Some thoughts on wedding photography Pricing

​In this blog post, I talk about my philosophy on pricing, affordability, and the art of negotiation.
 
I am consistently charmed by the clients I work with, they’re lovely people who want to celebrate their relationship in the company of their family and friends. I am happy to help and it’s always a pleasure to photograph these events and get to know interesting people.
 
All that nice stuff being said, wedding photography can be an expensive proposition for any couple. They’ve got food, drinks, venue, clothes, and invitations to worry about, so spending thousands of dollars on photography can be daunting. With the 1 bazillion wedding photographers out there today, it can often seem like going with the cheapest option is the best, but you often get what you pay for. Don’t worry; this isn’t a post about how I’m a rock star photographer and I deserve every penny of the thousands of dollars I’m charging (although I am pretty good, these clients don’t lie!).
 
No, this post is about being a regular person who wants beautiful photographs of their wedding but doesn’t have a giant budget.
 
Here we go:
 
At this point in my career, my price for a full day wedding is $3000. That price is inclusive, and you receive an online digital gallery of high-resolution images and a selection of prints of your choice. I think that’s a pretty good deal and a fair price. I’m fun to be around, I take great pictures, I’ve been doing this for almost a decade. I’m a great addition to the party; I always have a blast at the weddings I shoot, because I’m happy to be there.  On top of that, I have a BFA in photography from Ryerson University’s Image Arts Program and I have put a huge amount of time into learning how to make good photographs.
 
This price helps me purchase and maintain my cameras of choice (Nikon D610 x2 – gotta have that backup on the big day) and the accessories required for professional photography, including SD cards, which I go through like popcorn, at $50-$100 a pop. This also includes lighting gear, and software licenses so I can edit your photos, and a good computer on which to do it.
 
It also helps me pay for business insurance (liability included) and the gas to get me to the beautiful and occasionally remote destination that is your wedding venue. There’s a myriad of other expenses, like unlimited internet for those gigs of images I upload, gallery software memberships and online accounting software packages. But this is all just the cost of doing business, and I pay it all gladly because I love the work I do.
 
However – I totally appreciate that $3000 is not affordable for everyone. Hell, I don’t know if I could afford that right at this minute. It’s a lot of money, I get it.
 
What DOES it all mean, though? It means when a prospective client says, “we love your work, but we can’t afford it,” I ask them what they can afford, and we work something out.
 
I enjoy my work, so weddings are gigs that I don’t want to miss out on if we can meet in the middle somewhere. If you have a budget in mind, please do let me hear it, and I bet we can find something that will meet your budget while ensuring you get the coverage you want. Does this mean I will shoot a full day wedding for $500? No way J.  BUT it does mean that I want to make my work accessible to those who are interested.
 
High quality photography should not be reserved for the wealthy and I am open to reasonable negotiation. Are you having a small wedding with 20 people and want a few hours of coverage? We can work something out. Is your wedding nearby on a Friday night as opposed to a Saturday? We can work something out. Do you really love my work and have been following me for a while but are having budgetary concerns? Call me and we can talk.
 
Contact me and we can chat about what works for you. I’m booking for 2019 and beyond.