Planning a wedding is a lot like playing a game of chess. There are so many moving parts, and the pieces keep changing on you, but if you really want it to happen and you put in the work, then your dream day will come true. That being said: not everyone has the same budget for their big day! I’m here to help those of you who don’t have an unlimited wedding budget by breaking down what different kinds of photographers can offer and how much they charge.
Why is wedding photography so expensive?
Wedding photography is expensive. There’s no way around that fact, and it’s something you should be prepared for when you’re planning your wedding budget.
Some people have argued that wedding photography is a luxury and not a necessity, but this argument has been disputed by many photographers who believe their profession to be an art form and therefore worthy of higher value than other industries. If you do decide to go with a professional photographer, keep in mind that the cost of hiring one will probably be more than your annual salary or even your yearly income—and this could make it difficult for many people to afford professional wedding photos at all!
The Three Basic Photography Packages | What’s included?
The Basic Package includes a photographer and an assistant. A second shooter is not included.
The Premium Package includes a photographer, an assistant and a second shooter—the most popular package in Houston! It’s perfect for couples who have lots of family involved in their wedding day or are planning an elaborate event with multiple locations, since it allows you to capture everything that happens throughout the day without being confined to one spot.
The Ultimate Package includes everything from the Premium package along with photo booth rental (optional), videography services, and even drone footage!
Houston Wedding Photographer Pricing | The Low End of the Spectrum – 1,600 to $2,000
You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,600 to $2,000 for a Houston wedding photographer at the low end of the spectrum. This price range is typically reserved for photographers who are just starting out in their career and working on a very small budget. It may also apply to photographers working with only one other person (or two) as part of their team, which often means that all three are splitting this fee between them. The last condition is that your photographer will be using a much smaller camera than what’s considered standard for most wedding shoots.
Houston Wedding Photographer Pricing | The Medium Range of the Spectrum – $2,200 to $3,000
The medium range of the spectrum, which falls between $2,200 and $3,000, is a good place to start your budget if you want professional quality but don’t want to break the bank. This price point offers more than just one photographer; it’s likely that you’ll get two or three photographers for your wedding day. The number of hours these photographers will work varies from company to company and is determined by what kind of coverage you choose—but generally speaking, expect 15-20 hours over 3-4 days (this includes engagement sessions)- wedding photographer in houston.
The vendors at this level typically include an online gallery that allows clients access 24/7 with password protection so no one will see your images without permission; full high-resolution digital copies of all edited images; hard drives with backup DVDs or flash drives so you can store them long term; a custom album design consultation where we can discuss options and pricing before moving forward; coordinating hotel rooms/hotel blocks when applicable; getting information necessary for obtaining permits required by local law enforcement agencies such as those necessary for photographing at churches/cemeteries/bridal shows etc… Lastly, they’ll provide all equipment needed including lighting equipment like strobes etc.
Houston Wedding Photographer Pricing | The High End of the Spectrum – $3,200 to $6,000
Houston’s average wedding photographer price is $2,300—the third-lowest out of the cities we surveyed. However, this number is still high enough to make it difficult for many couples to hire a professional photographer without paying in cash or making some sacrifices.
We recommend doing a little bit of research before you set your budget for your Houston wedding photographer and comparing it to other cities’ prices. For example, the median price for wedding photographers in Boston is $4,500—that means half of all their photographers charge more than that! So if you’re thinking about going with someone who charges only $2,000-$3,000 (which would be on the low end here), consider checking out what they have to offer and see if they’d compromise on their rates so that you can pay them less money up front while still having everything done professionally and beautifully
Can’t afford it? Here are some options!
- Consider hiring a photographer who is not a full-time professional. There are many photographers who have day jobs and freelance shoot on the side. These people may be more affordable than their professional counterparts because they don’t have to pay for insurance or any other overhead costs associated with running a business full-time. However, keep in mind that this might mean your photos won’t look as polished as you’d like them to be.
- Consider hiring a photographer who is a professional, but only works part-time or on weekends when they’re not working their “real job”. This can give you access to the best of both worlds—you still get great quality photos from someone who specializes in wedding photography (and will likely know how to handle all those tricky lighting situations), but at an affordable price since they don’t need to charge full price for every hour spent photographing your wedding day!
- Check with friends or family members: Some people are willing and able to take pictures at weddings without charging anything upfront; instead they’ll ask for payment after the fact if they feel like their work was worth it (or if they don’t think so). If you do decide this route then make sure everyone involved knows exactly what’s going on beforehand so there aren’t any surprises later down the road!
Here’s how much you can expect to spend on a wedding photographer in Houston — and what you’ll get for your money.
The price you will pay for a wedding photographer in Houston is largely based on experience and quality of work- wedding photographer in houston.
For example, if you hire a photographer with only a few years of experience, he or she may be able to offer their services at a lower cost than someone with more than 10 years under their belt. The same goes for the quality of photos they produce; many new photographers have not yet perfected their craft and are therefore not able to produce the same results as veteran professionals.
On the other hand, if you opt for an experienced professional whose portfolio impresses you and whose prices seem fair given their level of talent, then by all means go ahead and book them! You will likely get what you pay for — but remember that even though paying more doesn’t necessarily mean getting better results every time, it does mean that your wedding photos will look great no matter what happens during your big day (and after!).
Now that you know what to expect, we hope your wedding planning is going more smoothly than ever. If you’re not sure how much a photographer should cost, keep in mind that most photographers charge by the hour and can give you a rough estimate based on the number of hours they think it’ll take them at the beginning of each meeting. They also typically offer packages for different types of photography services (like pre-wedding shoots), which means that if you want both an engagement session and wedding coverage, there will be two separate fees.