$400 Gets You 8 hours Of Wedding Photography
To everyone in the industry, this sounds insane — partly because it is.
I’m writing this post because I regularly see couples in wedding photography groups asking photographers to cover a full wedding day for anywhere between $200 and $400. For most couples, it’s your first time getting married, so seeing the numbers quoted by different vendors can feel overwhelming. However, this is not an area where you want to cut corners. I’ll try to keep this brief because the point is fairly simple.
What you get with a professional wedding photographer is assurance — assurance that they will show up and not make mistakes on one of the most important days of your life. You want someone for whom this feels like a normal Saturday. Most of us have photographed hundreds of weddings, so we understand what’s happening before you even realize it yourself. Before you explain a special ceremony element, we’ve already recognized the handfasting rope, the unity candles, or whatever traditions you’ve chosen. We’ve counted the seats, assessed the lighting, and know how quickly we need to move to cover the room properly. Our main focus — like many experienced vendors — is simple: do not mess up. From the engagement session through final delivery, reliability matters.
If you think hiring cheap (Not talking about affordable) coverage will be fine, do a quick Google search for “wedding photography fails” or “wedding photography horror stories.” Who knows if the photographers will show up. Communication disappears before the wedding? Some arrive with poor equipment, miss key moments, or simply don’t understand where they should be throughout the day. Afterwards, couples are left wondering whether their photos were even backed up — or worse, whether the photographer formatted their memory cards the next day while shooting something unrelated. I’ve heard every horror story imaginable, and I cannot stress this enough: do not gamble on your wedding photography.
One last thought. When you post on Facebook asking if someone will shoot your wedding for $200 or $500, people will trip over themselves accepting whatever amount you just said. That alone is a major red flag. Someone willing to work a full wedding day for that amount typically lacks experience or professionalism. This isn’t about criticizing anyone’s budget — everyone has one. Do your research. Make sure your photographer is truly excellent, because your day deserves to be. Most professionals will work with you if they can. There’s payment plans or even paying after the wedding day (we have your photos, so we know you’re not going to mess around with non-payment situations). Even higher-priced photographers will often help you find solutions or refer you to someone they personally trust.
The majority of my weddings average around $4,000, but I also offer packages starting closer to $1,500. When someone has a smaller wedding or tighter budget, I’m happy to talk through options. At the end of the day, true professionals want to make sure you don’t get burned. We love the work, but what matters most is building relationships and guiding people toward great results. I’ve had many couples who couldn’t book me still come back later because I took the time to talk with them and offer honest advice.
Also, be cautious about marketing tactics. Free engagement sessions, heavy discounts, or “included” albums, they are often just pricing strategies. Many photographers bundle engagement sessions into their packages rather than labeling them as free. Holiday discounts are frequently artificial. Albums and keepsakes — while nice — are often far less expensive than they appear. Flash drives, despite seeming premium, are usually more of a logistical hassle than a luxury item. Another common tactic is offering free shoots to build obligation or encourage future bookings.
Choose vendors you genuinely want to spend your wedding day with.
That decision matters more than anything else.
Good luck! Feel free to message me with any questions!
