9 Best Price Tips to book your photographer
Wedding Photographer Package Prices
9 tips on how to book the perfect photographer for your wedding
Wedding Photographer Package Prices
Prologue
“I would like you to give me a wedding package price or offer…”
It is probably the question I see quite often in my mail and social chats from couples planning their wedding.
If your only criterion is low price, things are straightforward.
You get 5 wedding package prices, and the one with the lowest price and the most gifts wins. You have made the best financial deal!
But if you love photography and want your moments to be captured creatively, with a timeless and artistic look,
for you and the generations to come over the years, keep reading this article.
Let’s take things from the beginning.
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A real mess!
I went through the same moments of agony with my wife, Vasiliki, years ago about ” who finally and how much. “
From the position of a wedding professional photographer and my experience, I will try to be your help sincerely as I more.
Of course, you always have the freedom of choice, the first and the last reason.
So here are my 9 tips in “Photographer Price Wedding Package Prices”,
and how to book the perfect photographer for your wedding.
1. First contact
It is suggested to do this by phone if possible.
I consider it best for both parties, not just through mail/chat, with a simple reference question about packages and pricing.
This way, you will be able to describe your needs exactly.
Also, what would you like to emphasize on the wedding day and to answer some first questions?
It is sure to give you directions & helpful tips that you may not have known but will later find valuable.
Even from the tone of his voice, the way, and what he will tell you,
you may be able to draw some first useful conclusions about your chemistry.
Do not forget that he will be by your side most of the time on the wedding day in addition to the visual effect.
Tip: If you call on Saturday or Sunday and do not get an immediate answer, do not worry.
Usually, these days, we are in a preparation, a ceremony, or a reception, where we cannot respond immediately.
2. Date and time of the event
“Hello! I am interested in May or June 2022 for my wedding .. ”
The more specific you become, the better.
Even if you find them all, there is no guarantee that your photographer will be available,
when you know the exact date of your wedding.
3. Photographer or Photographer legal?
For better or worse, many photographers undertake the coverage of weddings,
without having started a profession in the tax office.
This gives them a wider range of financial offers downwards,
because they do not have taxes and many other operating expenses.
You will tell me everything well so far. I will have an excellent price…
Probably yes, but in doing so, you will have taken on two significant risks.
The first is to break your agreement for any reason, not knowing where to look to get your photos
(and if you take them in the end), lose the deposit, and much more.
The second and most important, that you will look to find him in case of control
by the competent authorities in the ceremony or the reception area.
And if the fine (10,500 euros) is finally imposed, it will be charged to you as the employer
by hiring an illegal & uninsured employee.
Is it worth the risk? I think not.
4. Are you sure he will be your photographer?
Some photographers and studios often make double or triple bookings for the same day and time.
This, at first glance, is very helpful for you, as they will definitely cover you.
But with a second, more careful look, this is a double-edged sword or a casino roulette.
“We went to the specific photography studio that had the title of a well-known wedding photographer.
He had nice photos online. That was the reason we made the appointment with him.
When we went there, we even saw some of them, printed in large impressive frames & as wallpaper on the wall.
At the appointment, he could not confirm that he would take the photo of our wedding himself.
Instead, he told us that he has a team of excellent photographers that he has chosen.
In fact, it was possible to provide us with the wedding video coverage as an add-on.
So he brought us 6-7 wedding albums to show us.
This did not bother us a bit at first because we went for the specific one we had seen.
We asked him if he could tell us who owns each album and if we would have a specific one at our wedding.
He answered in the negative. – No, see if you like someone from my team.
Of course, we did not go into the process of seeing the albums. We thanked him, and we left.”
Personally, I can’t entirely agree with the tactics above, and I would not like to elaborate further.
When I close the wedding date with my couples, I go with me and no one else.
Unless an extra service has been requested as a second photographer due to the requirements of the event.
For example, in simultaneous groom & bride preparations, or over long distances between these locations.
If you have seen a particular job on the internet or in the photography studio store, who owns it?
To the photographer you think you have closed or to the one who will finally happen to you and see you for the first time?
Each photographer has their own unique look and artistic imprint.
What you see and pay for is exactly what you should receive.
