How much should you pay for your wedding photography?

Why are the better known photographers so secretive about how much they charge for a wedding?

About fifteen years ago I had a conversation with a good friend and mentor about the price of wedding photography. He is the owner of a well known and respected studio and, at the time I was doing some contract work for him, soaking up the excess demand he was experiencing for his services.

I asked him about the formula he used to set a price for a wedding and, even as I am typing this, thinking about his answer still gives me a mischievous little grin.

He said "Well Nick, there are two basic methods of deciding on a figure. If they come to see me I look at his watch and her shoes and if I go to see them I simply add up the value of the house and the cars in the driveway!"

High street studio premises, impressive displays in shopping centres and extensive advertising campaigns are expensive and, much to the dismay of all wedding photographers, there is still only one Saturday in a week. For many photographers these costs must be factored into the price of their weekly wedding shoot so it is understandable that the total figure quoted is often between two and five thousand dollars. 

I don't have a high street studio, a receptionist or a particularly extensive advertising campaign to support and since most of my bookings come to me over the phone or via Email it's difficult for me to assess your net worth before deciding how much you can afford to pay me to photograph your wedding.

The following is my basic package, complete with a fixed price quote, for Saturdays but if you are getting married on any other day of the week......call me and we'll talk it over or, better still, come and see me so that I can 'have a look at your watch and shoes'!

My “basic” package for weddings is as follows:

1. Approximately 4 hours of my time. I’m not too strict about this.

(Extra time of over an hour will be charged for at $100 per hour or part thereof.)

2. Approximately 200 prints (6” x 4”). Fully corrected and digitally enhanced.

(Larger prints are available at an additional cost.)

3. At least three “special” composite or digital effect images.

4. All image files (full quality) on Data DVDs and CDs. Usually around 500 or more images.

(No water marks on the images or copyright protection on the discs.)

You have full reproduction rights.

This means you can make up your own album, order prints & enlargements from anywhere you choose or publish your images on the web without incurring any extra costs.

The total cost of this package is $1295 including all expenses and up to 1½ hours of travel.

This travel range covers all of the Geelong to Warrnambool and Ballarat area including the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road.

I can supply extra services including engagement portraits, making up a traditional or 'Coffee Table Book' album or DVD slideshow with soundtrack, framed enlargements, web slide shows, further digital editing, Etc.

To keep my "basic" package price as competitive as possible I have not included any of these in the above but I am happy to quote for providing them as part of a package tailored to your specific requirements.

I require a deposit of $500 on booking and the balance ($795) to be paid on or before the day of your wedding at your discretion. Payments can be made by posting me a cheque/money order, at any St. George bank or on line via direct bank transfer to my account: BSB: 113 879 Acc: 120 577 980.

Please do not make a payment without contacting me by phone or email first to confirm my availability.

Please note that I do not hold dates until a deposit has been paid.

Coffee Table Book Album Packages

I can design and produce traditional (stick down) wedding albums and Coffee Table Book albums (Photos printed into a hand stitched, case bound, hard or soft cover book) to your specifications on request.

The design of the album can include decorative borders and page decals created from elements of your photos.

So many couples ask for quotes on, and order Coffee Table Book albums and framed enlargements that I have decided to simplify the decision making process for you (There are dozens of different options) by offering some "bundled" Coffee Table Book and enlargement packages.

These packages include photographing your wedding, supplying prints and discs (as above) and producing C.T.B. albums. Two of the packages also include beautifully framed, ready to hang, enlargements with matte boards.

You can decide on a package whenever you like, when you book the date or after you have booked, you can even upgrade to a package after your wedding and simply pay the difference between the package price and the amount you have already paid.

The following packages all include the photography, prints and discs listed in the "basic" package plus the additional Coffee Table Book albums and enlargements.

         1. The "Simplicity" package.

Includes a 40 page, 12" square, photo cover C.T.B. album.

$1,695

2. The "Completion" package.

Includes a 60 page, 12" square, photo cover C.T.B. album and a 16" X 24" framed enlargement.

The enlargement comes in your choice of frame and matte board (total size approx 20" X 30" inside the frame).

$2,195

3. The "Families" package .

Includes a 60 page, 12" square, photo cover C.T.B. album plus two matching 8" square, photo cover C.T.B. albums and a 16" X 24" framed enlargement.

The enlargement comes in your choice of frame and matte board (total size approx 20" X 30" inside the frame).

The two smaller albums make ideal "thank you" gifts for your parents or members of your wedding party.

$2,795

4. The "Opulence" package.

Includes an 80 page, 12" square, leather bound C.T.B. album plus two matching 8", leather bound C.T.B. albums, a 16" X 24" framed enlargement and two 8" X 12" framed enlargements.

The enlargements come in your choice of frames and matte boards.

(total sizes approx 20" X 30" and 10" X 15" inside the frames).

$3,795

This link will take you to information about my C.T.B. albums.

Call or E-mail me for any further information or to discuss your wedding plans.

Please contact me as early as possible to check the availability of your chosen date.

Phone: 03 5233 6236      Mobile: 0411 269 036