How
much should pictures cost?
Price
is often the one obstacle that prevents wedding clients from
selecting the photographer who can give them the best value.
Problems usually arise when the phrase “within the budget”
is misunderstood. It's tempting to keep spending “a little
more here and a little more there.” But somewhere along
the line, financial limits must be imposed. Still, within the
framework of the entire wedding day, it makes good sense to
evaluate the money spent on photographs in relation to what's
being spent on flowers, food, and music, keeping in mind that
pictures are the only thing you’ll have after the moment
has passed.
Rates vary significantly according to experience, talent and
technique. Generally, fees for competent photography will begin
at around a thousand dollars. Spending less than this is a gamble.
A true specialist, one with a reputation for consistently delivering
the best, might begin at two to three times that amount.
Packages
vs fixed prices
Some photographers
offer basic packages consisting of a specified number of photographs
for a set dollar amount, while other studios might have a fixed
charge for shooting the wedding and charge for each prints you
order. Other photographers give you all the pictures that are
taken, charging a set fee for everything.
You should
realize when you're preparing your budget that you’ll
probably want additional portraits for both families. In any
case, you're probably going to spend more than you originally
planned, but you'll be doing it because you like the pictures
so much; you’ll want to buy the extras.
Bottom
line: years from now, the money you spent on your wedding
photos will be irrelevant; what’s important is getting
great photographs that capture the joy of your wedding day.
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