Key Takeaways
- Portraits: Usually a few hundred dollars.
- Events: Usually charged hourly or as a package. Often $1,000+
- Wedding: Highest cost, usually several thousand.
- Product/Real Estate: Charged per photo or property.
- Main costs: Experience, hours, editing and image rights.
Average Photographer Cost by Type
The amount of work required for a photoshoot will vary depending on what you want. A one-hour family portrait will be completely different to a full-day wedding.
Below is a quick, rounded guide of pricing. Keep in mind that each city will vary.
| Shoot type | Typical hourly rate | Typical package |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | $100–$350 | $250–$1,500 |
| Event | $150–$500 | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Wedding | $200–$400 | $3,000–$7,000 |
| Product | $100–$250 | $25–$150 per image |
| Real estate | Rarely hourly | $150–$500 per property |
Portrait sessions often cost between $150 and $350 per hour and between $250 to $1500 for a package. Party/event sessions often start from $150 and can reach $500 per hour. Property listings usually cost $150 to $500 per property.
So, How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost?
This is the first thing most couples will search. The average wedding photographer cost is usually between $3,000 and $4500. In large cities, prices will often be higher. As a photographer, you need to make sure your price includes everything such as editing, insurance, equipment, and days not booked.What Affects a Photographer’s Price
- Experience: More experienced photographers will cost more due to being less likely to miss any shots.
- Time: The longer the event you require, the higher the price.
- Post Production: Oftentimes the editing can take longer than the actual event itself. Many photographers use a photo editing service to speed up delivery, so ask how editing is handled.
- Add-ons: Engagement sessions and printed album can quickly mount up.
- Travel: Can also cost around $400 to $800 extra for local locations.
- Usage Rights: This just refers to what you can do with your images; for example, you could upload them onto your business website.
Hourly vs. Package vs. Day Rates
Depending on the type of shoot you require, different pricing options will be used. Understanding these will help you understand what photographers charge.
- Hourly: Best for shorter photo sessions, parties or small events. You will pay based on the agreed-upon hours.
- Package: This is commonly used for weddings and family sessions. May include hours, edited photos and an online gallery.
- Day rates: Often used for commercial, branding and full-day sessions. May include a fixed amount of time to work on, with additional costs for editing and licensing.
Why Cheaper Isn’t Always Better
While we all love saving money, if you choose the cheapest option without doing your research, you may be disappointed.
You may be relying on your photographer to get great photos of your once in a lifetime celebration. If they aren’t providing great lighting, missing shots, long turnaround times and/or inconsistent edits, this can affect your images.
The most expensive photographer isn’t necessarily the best. Instead look for a good balance between cost, experience, communication and quality.
Before Deciding, Look Into
- Portfolio: Have they done previous work? Do they have full galleries of events?
- Client reviews: Do they have good reviews?
- Amount of edited images: How many images will they edit?
- Turnaround time: How long do they take to deliver photos/videos?
- Back-up kit: Do they have a back-up kit?
- Contract: What does their contract say? Cancellation policy?
How to Budget for a Photographer
Think about what is most important to you. If you are looking for beautiful photos, make sure you allocate more money towards this. Ask your Photographer the following:
- How many hours and edited images will they provide?
- Who owns the files? What rights do I have?
- What happens if they become unwell?
- When will I get access to the gallery?
