How much does wedding photography cost?

As we've said, good photography is an investment—but one that'll pay you back over the course of your life.

Great photography will transcend the ever-changing world of wedding trends and stand the test of time. 

When it comes to pricing, you can generally judge a photographer's experience based on what they charge. 

Below is an approximate guide of what you can expect based on what you spend. 

For $1,500 - $2,500, you might hire a photographer who is relatively new to the business. Photography may be a side hustle, and they're trying to expand their portfolio before taking it to the next level. 

The mid-range pricing is $3,000- $4,000; this photographer might be an up-and-comer with 2-3 years of experience.

For over $5,000, you can expect an experienced photographer for whom photography is their full-time gig. They will likely have 5+ years of experience and use the highest-quality gear on the market. 

It's pretty crucial that your expectations are set when booking your photographer. For the most part, you'll get what you pay for. 

How to choose a wedding photographer?

The truth is that many photographers don't know how to describe their work. 

When browsing wedding photographers, you'll often read the same few buzz words, such as "authentic" or "timeless". 

It can be hard to decipher what these words actually mean in the context of wedding photography. 

Some photographers focus on the details—an aesthetic flat lay, the way the dress moves or closeups of the champagne tower. 

Meanwhile, other photographers might prioritise composition, light or emotional expression. 

In an ideal world - you'd find a photographer with a bit of everything in their toolkit! 

To narrow down your candidates, our best advice is to spend quality time digging through photographers' full wedding galleries. 

You need to see a large selection or full gallery from one wedding instead of the highlights from several weddings. 

It's easy to produce six beautiful shots for an Instagram post, but the quality of a photographer is determined by the average of their entire portfolio.

If you can view an entire wedding gallery, you can gain a real understanding of how they shoot, the moments they prioritise, the proportion of posed to candid photos, etc. 

From here, you can make an informed decision on whether they are the right photographer for you. 

At the end of the day, your photos should be about your wedding day. Your wedding day shouldn't be about your photos.