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| Image copyright: Blueprint Photography |
Wedding photographers can range in price from under $1k to $10k and beyond. So why the huge cost differences? When it boils down to it, my honest answer is: experience and quality. It's up to you to determine what your priority is when it comes to photography. I'd highly recommend someone with experience, who is current with the times, and has high-quality equipment to capture moments in any sort of situation. These are the images that will tell your story to your children, your grandchildren, great-grandchildren... (you get my point). There's tons of blogs and wedding articles on this topic, but here's my take on the whole thing.
WHY do photographers cost so much?
Business Expenses
All photographers, regardless of their experience or quality levels, have certain expenses that come with running their business. The same goes for restaurants, retail stores, hair salons... the list goes on. If we can't pay the business expenses, then there is no business (and we get in a lot of trouble with the law! No good.) Photographers, whether employed by a large photography company, or self-employed, have a lot of taxes to pay. There's not only personal taxes, which you're familiar with from your own income, but business taxes on top of that. Your photographer should also be licensed and insured. Have you asked them about that? Most venues will not allow a photographer without a business license or insurance to work at their location.
Equipment and Products
In general, the photographers with the higher quality equipment (and the knowledge to use it), and products will come at a higher price range than those who use equipment which may not be professional grade, and they may or may not know the in's and out's of their equipment, or who offer mediocre products. Just to shoot a wedding, a photographer with the highest-quality wedding gear is probably at any given time carrying $10k worth of equipment. That's not to mention all of the back up gear they need to have on the sidelines, because what if something goes wrong? They can't just say, "Sorry, I couldn't finish the rest of your wedding because my one camera broke." We need to maintain this equipment, be able to get replacements on the fly, and have it serviced yearly to keep it in tip-top shape. On top of the equipment, the products that you receive from your wedding (the albums, the canvases, the prints) can cost a photographer an arm and a leg to purchase for you. A good photographer will have done their research and tested the products to find the ones they like best. Your wedding deserves only the highest quality products to last for that lifetime and beyond, and they can cost a pretty penny.
Time
Ah, here's a very misconceived topic. Many people are unaware of the behind-the-scenes effort it takes to photograph a wedding. Sure, you see me working for 8-10 hours. So you might think, "$200/hour for my photographer??? They sure do make bank!" (I wish.) Before your wedding day even arrives, I've probably already put in 8-10 hours for just your day alone. And I will put in an additional 30+ hours on the back end to ensure your images are top quality and ready to preserve forever. The less the photographer costs, the more likely it is that they are not spending the amount of time ensuring your images are perfect.
Knowledge
For this section, I have come across the perfect story.
Legend has it that Pablo Picasso was sketching in the park when a bold woman approached him.A photographer, just as with ANY profession, must learn, and continue to learn. Teachers attend professional developments monthly. Mechanics, electricians, restaurant wait-staff--all must first learn their trade, and then continue to improve upon it. The same goes for photographers. The saying "you get what you pay for" can not be more true in this instance. And I get it--everyone starts somewhere. But that's where it's up to you, the bride and groom, to determine if you're willing to risk the sacrifice of missing out on some great shots (what if it's dark after the ceremony? What if it's raining and all photos need to be moved indoors? Will your photographer know how to handle this?)
“It’s you — Picasso, the great artist! Oh, you must sketch my portrait! I insist.”
So Picasso agreed to sketch her. After studying her for a moment, he used a single pencil stroke to create her portrait. He handed the women his work of art.
“It’s perfect!” she gushed. “You managed to capture my essence with one stroke, in one moment. Thank you! How much do I owe you?”
“Five thousand dollars,” the artist replied.
“But, what?” the woman sputtered. “How could you want so much money for this picture? It only took you a second to draw it!”
To which Picasso responded, “Madame, it took me my entire life.”
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| Image Copyright: Blueprint Photography |
As a past bride myself, I know how difficult of a decision it can be to spend money, and on what. I get it! But the images that your photographer provides you with are the lasting memories that stay with you forever. Keep that in mind when shopping for your photographer for the big day!
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Next Week...
Next week we'll discuss the order of planning. What should you book first? What can wait a few months to begin planning?
About Blueprint Photography
Blueprint Photography is owned by Jamie Lapsley and located in Newark, DE. I photograph in the DE/MD/PA/NJ regions often, and have travel options available, as well. I've been photographing weddings for over 5 years, but studying photography for 15 years. I have a growing family, including my husband of five and a half years, my two year old daughter, Abby, and my soon-to-be-baby-boy, Liam! We have two dogs and two cats that love to greet brides and grooms at the door when coming for a consultation to discuss your wedding.
Get in Touch!
WEBSITE: http://blueprint-photography.com
PHONE: 302-668-6058
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