How much for a wedding photograpther?

egan007 · 17-05-2006 03:28PM #1

There may be some on this thread - or just people that are already married.

I got a quote today for 1400
Seems excessive.

What's the going rate?

Anyone have any recommendations?

smashey · 17-05-2006 03:31PM

It is like everything else, location has a lot to do with it along with how much you want done. Where are you located? I have a photographer booked for my wedding in August and he is charging €600.

egan007 · 17-05-2006 03:34PM

Im in dublin,
Looking for the most basic of packages,
I don't want to spend 1400 on something that gets put in the attic!

crosstownk · 17-05-2006 03:36PM

€1400 does seem a bit excessive tbh. I'd imagine there are plenty that will do it cheaper for you. As usual Dublin prices are probably slightly more inflated but even in Dublin you'll probably get one for well under a grand.

elven · 17-05-2006 04:02PM

You get what you pay for, like a lot of things. If you want standard 'heres the bride and groom and mother and father looking bored' pictures than you can get someone to do that for you cheap as anything (€7-800) but if you're looking for someone with some style, and a good portfolio with a bit of a decent reputation they are going to put their prices up to match the demand, which means €1400 - in the uk £1000 was a pretty standard price, and that wasn't even in Glasgow.

If you think that it's just going to get put in the loft and you're doing it out of obligation then fine, get the cheapest you can find. But if you want some pitures that you can look back at (2 years on and I still love our pictures) then a consideration to bring down the price is by negotiating with the photographer that you odn't want an actual 'album' but just a selection of pictures themselves that you can find your own album for. Really the two things you are paying for is the knowledge, experience and professionalism of the photographer - and THEN a fancy leather album to put the pictures in. take out the album and you get more bang for your buck.

Incidentally, you could pay thousands and still get a photographer that you don't get on with - the main thing is the rapport that you have with them that allows them to guide you on the day and bring out the best in you when you're stressed out and in a bit of a daze - if you meet them and you don't have any kind of spark, don't bother, find someone else.

Another consideration may be a new company who are trying to build up a portfolio - they may be good but just can't charge as much because they don't have the experience yet so keep an eye out for those guys too.

Hope this helps.

Valentia · 17-05-2006 05:06PM

I used to do weddings years ago. I have done over 100 I'd say. It bored me to tears so I gave it up. Here's a bit from my experience.

Some of the really good award winning photographers will give you very professional, posed results. But there is a downside. Some will spend ages getting lighting, reflectors etc set up. I have seen brides nearly break down because the photographer literally took over the whole day. That, in my view, is not necessary.

A few weeks ago my better half volunteered me to do her nieces wedding. I wasn't looking forward to it initially but then decided to enjoy it and went out to capture the day as it happened with the minimum of posed, but necessary for the parents, group pics. I used my 10D and took over 300 pics. Afterwards I turned them into a slideshow using ProShow Gold and added music. Made a high quality DVD and lashed them out to everyone. The response from everybody was really amazing. My phone was hopping for days. It really worked.

It was about 40 minutes long, was better than a video and, I think, better than an album. It is certainly something that will be taken out ane watched and, better still, enjoyed for years to come. The photos were also included seperately on the DVD so they can print any that they want in whatever size they want.

If I had the inclination I'd seriously think of it as a business idea and an alternative to an album.

If you could get a decent photographer that would be prepared to capture the day for you, give tou the pics on CD you could easily do your own slideshow with your favourite music. It should be significantly cheaper than an album. Album prices, even wholesale, are outragous.

Anyway food for thought. Hope all goes well.

Carrigman · 17-05-2006 05:57PM

€1400 is not excessive if it's an established professional wedding photographer. You are paying for high quality results from someone used to doing weddings every week of the year. Smashey's €600 quote sounds suspiciously low. €1400 might sound a lot for something that will end up in the attic (and they all do - Elven is only married two years..give her time!) but in years to come the photos will bring back a flood of memories. And when you're both dead and gone your children and grandchildren will enjoy them. What is being spent on the reception, the wedding dress, the flowers, etc? €1400 is probably a small enough cost in comparison to the total price of the wedding. Don't stint on the photography - it will be an investment in a family heirloom.

smashey · 17-05-2006 06:14PM

Carrigman wrote:

€1400 is not excessive if it's an established professional wedding photographer. You are paying for high quality results from someone used to doing weddings every week of the year. Smashey's €600 quote sounds suspiciously low. €1400 might sound a lot for something that will end up in the attic (and they all do - Elven is only married two years..give her time!) but in years to come the photos will bring back a flood of memories. And when you're both dead and gone your children and grandchildren will enjoy them. What is being spent on the reception, the wedding dress, the flowers, etc? €1400 is probably a small enough cost in comparison to the total price of the wedding. Don't stint on the photography - it will be an investment in a family heirloom.

We met the guy a few times and had a look at his previous work. It was impressive. We also talked to a few other people who used his services. Please remember, that prices for most things in Donegal are usually a good deal cheaper than elsewhere. For example, 4 Bed Semi - €180,000. Try buying it for that price down South.

Carrigman · 17-05-2006 09:37PM

Valentia wrote:

Afterwards I turned them into a slideshow using ProShow Gold and added music. Made a high quality DVD and lashed them out to everyone. T.

Brilliant! I too have to photograph my wife's niece's wedding in a few months time (no big deal - I've done lots of weddings) and this DVD option will be very useful for the immediate family and friends. I downloaded ProShow Gold earlier after reading Valentia's post and it's great.

Thanks Valentia!

andy1249 · 17-05-2006 10:34PM

€1400 is cheap for a wedding photographer these days , we paid 1600 and that was in March ,
Most photographers that are any good at weddings were charging at least 1400 when we were looking , anyone that was any cheaper either had no portfolio to show us , or had one that wasn't very good ,

Anyone with a nice portfolio of previous weddings was at least 1400 plus ,

We had ours done on 120mm medium format , the only way to go for large detailed wedding photos , and I have to say we are very pleased with the results.

