If you live in the Hudson Valley, NY area and are getting married soon, congratulations! You’re about to start planning one of life’s most special days. But before you can jump into the fun part—selecting your venue and flowers—you need to figure out how much money you should budget for a wedding photographer in the Hudson Valley area. That’s where we come in: We’ve put together this guide so that you can make an informed decision about how much money to spend on your big day.

Some photographers include an engagement session in their wedding packages, but some will charge extra for it.

Man makes a marriage proposal to his girlfriend. Engagement of a couple in love
Engagement of a couple

If you’re worried about being photographed, or if you just want to get to know your photographer better before the big day, consider booking an engagement session. Engagements are a great way for couples to get comfortable with their wedding photographer and for photographers to become familiar with their clients’ personalities. Plus, it’s a nice way for newly engaged couples to explore the area where they will be getting married—and getting photos taken!

If you do go ahead with an engagement shoot, don’t forget that there are some things you can do on your end (or even during) the shoot that will help make sure the final images come out beautifully:

  • Wear flattering clothes and makeup. Your photographer might have some suggestions if he or she thinks something looks off in one of your shots—but if not, tell him or her right away if something doesn’t look right! Then work together on finding a solution that works best for both parties involved in creating these gorgeous images capturing this exciting time in your life together as husband/wife-to-be(s).

The total cost of getting married will be around $35,000 or more.

  • The venue and catering are both important elements of any wedding and can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 depending on what type of reception you have planned. A fancy dinner may require hiring more wait staff and renting extra tables and chairs than just having a buffet style dinner with guests sitting at round tables.
  • The cake is another detail that adds up quickly! If you’re looking for something extravagant with fresh flowers or intricate designs then expect to pay as much as several thousand dollars per tier (and there’s usually two tiers).
  • Wedding dresses range anywhere from under $100 all the way up into several hundred thousand dollars! The most important thing about choosing one out though would be making sure it fits well because otherwise after everything else is said and done…you’ll end up looking uninspired instead!
  • The average wedding photographer charges around $2,500 to shoot an entire day, but expect to spend more if you’re looking for a high-quality photographer in the Hudson Valley area. wedding photographer hudson valley

How much coverage you need depends on your schedule as well as the number of guests and activities you plan to have throughout the day.

Guests eating at the wedding reception outside in the backyard.
Guests eating at the wedding reception

How much coverage you need depends on your schedule as well as the number of guests and activities you plan to have throughout the day. If you have a large guest list and/or many scheduled events, then it’s best to book at least 9 hours of coverage for your Hudson Valley photographer. However, if your wedding is smaller in scale or doesn’t have a lot going on throughout the day, 7 hours is sufficient (3 hours of photography before the ceremony and 4-5 hours during).

If you’re just doing an engagement session or a smaller event such as a bridal shower, you can get away with one hour of photography time.

If you’re just doing an engagement session or a smaller event such as a bridal shower, you can get away with one hour of photography time. If you want to hire a professional Hudson Valley photographer to cover your entire wedding day, however, plan on budgeting for at least three hours.

Your photographer’s travel expenses might be included in their fee or they may charge separately.

You should expect your photographer’s travel expenses to be included in their fee, or for them to charge separately. Travel expenses are typically paid out of pocket by the photographer and include gas, tolls, parking and public transportation costs. They can also include food when you’re on location for a long time without access to a kitchen. hudson valley photography.

Don’t assume that your photographer will give you copyright to your images; ask about this beforehand.

You should never assume that your photographer will give you copyright to your photos. It’s important to discuss this before you book a photographer and pay them any money. You should ask the following questions:

  • How much will the video cost?
  • How long will it take to edit my video? Will there be an additional editing fee if I need revisions after the first draft is done?
  • What are my options if I decide not to use one of your photographers or videographers, but would still like to buy a package from you (e.g., if I want a wedding album but can’t afford one at that time)? Can we extend my contract into future months so that it lasts as long as possible without me having to start over again with someone else? What happens if something goes wrong and I have no idea who did what during our shoot together; how do I tell what footage went where and who was responsible for editing it once they’ve finished working with me on those early drafts?

If you want to get married in the Hudson Valley, you’ll need to budget for a photographer. This can be a big expense, but it’s worth it for all of the beautiful memories that will be preserved forever.