What's a good Price for a photographer to charge for a wedding??`?
I am a photographer who just graduated from college. I have a degree in Photojournalism but, I'd like to get myself started in Wedding Photography... I was wondering what people would think is way to expensive to pay for a wedding photographer or what is a really good price to pay for??
I know I'll set my own prices and such, but I was just wondering what people really think, since the customers opinion is the most important...
Check out my portfolio if you'd like:
http://www.khphoto.blogspot.com/
Hello from a fellow North Carolinian! You have some nice action shots. In a way, wedding photography is like shooting sports, except every action shot matters because there's no tournament next week for a do-over. I would suggest shadowing or assisting an established wedding pro for at least a few weddings before hanging our your shingle.
Wedding photography prices vary widely, depending on location and package. Also, the influx of "Uncle Bob" and newbie photographers who have a digital SLR and will shoot and burn 2000 snaps has hurt the perception of value.
You will probably need to do your first couple free or at cost in order to build a portfolio. There are photographers who command ten-thousand or more a gig, and there are the CD only $400 ones. You will probably be somewhere in the middle. Your price also depends on your business plan. Do you plan to keep the files (which also means you have to maintain and resource them) and have your clients order prints, enlargements and albums through you? Or will you offer a DVD or CD of print ready images? The guys who take print orders usually get less up front and depend on subsequent orders to make money. The CD/DVD only photogs get their money up front.
I am not a great model for pricing. I work in a rural, somewhat economically depressed area. (Loss of textile jobs, another story) I don't have to make a living from shooting weddings, do no advertising, and don't actively seek out weddings to shoot. Every year I shoot more than the previous year. This year I will probably end up shooting about 20 weddings, with some additional portrait work, engagement shots, etc etc. For a wedding I charge $500, which includes coverage of the wedding day, corrected print-ready images on CD, and negatives and film proofs, if I shoot any film. Other than the wedding day work, I usually have maybe 8-12 hours post processing, depending on how many images I deliver, usually between 250 to 400. That is, of course, on the low side for a professional who must make a living from doing it.
You also have to consider your overhead and how much your break-even point is. Don't forget to pay yourself! Some business knowledge is essential to be successful. There are a lot of talented and skilled photographers who have failed at wedding photography as a business, and many mediocre ones who are booked solid through next year.
Good luck in your venture!
Edinburgh Wedding Photographer
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