One of the most substantial and important decisions you’ll make as you begin your wedding planning journey is choosing the photographer that will document your day. There are many factors that influence this decision, and one of those happens to be today’s topic, the cost of wedding photography. We’re going to be taking a look at the average cost of wedding photography, but also how to interpret these costs along with what your potential wedding photographer provides. Just like every wedding is different, so too are us wedding photographers. It’s crucial then that you know what to look for, and what you’re paying for, when choosing the photographer who will be preserving your memories from your wedding day.

The Average Cost of Wedding Photography

When it comes to finding the average cost of wedding photography there are a few things you need to be aware of. First is that the price, like everything, is constantly changing year to year and even month to month! For instance, according to this article from The Knot the average cost of a wedding in 2022 was $2600. That price increased to $2900 in 2023, and is likely to go up further in 2024.

The next thing to be aware of is that this average cost is based on a single survey of 10,000 newlyweds, so there is some wiggle room here. Especially when you look at this tool from WeddingWire (which is also owned by The Knot) which lets you find the average cost of wedding vendors across the country. Using this tool shows the nationwide average cost of a wedding photographer to be closer to $2000.

So, how do you know then if the price you’re paying for your wedding photographer is fair? The tools above act as a decent frame of reference, but what you're willing to pay for wedding photography comes down to the experience you're looking to have the day of your wedding. Below we’ll explore the different factors to consider when looking into the cost of wedding photography.

Understanding What You’re Paying For

The first thing you’ll want to take note of as you begin researching and inquiring with potential wedding photographers is what you’re actually paying for. Different photographers include a variety of coverage, services, and items in their package, all of which will affect the price you’ll be paying. Some things that will affect the cost of your package include:

The Coverage Amount (Do they have different packages or one base package that they build off?)
Whether You Want a 2nd Shooter for Your Wedding (More photos of your day for a higher cost)
Coverage for Travel and Stay Costs (For destination weddings)
An Engagement Session (This may be included or may be a separate cost/booking)
A Videographer (Some photographers also have videography coverage you can bundle into your day)

The areas above will all affect the cost of your wedding photography coverage, but there’s more to what you’re paying for than the tangible items above…

Wedding Photography is More Than Just Your Photos

At Forest City Photographs, we understand that your wedding photos are more than just photos. Your photos are portals that take you back to that exact moment, letting you experience the same feelings and emotions you had all over again. They’re works of art, meant to showcase the love you have for each other and the special day you built around that love. They’re preservations of memories that you’ll cherish being able to look back on and reminisce over for years to come. We pride ourselves in not only documenting your day beautifully and authentically, but also providing a wedding day experience that you’ll love just as much as the photos you receive. It’s a whole package deal, and something that shouldn’t be overlooked when considering the cost of wedding photography!

A Look at Our Packages

As I mentioned previously, we understand that every wedding day is different, which is why at Forest City Photography we customize our packages to best fit our clients needs. Our elopement coverage starts at $2,000, and our wedding day coverage starts at $3,900. When booking with us we’ll discuss your wedding day in detail. Your vision, your goals, and your dreams to come up with a package that best fits what you and your partner are looking for. Our goal is for you to have the best possible wedding experience possible alongside the incredible photos we plan to deliver from your wedding day

As you can see, the question of ‘how much does wedding photography cost?’ isn’t as easy to answer as you may think. The good news though is that now you have a strategy of knowing what to look for, and how to decide if a photographer’s cost is the right fit for you. If you’re ready to book us for your wedding day be sure to head to our contact page next to send over an inquiry.