As we enter into the 2025 and 2026 wedding planning season, many couples want to know how much is wedding photography based on the current economy. Although “popular” wedding sites such as The Knot share their average pricing, this does not cover or include many of the reasons why. Nor does it share most photographer prices, only those listed on their sites. Only 1/10 of wedding photographers in your area are on that site.
So, as a photographer who lives in one state, photographs weddings in many states, and has connections with wedding photographers all over the country, I want to share the accurate rates wedding photographers charge. Plus, why do they price their packages the way they do. It gives you actual stats on how much wedding photography is based on location and experience.
Destination with Dana
Hey there! My name is Dana, and I am a destination wedding photographer based in California. Since 2018, I have been a full-time wedding photographer. Because I am a military wife, I have moved, lived, and photographed weddings nationwide. All during an excellent economy, a pandemic, and the current economy.
I am here to share as much information about weddings as possible. Such as destination wedding photography inspiration, real weddings from my incredible couples, or wedding photo advice.
If you have a question about anything regarding photography, please DM me on my IG; I would be happy to answer! You can find me here!
How much is wedding photography
Let’s cut to the chase. The economy right now is not ideal. Inflation is up, and the cost of living is higher while most wages stay the same or only slightly increase pay for a regular nine-to-five job. Unfortunately, many have to decide whether to save for a house or plan a wedding of their dreams. Wedding vendors have the same goal: to be able to afford a home, child care, and living expenses. Therefore, they also have to increase their rates so they can live comfortably.
In general, based on the information I gave you and where you are located will determine the cost of wedding photography.
Example 1: Some of the most expensive places to get married in the U.S. are the Bay Area of California and Southern California, Long Island/New York, and other major cities like D.C., Boston, and Miami. Photographers in these areas with experience (5+ years of full-time) start charging around $6,500, with the luxury market starting at around 10K.
Example 2: There are states and small cities in the U.S. that are not as popular but do offer less-expensive photography rates. For instance, in Virginia Beach Virginia, The Susquehanna Valley in Pennsylvania, all the way to Kansas, or even in some areas in New Mexico, can start at around $4,500 for 6-8 hours of coverage, with the luxury starting at around $8,000
- Please note that luxury may mean including one thing in places like NYC and another in the middle of nowhere in Kansas.
Wedding Photo Prices for Destinations
Example 3: Because of the economy in the U.S. right now, some couples are choosing to have a small wedding in selective parts of Europe. Where your money can take you much further, the say… a wedding in California. But that same amount can get you 2 days of wedding day experience, including a welcome party, rehearsal, and a ten-hour wedding day in Italy, France, or Spain. Possibly even more if you decide on a destination wedding venue not as common, like in the countryside.
Many photographers local to Europe can start charging as little as $3,500 for wedding day photography coverage. The more experienced local wedding photographer is starting their rates at $7,000 for 2 days of coverage. And the luxury experience begins at around $9,000. Although many hire photographers from the U.S. to travel to their destination wedding, local photographers in other countries who speak English offer the same package for a cheaper price. But, how they treat weddings is different.
So, what is the average investment for wedding photography?
It comes down to ensuring you know exactly what you are buying and investing in regarding the cost of wedding photography.
In general, if you are spending anywhere between $500 and $3,500, you can expect that wedding photographer to be newer to the wedding photography lifestyle. This means they either are starting and have been doing a few weddings for about 2 years, do not do this full-time, or are fully pricing their photography based on what they offer and their education. This can also be because of their location (small towns, countryside, etc.).
If the wedding photographer is charging around, say… $4,000 to $7,000, you can expect they more than likely do this full-time and rely on this income for their way of living. Depending on the photographer, they are more experienced (4+ years to even 10 years). Live in modern-day towns and cities where weddings are common and more saturated, and offer great value in their rates.
Lastly, you do have the luxury side of weddings. These are the photographers who charge as little as $7,000 and go over $10,000. They may offer film and digital photography and albums and are mainly photographers who focus on the luxury market
My hack for couples looking for the cost of wedding photos is to consider a few things. Their experience (how long have they been in business full-time), reviews on their website or Google business profile, and by comparing their prices to others you have seen on websites. From there, you can decide based on who is worth it and what the average price for photography is for that area. Keep in mind that everyone’s financial and living situation is different and also reflects on their pricing.
