The Average Cost of a Wedding Photographer in 2025

Yes, shop around—something wedding vendors tell you not to do. But if you're planning your wedding a year or more in advance, you have more than enough time to find the right photographer who fits both your vision and budget. And don't let any photographer—or any vendor, for that matter—guilt-trip you into booking out of fear that you'll "miss out." Take your time comparing all available options while prioritizing what you actually need from your photographer.

No wedding photographer (or vendor) likes being asked for a discount, let alone agreeing to one. Every vendor works hard to make your wedding as spectacular as possible, spending countless nights running numbers to come up with a pricing structure that is both profitable and fair while staying competitive in the market. All we ask in return is to be paid what we ask.

And when you demand a discount, it tells us you don’t value what we do, and while that doesn’t call for bad service on our end, it doesn’t call for exceptional service either. Which goes back to tip #1: shop around. Trust me, there is a wedding photographer out there who fits both your budget and vision. Patience is key.

When inquiring with the handful of photographers you’ve narrowed your choices down to, give them as much detail as possible—timeline, guest count, venue locations, and any additional events planned throughout the wedding. This helps the photographer get a clear picture of what they’re getting into and allows them to either customize their pricing or at the very least, guide you toward the package that best fits your wedding.

As you’ve noticed, many photographers' packages are inflated with things you don’t need, forcing you to navigate three or four packages that look more or less the same—only to then be told the high-tier package is the only way to go. Believe me when I say you do not need the highest-tier package that includes 10,000 wedding photos, three photographers, and 10 hours of coverage. Because in reality, you’ll probably only print a handful of photos—if you print any at all—while the rest will sit in the miscellaneous kitchen drawer on a forgotten USB drive.

I get it—you’re only getting married once (hopefully), and you don’t want your photographer to miss anything. But do you really want three photographers spending an hour taking photos of your invitations, rings, and shoes? Do you really need to drop $500 on a few seconds of drone footage? Or a couple thousand on a fragile wedding album, fearing it’ll get damaged every time you open it?

Trust me, you don’t need every single angle covered. In all my years, I have seen most—if not all—couples end up cherishing the so-called boring family wedding photos over the complex, Instagram-worthy shots every single time. The base and middle-tier packages are all you need.

Many photographers thrive on getting published in major magazines and online publications or going viral on TikTok. While I’m not saying you’ll get a discount, if your wedding is truly unique, in an exclusive venue, or has the potential to be featured in Vanity Fair, Brides, etc., you’ll likely get more added value in your package. Again, be as detailed as possible in your initial email or Zoom call. BUT! Don’t use this as leverage to demand a discount—and worse, not even deliver on your promise.

If a photographer doesn’t list their prices upfront, you’re likely to end up in one of two scenarios: either you find out their pricing is so astronomically high that next thing you know, you’re on Reddit asking if you’re being taken advantage of after being quoted $22,500 for wedding photography—or you find out their pricing is more or less the same as the other photographers you’re considering.

Both outcomes come after sitting through an hour-long presentation on why photography is the most important part of your wedding and why you must hire them or risk ruining your big day. Don’t believe me? Book a call with one of these photographers and let me know how it goes.

Some photographers will tell you that spending less on photography is "a gamble"—disgusting. Plenty of experienced photographers charge $1,500 at most and are booked solid because they offer great work at a reasonable price. Pricing doesn’t always reflect skill—sometimes it’s just branding, business model, or market positioning. Some photographers set their rates high, call it the industry standard, all while conveniently listing pricing that matches their own rates.

The reality is, there is no set price for great wedding photography. The best photographer for you isn’t always the most expensive one—it’s the one whose work and approach fit your budget. So whether you pay $500 or $5,000, you’re practically guaranteed to get quality photos thanks to the many advancements in digital photography over the years. Shit, even the iPhone you’re reading this on can take well above decent photos these days.