If you’re getting married, there’s a good chance that you’ve already budgeted for your photographer and videographer. But what about tipping them?
Do you tip a wedding photographer?
Yes! Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation for their hard work and to help them pay their bills. It’s also one of the most practical ways to show that you understand the value that they add.
How much do you tip a wedding photographer?
When it comes time to pay your wedding photographer, it’s important to know how much you should tip. Wedding photographers are an important part of the wedding experience and their services can vary greatly in cost. As such, different amounts of tips will be appropriate based on what you have paid your photographer and other factors. Below are some guidelines for tipping a wedding photographer:
- If you’re paying by installments (for example, through a payment plan), consider tipping at each stage. For example, if there are three payments due before the big day then consider tipping at those times as well as after your final payment has been made
- Tipping is always considered discretionary; this means that no amount is required or expected but it’s always appreciated when received! In general though I recommend about 10-20% of whatever final balance ends up being due
Who should I tip after my wedding?
You should tip your wedding planner, officiant, photographer, videographer and any other vendors that provided services for your big day.
- Wedding planner: A typical tip of $100 to $500 is expected. If you’re not sure what the going rate is in your area or don’t know how much money you should give a wedding planner (or if you need help finding one), check out this helpful guide from Brides magazine.
- Officiant: $100 to $500 is the general range for tipping an officiant who performed your ceremony. You can also choose to use cash or make a donation in lieu of tipping him or her directly—just be sure to get their permission first! If he or she doesn’t allow donations as an alternative form of payment, it’s still appropriate to give them something personal along with their fee (e.g., handcrafted gifts).
- Wedding photographer: Your photographer will likely charge between $2-$3 per photo printed out on a 4×6 size card (not including digital files). If they’ve taken hundreds pictures throughout the course of your day—and even more if they were there beforehand shooting engagement photos—you’ll probably want at least one printout so that you have something tangible from all those memories captured on film! With this in mind, we recommend giving them about 20% – 25% of what their final price comes out being after taxes are applied ($200-$250). This will ensure both parties keep coming back next time around if ever needed again.”
Tipping is a great way to show appreciation for your wedding vendors.
Tipping is a great way to show appreciation for your wedding vendors, especially since they play such an important role in the big day. You can tip more than the 10-15% standard tip when you feel that the service was exceptional: for example, if your photographer came early and stayed late to get all the shots you wanted or if he or she was particularly helpful in helping with set-up before the ceremony began.
Wedding photographers are an integral part of your wedding, and it’s important to show them the proper respect. They work hard to capture every moment and keep things running smoothly, so a small tip is the least you can do for these professionals.