeiffer
- Amanda Megan Miller
- Kristin La Voie
New York Wedding Photographers
The photo artists in New York charge an average between $3,000 and $12,000. The top cameraperson you could hire for your big day includes:
- Irra Lippke Studios
- Christian Oth Studio
- Anthony Vazquez
- Fred Marcus Studio
- Hechler Photographers
- Brian Dorsey Studios
- Liz Banfield
- Sara WIght Photography
- Heather Waraksa
- Charlotte Jenks Lewis
Wedding Photographer Cost Change In Last 10 Years
Clicking the perfect picture of the bride and groom is a mandatory part of the wedding. Throughout the years demand for professional photographers has increased.
The charge to hire a photographer for the big day has always been pricey. Even 12 years ago, the average price of a wedding photographer started from $2000.
As per CNN Money’s 2012 reports, a married couple spent an average of $2, 299 on a camera person in 2011. A year later, the average cost for the same service hiked by $80.
In 2020, the average wedding cost decreased as many couples postponed or canceled their weddings due to the pandemic. The COVID-19 hampered the businesses of the vendors.
From 2011 to 2022, the wedding photography charge increased by $301. According to The Knot report, the price of a photo artist in 2021 was $2,500, and in 2022 it hiked by $100.
Budget Friendly Wedding Photographer To Hire In 2023
Finding a professional according to your budget can be a difficult task. We have listed out affordable wedding photographers to hire on your big day.
1. Dirt Cheap Wedding Photography
Dirt Cheap Wedding Photography is an affordable service provider based in San Diego and Los Angeles. They have experienced and talented photographers who provide the best quality images starting at $750.
The price may vary depending on the packages and customizable add-ons. The packages available at Dirt Cheap Wedding Photography include:
- Short – $750 – $950
- Basic – $950 – $1250
- Popular – $1250 – $1750
- Premium – $2250 – $2750
2. Blushing Bride Photo Video
The camera people of The Blushing Bride are known to be the best in Los Angeles. They have been in the business for over two decades. They capture photos in traditional, natural, and photojournalism styles.
Blushing Brides’ pricing starts at $1,595.
3. Dream Life Wedding Photo & Video
Dream Life Wedding Photo & Video are New York-based photography studio. They capture high-quality images that enhance the beauty and elegance of the bride and groom.
They provide four different types of prices and packages that are within the range of your budget.
- Package A – $1590 ( 6 hours coverage)
- Package B – $1990 (10 hours coverage)
- Package C – $2990 (10 hours coverage)
- Package D – $3390 (full-day coverage)
4. Bryan Anderson Photography
Texas-based photo artist Bryan Anderson has won the hearts of his client with his artistic and dramatic photo styles. Bryan is known to capture the essence of a wedding.
He offers four types of affordable photo packages for the bride and groom.
- Package 1 – $2000 (6 hours coverage, second photographer)
- Package 2 – $2400 ( 7 hours coverage, 2nd photographer, bridal and engagement photoshoot)
- Package 3 – $3000 (8 hours coverage, 2nd photographer, bridal and engagement photoshoot)
- Package 4 – $4000 (10 hours coverage, 2nd photographer, bridal and engagement photoshoot)
How Much Do You Tip A Wedding Photographer?
The wedding photographers are often tipped $100-$500. The tipping amount may vary since it is a personal decision of the bride and groom.
The etiquette experts suggest that 15-20% of gratuity is appropriate if you are impressed by the photo artist’s work. Tips seem to be logical when it is calculated on a percentage basis than thinking of it as a flat rate.
Some newlyweds tip their cameraperson at the end of the session while others tip after receiving the pictures.