5. Photo & Video package
What we have said about the photographer applies to the videographer as well.
Try to evaluate them separately, not as a package from the photographer or videographer.
Why hire a videographer when it goes hand in hand with the photographer and isn’t to your absolute liking?
Some couples even booked photographer packages that include video coverage without having seen any work samples before.
Of course, you can get opinions and suggestions from everyone for potential partners.
But the most important thing is to see their work beforehand, not just rely on price, acquaintance, or recommendation.
5.1 Two photographers in the package
I recently talked to a bride, and she said: “you know I would like two photographers.”
Even better for me to have the “comfort” of a second photographer and definitely many more shots.
After talking a little more, I realized that it would be a respectable extra outlet where two photographers
did not need the couple, which, in fact, had a limited budget.
But if he had the financial comfort and a large wedding (or small but very demanding),
what should our couple do with many guests?
Clearly close for both wedding day photographers.
However, special attention is needed at this point.
And this is because everything is judged in detail.
When someone offers you two photographers in your package at the initial price, or with only a small increase, this should raise some questions.
To be more specific, a photographer charges, for example, 700 euros for full wedding coverage of 8 to 10 hours.
How is it possible to offer you an additional photographer at the same price or with 100-200 euros more?
The second one should have an 80% lower fee than the first one or a share of 350 euros.
This does not make sense, but the truth is that you will definitely have two photographers, each with different artistic levels and experience.
It may not ultimately bring you what you believe in or the money you invest. I would not like to analyze it further.
However, I suggest that when someone offers you two photographers, or you ask for it as a service,
you should have clearly seen the work of both before making your final decision.
See another example in 6.2 below, where a couple booked 2 photographers, 2 videographers, and a drone for a full wedding coverage of 700 euros.
6. The theory of relativity
Unlike an electrical appliance with specific specifications and a specific company model, art has different rules and prices.
The electrical device can be searched in a search engine and found from the cheapest source, since it will be the same everywhere.
For a unique painting, as we all know, this cannot be the case.
Although similar to other forms of photography in terms of ritual and duration, wedding photography is an art form.
So the result is proportional to each photographer’s capabilities, experience, and personal style.
For the same service, the fee can vary significantly. One is paid 150 euros and the other 15,000, or more.
Find the one that suits your style best and inspires you, while staying within your budget.
Do not forget that in the end, only the photos will remain, and not so much the decoration or the menu in the center.
The overall experience you will have with him is significant and varies depending on the person/photographer.
6.1 Low vs. high price
Often, the relatively low prices of wedding photography seem very tempting and advantageous.
In fact, they are often accompanied by gifts, such as 1 large wedding album for the couple and 3 small wedding albums for parents/ best man.
They also include printed photos or videography as a gift.
Maybe sometimes the drone coverage!
But is this the ideal scenario for you?
Are there any pitfalls you can avoid?
Usually, the meager prices indicate low levels of experience, quality, and aesthetics.
Try to avoid them in every way.
Unless you want a simple fix with lots of questions about the result.
On the other hand, the high prices definitely prepare us for something of very high quality.
But often, that alone does not guarantee that everything will be as we dream.
In couples who chose me as a photographer at their child’s christening, they showed me their wedding album in frustration.
The money they told me they had given was considerable compared to what they finally got.
6.2 Services and price
Really, how much money could you invest in the creative coverage of your wedding?
What do you think would be the “reasonable” value for our following examples?
- Example 1: Two photographers, a videographer, and a drone operator for full 10-hour coverage.
A couple who chose other services based on the package price. The package costs 700 euros. Less than 20 (17.5) euros per hour.
The couple will have 2 photographers, each costing them 175 euros for the whole wedding!
(preparations, ceremony & reception). From morning until late at night!
- Example 2: Wedding & christening coverage with a reception and the next day
A bride-to-be tells me: “For the services I ask for, only a photo, a photographer has given me a price of 600 euros.”
With a small difference of +150 euros, the video also offers me.
I asked her how a videographer who will do essentially the same job and the same hours can have 75% less pay.
I immediately wondered if he had seen a videographer’s work. She answered me negatively.
