Whats a realistic budget for Wedding Photography?

[R-Audi]

So I recently got engaged.. and just trying to get everything in line for the big day... I now have the task at looking for a Wedding Photographer. I know there are a few Wedding Photographers on here... so I was hoping you could help me out.

1. What would a realistic $$ Amount to spend be? From breifly looking most are ala carte... but I want a big general number. (Budget, budget, budget!)

2. What are the things to look at when deciding on the Photographer? Obviously you look at their pictures... but some are hard to decipher between.. Are there good questions to ask about?

3. Any other advice?? One thing a friend said was to make sure you get the rights to all the pictures after its all said and done.. but other then that Im open to suggestions!!


Thanks!

Mark

[BlackArcher101]

Get referrals!

[MintRacer]

5K for pro photographer with basic photo package.

10K for an all out photo package with pro photographer

[Weapon_R]

^ those are insane prices.

Most photographers are around 2k-4k locally. My sister went to the wedding show at the Roundup center this past weekend and there were many skilled photographers.

These guys were at the show:

www.photobliss.com

www.fulleredge.com

www.preservingmemories.ca

[sputnik]

$10,000? Are you nuts?

$3-5k is a decent budget for talented photographers.

[benyl]

The photo album I got was $1600.

It is easy to go over the $5K mark. $10K is a little excessive.

Digital photo rights can cost up to $1500.

[MintRacer]

Originally posted by sputnik
$10,000? Are you nuts?

$3-5k is a decent budget for talented photographers.

10K is absolutely nuts... that's exactly what I said to my buddie that just got married... the wife was left in control of the wedding photographer and the 10K package was choosen.

I'm just giving the OP worse case scenario

[R-Audi]

I guess I've been drawn to the somewhat creative/artistic ones.. and been blown away by the price.

For two that I looked at, they started at 4-6k, and that was basically just for their time! After that you added albums, digital rights, re-prints etc, which would add up very quickly!!


I really wanted to make sure I wasn't just being completely niave about it all..
Any how many of those who are married would also get a Videographer? We had some friends that said to spend less on Photos and also get a video...

Any others that can be recommended??
Would anyone barter with their prices? Or would that be insulting?

I've already contacted JTimages...His stuff looks great, just not sure if its in my Budget.

[Weapon_R]

JTimages is pretty good, have you asked him to see if he'll set you up with something within your budget?

What date have you set? Depending on the day you could probably convince someone to come down a little if they have nothing booked.

[sputnik]

Originally posted by R-Audi
I guess I've been drawn to the somewhat creative/artistic ones.. and been blown away by the price.

For two that I looked at, they started at 4-6k, and that was basically just for their time! After that you added albums, digital rights, re-prints etc, which would add up very quickly!!


I really wanted to make sure I wasn't just being completely niave about it all..
Any how many of those who are married would also get a Videographer? We had some friends that said to spend less on Photos and also get a video...

Any others that can be recommended??
Would anyone barter with their prices? Or would that be insulting?

I've already contacted JTimages...His stuff looks great, just not sure if its in my Budget.

www.orangegirlphotographs.com ... did our wedding... she charges $5200 for everything (including a DVD of your images in high-res).

Luckily we hired her before she got busy (4 years ago) and we paid less than half of that.

[Doozer]

Our photographer was about $3K, that was 5 years ago. That also didn't include rights to the photos, or additional any prints other than the actual album. I think the album had about 20 of the best photos which we all picked together. Then we had to pay for the extra reprints for gifts/framing just like any photo studio. That varied by size and quantity.

[C4S]

It is hard to say ... U can spend a lots .. but then at the end of the day, your nice photo albums .. probably just sitting around and collecting dust ...

Studio shoot/engagement shoot ... probably $3k .... and then on your wedding day .. another $3K .. including nice albums etc... plus videoman .. another $3K ... (If u want Video as well .. )

Sometimes, you may just want the photographer to take pic, and give you the film/digital file, and you do your own developing ..

[benyl]

www.photobolic.com

[speedracer]

Originally posted by benyl
www.photobolic.com

[E36M3]

Wei & Diane do an incredible job at a very reasonable price. The friends I have referred to them have been blown away at the results. Check out their portfolio.

Originally posted by benyl
www.photobolic.com

[R-Audi]

Did Wei used to have that Nogaro Audi S4?

[brandon]

Originally posted by benyl
www.photobolic.com

x3

[brandon]

Originally posted by R-Audi
Did Wei used to have that Nogaro Audi S4?

Yah he did!

[black_2.5RS]

I spent about $3500 for a photographer.
All in, we were about $20k for a HUGE wedding. We got most of it back in terms of gift and money, so actual money out of pocket was probably more like $2-3k which is not bad at all.

If you're looking for a very good florist, photographer and if you decide on making your own invites, I can give you a place that gives you a smoking deal on really high quality paper. You can just buy the pre-cut stuff and assemble yourself. It'll save you a tonne of cash. Just PM me and i'll dig up the contacts.

[van]

to JTImages