2025 Wedding Photographer Costs | Average Prices & Packages

A wedding photographer costs $1,600 to $3,600 on average, with most couples spending around $2,500. Wedding photography prices range from $700 to $10,000, depending on the package, add-ons, location, and number of photographers. National average cost is $2,500, with a minimum cost of $500 and a maximum cost of $10,000. These wedding photography prices vary based on experience, location, value, and expertise.

Wedding Photography Prices and Packages

Most photographers offer a la carte pricing for package add-ons such as a second shooter, rehearsal dinner coverage, albums, and prints. Below is the average cost for common wedding photography packages:

• Elopement ($700 – $1,200): 1 photographer, 2 to 3 hours, retouched digital files with printing rights.
• Basic ($1,300 – $2,300): 1 photographer, 4 to 6 hours, retouched digital files with printing rights.
• Standard ($2,300 – $3,500): 1 or 2 photographers, 8 hours, retouched digital files with printing rights, and a limited number of prints.
• Deluxe ($3,500 – $5,500): 2 photographers, 10 hours, retouched digital files, photo album, and engagement photo shoot.
• Luxury ($5,500 – $10,000): 2 photographers, 10 to 12+ hours, retouched digital files, heirloom quality album, engagement photo shoot, and rehearsal dinner coverage.

Factors Influencing Costs

The price each photographer charges is based on 4 main things: experience, location, value, and expertise. Anyone can purchase a camera and call themselves a wedding photographer, but how well can they live up to the expectations that you have for your wedding photos? Generally speaking, photographers with a lot of experience under their belt will most likely charge a higher price for their services since they are more reliable.

The 10% Budget Rule

First of all, let discuss the unwritten rule about wedding photography prices. The cost of a photographer on any given wedding event regardless of its size should be around 10% of the budget. That means that if the budget for your wedding is of $50,000, you will need to set aside $5000 for the photography services alone.

Wedding Photographer Cost Per Hour

Wedding photographers charge $175 to $500 per hour of event time, with a minimum of 2 to 4 hours. Hourly rates are higher for shorter sessions and are not as common as fixed package prices. Hourly rates can be misleading because pre-wedding planning and post-production editing often take the photographer two to three times as long as the event itself. On average, a photographer spends roughly 34-60 hours on just one wedding.

Beginner vs. Professional Wedding Photographer Prices

Photographer level of professionalism determines the rates. Here is a breakdown of costs by experience level:

• Beginner ($500 – $1,000): A hobbyist who is just starting out; may have shot only a few weddings.
• Semi-pro ($1,000 – $3,000): 1 to 3 years of experience; has shot 20+ weddings.
• Professional ($3,000 – $6,000): 4 to 7 years of full-time experience; has shot 100+ weddings with a specific photography style.
• Top photographer ($6,000 – $10,000): 8 to 10 years of full-time experience; in high demand for their unique photography style or reputation.

Wedding Photography Price List by Location

Wedding photographer prices are typically higher in major cities and on the west coast. Average costs in selected cities include:

• New York, NY: $3,500 – $8,000
• Chicago, IL: $3,500 – $7,500
• Los Angeles, CA: $3,500 – $7,500
• Austin, TX: $3,000 – $7,000
• Atlanta, GA: $2,500 – $4,500
• Minneapolis, MN: $2,000 – $4,000

Location impacts costs because the cost of living and running a business is more expensive in these areas.