What is a normal budget for a wedding photographer? | Boston Wedding Photography
The Wedding-Industrial Complex presiding over our latest shareholder meeting - Image Courtesy
Wedding sticker shock is real. So many Boston couples planning their first weddings are surprised by how quickly the costs for a wedding can add up and how much certain line items can cost. How do you know what’s a normal price and if you’re getting a good deal? After more than a decade as a wedding photographer, I want to help you break down wedding photography pricing and roughly what you can expect to pay in New England (though don’t just take my word for it).
As a guideline wedding website The Knot suggests you allocate approximately 5-10% of your budget to photography. Nationally that’s starting at $1,500 and in New England (where prices are higher) you’re looking at about $2,500 at the lower end for approximately 8 hours of wedding coverage from a single photographer with digital delivery. You can find photographers in a range of different rates, but those will tend to be a good guideline for a proficient photographer with some experience under their belt. Of course you’ll find photographers at a variety of price points, here is what you should expect for your money.
<$1500 - Someone starting out with barely any portfolio, they might have technical proficiency or a portfolio showing other areas of photography but generally no significant wedding experience. Might also be someone okay that's getting extra cash on the weekends. These people are going to be technically weak in a few areas - lighting, posing, anticipating moments, framing (etc.).
$1500-2500 - People who have experience working weddings that are trying to build their own brands (they may have previously been second photographers on other weddings or worked as an associate photographer for a studio), photographers with a modicum of experience but less of a client and marketing base. Fewer technical deficiencies though not as much experience to make things run smoothly.
$2,500-4,500 - You'll probably see the most marked improvement here. You'll have competent professionals with a good amount of experience that can reliably deliver great images in a variety of circumstances.
$4,500+ - This is getting into the high end, at this point the differentiating factors tend to be add-ons and client experience (as well as marketing and connections). Some will also have different kinds of crews to help pull off more interesting shots (lighting assistant, PA, etc).
If you’re looking to save money, you can always find a rising star or diamond in the rough in a lower category. Some photographers might also offer custom packages to help work with your budget (to find out more about that why not send us an inquiry). These are also good numbers to keep in mind when you’re looking to book a package with two photographers - good second photographers know their value, so low-priced packages with multiple photographers might not add as much value as you would expect.
What is your Boston wedding photography budget? Any tips you’ve used to make that budget work harder? Ready to book your Boston Wedding? Visit my booking page.
Ryan Richardson is a wedding and engagement photographer serving Boston and beyond; including Cape Cod Weddings, New England Weddings, Massachusetts Weddings and Rhode Island Weddings.