You’ve found the wedding photographer of your dreams and you’re ready to book. You sit down with the photographer and have a great meeting, really connecting and realizing they have the perfect vision for your wedding imagery. Then they pull out their pricing and you see your dream will cost you, not a couple hundred dollars, but a couple thousand dollars. There may be a slight panic thinking, “How can I afford this much?” and “Why is it this much for one day of photography?” Take a deep breath, it’s all good. I’m here to break it down for you.

This is not to discourage you or make you feel bad nor is this a post trying to justify putting a price on good work. I wrote this with the intention to educate. I had no idea how much went into wedding photography before I started. No idea at all! But now that I run my photography business, I wanted to share my knowledge with you.

I understand we are all on a budget, especially when planning a wedding, and photography is an expensive item to cross of your list. But there is so much more to it than just taking out a camera and snapping the shutter.

It’s Not Just “One Day of Shooting”
This is your wedding! It’s not one day, it’s the BIG Day! A day that you will always remember. A day you will talk to your children and grandchildren about. Your photos from that “one-day” will be passed around and shared for years and years. I still have my grandmother’s wedding photos! Not only do I have them, but other family members do as well and they are still proudly hung on the walls of my grandparents’ basement, where they have been since I was little.

How Can You Put a Price on Memories?
Your first kiss as husband and wife. Your father crying when he sees his little girl all grown up in her wedding dress. Your grandmother hugging you before you walk down the aisle. Your first dance. With such important once-in-a-lifetime moments happening, you want the best photographer possible to capture them. Years from now, your photographs will remind you of these precious moments and the people who were a part of them. For me personally, the photos I have of friends and family members are my favorite possessions. It would be the one thing I would grab if there was a fire! Seriously, I have a plan of how I would grab them all. Photographs are the one thing I have left of friends and family members who have passed on. I would pay anything for those photos.

You Do Not Have to Pay for Everything the Day you Book
Usually you’re required to pay a 50% retainer to save your date, but most of the time you have up until your wedding day to pay the rest. Each photographer is different and they have different ways they handle payment. With me, you have until your wedding day to pay your remaining balance. You can even pay in smaller increments more frequently if that’s what your budget calls for. Check with your photographer for exact details.

You’re Paying for the Vision
Photographers are Artists. Professional Photographers have trained for years and mastered their skills. You are paying the artist for their work, their expertise, their vision. You are paying them to capture your wedding beautifully. You are paying them to do something only they can do. This is another reason why you should really like your photographer and their style. You’re trusting them with a huge moment in your life. If you don’t like them or their work, but like that they’re cheap, there is no way you will be satisfied with your wedding photos in the end. No one should have to settle on wedding photography!

You’re Paying for More Than Just the Photographer
You may think: you pay me, I show up, take photos, pocket all your money, then go home and swim in it like Scrooge McDuck. I wish! That’s just not the reality.

Here are just a few of my expenses for shooting weddings:
-A third of everything I make goes to the government for taxes. Yep, a third. Yay for self-employment!
-All my gear I bring that day – camera, flashes, lenses, lights, cards, etc.
-Any assistants or second shooters I decide to hire
-Rental gear I might need for your wedding
-Your finished product – the disc, the case, the gallery, all the packaging
-My car and the gas it takes to get to and from your wedding
-Insurance on all my equipment and myself in case anything happens
-My computer and hard drives I use to view and work on all your photos
-Editing software I use to catalog and edit your photos
-My degree from the Hallmark Institute of Photography
-Hosting and upkeep for my website and blog
-And so much more (press materials, advertising, sample albums, etc.)

This is a business and how I make a living. This is how I pay for my rent, utilities, car payments, cell phone, food, healthcare, etc.

You Get What You Pay For
“You’re getting married? Well, my friend has a nice camera and will probably do it for cheap.” Booking the $300 photographer may seem appealing to your pocketbook but you’ll end up paying for it in the end. When searching for your wedding photographer do as Beyoncé says and “Check Up On It”:
Do they have a portfolio or website?
Are they a legitimate business?
How much experience do they have?
Do you like their style?
Do they have contracts to guarantee you’ll receive what you’ve discussed?

I’ve heard too many horror stories of couples who chose the “cheap” option. They hated their photos. They didn’t get what they were promised. Or worst of all, they didn’t receive any photos at all! Make sure you are dealing with professionals. Don’t sacrifice your precious memories to save a few dollars.

Here’s another awesome post that Arica over at Manifesto Photography wrote that explains some additional things that are covered when you book with a wedding photographer – 7 Things you didn’t know you were paying your Wedding Photographer for.

Figure out the vision you want for your wedding photography. Research photographers before booking them. Choose a photographer that will best tell your story; one that you love and connect with. Realize photography is a business, not just a passion.

Remember, thirty years from now when you look back at your wedding photos, your first thought won’t be about pricing; it will be about how amazing that day was.