Shrimp · 17-05-2006 10:45PM

I'll do it for 500.. pm me

Valentia · 17-05-2006 11:27PM

We had ours done on 120mm medium format

The only way to go if it's costing that much. I alwys did mine in medium format. You can see the difference on 8x10s from 35mm film.

That being said digital from a good SLR at 8x10 can be just as good.

Greysoul · 18-05-2006 02:03PM

For what it's worth, I lived in Los Angeles for several years and knew a couple of wedding photographers, none of whom would dream of doing a wedding for less than $2000 USD (I think that's about 1600-1700 euro?). Of course, LA's values and Ireland's are, er, ever so slightly different.

Alun · 18-05-2006 02:09PM

Yeah, I have a friend in Oregon who's a professional photographer. His most basic wedding packages start at $1400 and work up from there.

whimsey · 18-05-2006 02:29PM

I am so glad I am not getting married here, Getting married in Austria
and a guy who did pictures for weddings for German Royality and lots
of German/Autrian celebs charges 80 Euro an hour and said all in all
it will be 5 hours and he will provide 300-400 photos on CD at the
end of it. So when we get home we can print what we like.

Its only 5 hours because there is a fair distance between the wedding
and the hotel and then there is pictures by the lake.

Mind you the paperwork for a wedding over there is no fun !

Whimsey

ChityWest · 18-05-2006 02:39PM

Thats a good point. I have been to weddings where the photographer set up a online site where they sell the same prints over and over to the couple, their family and their friends despite already recieving payment for the day. In the end it can work out to a significant amount of money.

I would recommend getting full access to the photos directly - and not have to go back to the photographer who would charge through the nose each time. Plus you may not like their results - you may want to tweak the pictures so that there more to your liking - and you will need the hi-res digital copies for that.

ladgie353 · 18-05-2006 03:12PM

What exactly is the most basic package?
Do you get an album, pictures, digital files...?
How long is the photographer present, where...?

Laurent

andy1249 · 18-05-2006 06:36PM

For us , 1600 covered 38 main photos in a large leather bound album , all the proofs to keep , and a CD with all the photos ,
There were over 300 photos in all , 38 of the best were picked for the main album , we could have chosen a larger album , but that would have been way more !!
All the main photos were taken on a Contax 120mm , of course he had all the required flash equipment etc. , He also had a Nikon F6 as a backup camera but he didnt use it much.

el capitaine · 19-05-2006 08:28PM

Seriuosly €1400 sounds like a good deal. got a quote from Mark Nixon for €4500. didn't go with him but mark Magaghran came widely recommened and was ace. i think their day costs €500 and all the extras are print and album costs.

Fionn · 19-05-2006 10:50PM

on a lighter note;

you could always try and persuade a few peeps here to organise the next Boards photo meet around your wedding,
think of all the different styles you could choose later on

Mandoon · 23-05-2006 11:00PM

Andy,

1600 is a total ripoff for wedding photos. You obviously dont have a clue what you are talking about. I bet you are a wedding photographer and are trying to tout for work (dont dare deny it) and push the prices up. Please stop spamming this thread.You obviuosly no nothing about photography and are totally misleading the OP. Shame on you.

MANDOON

andy1249 wrote:

For us , 1600 covered 38 main photos in a large leather bound album , all the proofs to keep , and a CD with all the photos ,
There were over 300 photos in all , 38 of the best were picked for the main album , we could have chosen a larger album , but that would have been way more !!
All the main photos were taken on a Contax 120mm , of course he had all the required flash equipment etc. , He also had a Nikon F6 as a backup camera but he didnt use it much.

Fajitas! · 23-05-2006 11:29PM

Mandoon wrote:

Andy,

1600 is a total ripoff for wedding photos. You obviously dont have a clue what you are talking about. I bet you are a wedding photographer and are trying to tout for work (dont dare deny it) and push the prices up. Please stop spamming this thread.You obviuosly no nothing about photography and are totally misleading the OP. Shame on you.

MANDOON

I'd have to disagree there. I mean, from wedding photographers that I've either been in contact with, or just browsing their work, they usually go from abou 700 - 1800. Then extras do cost a fair bit. Shooting a whole wedding on 120mm costs a lost. Printing. Hours spent post processing work. The album itself. There's a lot of money going into it. And if Andy were plugging himself, surely he would have linked his portfolio to the thread at this stage...

thebaz · 23-05-2006 11:45PM

i'd love to start doing wedding photography, i love photgraphy, and as posted elsewhere would like to make a crust as a snapper , professionally. I know a few photographers , and they all hate wedding's , too stressfull - prefer fashion, art , advertising etc. So i'd like to give photography a shot professionally, doing the stuff others hate - and at the rates mentioned here , feal i could make a living -- currently work in IT and hate it -- photgraphy is my passion, and think i have a good eye, also done some family shoots , communions etc.. Getting started professionally would be fairly stressfull, but if i could get over fear , who knows. Any hints from anyone how to start would be appreciated !.

Fajitas! · 23-05-2006 11:53PM

You could always ask a photographer if you could go out with them on a few shoots to learn the ropes. There's some pretty specific shots to be taken that you can't fook up.

Fionn · 24-05-2006 12:10AM

slightly off topic
i did my first group tonight...like 35 people or that...said 'everyone make sure you can see my lens' as i stood on a chair above them and all with my 55mm kit lens, i noticed ok that the extreme edges didn't look great centre seemed ok

god i hope it was ok didn't get a chance to take a look and see what it was like

How much for a wedding photograpther?

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