Understanding and Calculating the Cost of Micro Wedding Photography
I, for one, love the micro wedding trend and hope that it’s here to stay! The days are intimate and easily personalized, unique, and tailored to the couple and their guests. As more couples plan their own micro weddings, they’re seeing opportunities to save money in some areas of planning as well (yay!). I realize this is a positive thing for so many couples, and I want to share an explanation for why the cost of micro wedding photography will likely still be one of your main investments in the day.
How Wedding Photography Pricing is Calculated
Simply put, as your wedding photographer I calculate my pricing based on several things. First, I consider the time I spend supporting you before the wedding (including but not limited to planning calls, scouting photo locations, and creating engagement portraits with you). Next, I include the hours I spend creating images on your wedding day, as well as the time and expertise I bring to carefully editing and delivering your final images in the weeks following your wedding. Therefore, the number of guests you have in attendance plays only a very small role in my calculations because it has a comparatively a small bearing on the time and expertise I just mentioned.
Your pricing is not just a number. It is a signal to the couples you want to attract. Instead, what will have a much bigger impact on the total investment you make in wedding photography, are the number of wedding day traditions you plan to incorporate and want photographed. Wedding day traditions take time and the more of them you want to include in your micro wedding, the more time you’ll need.
Wedding Day Traditions and Estimated Timeframes
Let’s dive deeper and talk through the various wedding day traditions you may have in mind and the approximate time each one takes so we can see just how quickly the time adds up. Keep in mind these times may differ for other photographers and are based on a decade of experience photographing weddings:
| Wedding Tradition | Estimated Duration |
|---|---|
| Getting Ready Preparations | 45-60 min |
| Bridal Details (rings, invitation, veil, shoes, etc) | 30-45 min |
| Couples Portraits | 30-45 min |
| Wedding Party Portraits | 30-40 min |
| Family Portraits | 30-40 min |
| Ceremony | 30-60 min |
| Cocktail Hour | 45-60 min |
| Toasts over dinner | 25-45 min |
| First Dance | 5-7 min |
| Parent Dances | 7-10 min |
| Cake Cutting | 5-7 min |
Based on the quickest times for each of these traditions you’d still need over four hours of photography coverage. Most of those actually aren’t impacted at all by your guest count. So, a small guest list doesn’t necessarily mean a smaller investment in photography.
Average Price for Wedding Photography
The average cost of wedding photography varies massively depending on where you are, what’s included, and who you’re hiring. A student or part-time photographer is naturally going to charge less than someone with ten years of experience and a consistent, recognisable style. According to the Wedding Report, for small wedding photography, couples spend about $2,000 on average. However, benchmarks differ by region:
- United Kingdom: Most professional wedding photographers charge somewhere between £1,500 and £3,000 for full-day coverage.
- United States and Canada: Pricing often starts higher; plenty of well-established photographers in bigger markets like New York, LA, or Toronto are charging upwards of $5,000 to $8,000.
- Europe: Scandinavian countries and places like Switzerland or the Netherlands often seeing higher average rates than Spain or Portugal.
Key Factors Affecting Costs
Understanding how this important wedding pro fits into the overall cost of a small wedding is really helpful as you begin to map out your budget. Several key factors influence the final price:
Location
Location plays a significant role in determining the price. For example, wedding photographers in major cities typically charge higher rates than those in smaller towns or rural areas. Urban photographers often deal with higher living costs and business expenses, which can drive up their pricing.
Experience and Expertise
As with most services, the more experienced the photographer, the higher the cost. Established wedding photographers who have built a strong portfolio and reputation tend to charge premium rates. They often bring a wealth of knowledge about lighting, composition, and capturing candid moments.
Hours of Coverage
One of the most significant factors affecting a photographer's price is how many hours you need them on the day of your wedding. Standard wedding photography packages typically offer 8 to 10 hours of coverage, but small weddings sometimes require less time. Many photographers offer packages for smaller weddings, allowing couples to pay for only the coverage they need.
Additional Services and Add-ons
Wedding photographers often offer a range of add-ons that can affect the final cost. These include:
- Engagement Sessions
- Albums and Prints
- Location scouting and Coordination
- Second Shooter
- Travel Fees
Exceptions and Savings
There are exceptions. With a micro wedding you won’t need a second photographer. One photographer can easily capture all of your guests during cocktail hour or portrait time. However, the main savings comes when couples decide to cut down on the number of traditions they include. For example, some couples keep their photography coverage to just two-three hours by hiring the photographer for ONLY the ceremony, couples portraits, and family portraits. In these cases, they made the decision to cut down the number of traditions that were photographed, such as getting ready or the first dance.