- Final thoughts
Great value in our examples, real and great opportunity, some would say.
But what material do you think our couples will eventually receive?
And we come back to what we said in the beginning. If you are looking for the cheapest things are very simple.
I encourage you to see the work of everyone you are going to hire for your wedding day.
6.3 Products and price
In the search that you will do to find the ideal wedding photographer, you will get different prices and offers.
They can include prints, packages of large and small albums, and canvas photos, with prices that vary.
Some couples compare what each professional provides in prints and other products for free or at a relatively low price.
Gifts and large price differences across products in their original packaging usually mask other weaknesses, mainly artistic.
Focus on the main initial goal. That is, to have nice photos with a unique overall experience with your photographer.
Time does not go back, nor is it possible to repeat your wedding day to correct any wrong choices.
It is important to compare each photographer’s images, personality, professionalism, and experience.
A beautiful, bright, and dreamy wedding photo can be captured later in as many albums and prints as you need.
There is no way to improve a mediocre to a bad job, no matter how many albums and prints we get from the package offer.
What is the point of giving you a +1 photographer, a 1 +2 wedding album, and printed photos?
if the material is below your expectations?
“Our package included a big wedding album, but we can’t find any photos we like. We have not done it yet. “
I suggest you not only stay in the extra products you will get, but also in finding the ideal wedding photographer on your budget.
7. Wedding Album
An album with 50 pages can cost between 50 and 500 euros, depending on its quality and construction features.
Some “forget” to mention them to the couple and stay in the term “big & small album.”
A simple general reference, or even just the album’s dimensions, should at least be considered incomplete as a description.
The cost of making an album cover from plastic, fabric, wood, or plexiglass varies.
Even when dealing with the same materials, their quality and price also differ.
Like photo paper, printers, inks, and if they have a cover or the number of lounges, are elements that determine the cost.
It is also crucial that they come with a guarantee.
The company I work with is considered the best of its kind; all its albums are handmade and come with a lifetime warranty.
Conclusion: Ask for a detailed description with all their specifications.
8. “Come YOU as a photographer.”
We live in an age of technology. We all have a friend or acquaintance who is involved in photography.
However, having a hobby and purchasing an expensive camera do not necessarily make us wedding or christening photographers.
Especially in such an important event, it can not be repeated and takes place under many different conditions.
Also, apart from the lack of experience, they do not have the appropriate equipment (cameras, lenses, lights).
“Come on, it doesn’t matter” is really catastrophic.
Example: An acquaintance of mine, who had photography as a hobby, asked me to cover the baptism of a friend’s child.
The result.. only 3 were not shaken and almost all dark.
Another acquaintance of mine, who was the best man at his best friend’s wedding on a Greek island,
told me that the couple had not hired a photographer.
As a result, in his words, “I do not have a single good photo with my best men.”
If there is no insurmountable financial reason, please avoid the above.
9. Wedding Package? Yes but…
If you choose a package, ask for a detailed list of what it includes and not just the titles.
For example, the bride’s preparation.
Some photographers spend 2 or 3 hours preparing it, and others spend only 1 hour.
All of these components undoubtedly have different results and should have different charges.
Ask to know all the details for each service or product!
Personally, I have a list of the basic photo service that includes everything in detail, with the coverage hours.
The other services (next-day, etc.) or products ( album, printed photos, etc.) are provided as “extra” in great detail.
Every couple is different, and the photographers’ pre-made packages do not suit everyone perfectly.
For this very reason, I am at couples’ disposal to create a “package” together according to their wishes & financial budget.
Also, I provide a complete written guide with extra tips for ideal photo preparation for the bride and the wedding ceremony.
Final
These were my 9 tips for the “Photographer Price Wedding Package Prices”,
and how to book the perfect photographer for your wedding.
I consider the wedding coverage on the wedding day to be the most important and can not be repeated.
Do your research and find the best one for you using the tips above.
Last Tip :
A search for reviews given by couples from previous marriages may help a lot in your final decision.
So, if you are planning your wedding in Greece, please write me an email via the form,
to inquire about availability, pricing, or to share your story.
I wish from the bottom of my heart a lifetime of love and happiness!
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