What is the average price of wedding photography in Los Angeles? What is the average photography package couples purchase in Los Angeles and in the United States? Find below the answer to this question and the rates charged by top professionals.
The fee charged by various Los Angeles studios for a 10 hour wedding covered by two photographers. Taxes Apply. For more information and to confirm availability, please contact the photographer directly.
Company Name | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|
Brandon James Gordon | 2350 Dundas, Toronto, ON, Canada | https://www.brandonjamesgordon.com | 2800 |
Timeless Captures | 44 Valley Woods Dr, Toronto, ON, M3A2R6, Canada | https://timelesscaptures.ca/ | 2800 |
1486 Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.1486photography.com/contact/ | 5367 |
Agi Studios | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://www.agistudio.ca/ | 4463 |
Alexandra Jakubowska | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.ajphotographer.ca/ | 2600 |
All This Happiness | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.allthishappiness.com/ | 4600 |
Am Motion | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://avenue-photo.com | 2900 |
Beautiful Life Studios | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://beautifullifestudios.com | 3000 |
Ben Kane | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.benkanephoto.com/ | 4208 |
Cafa Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://cafaphoto.com/ | 5085 |
Callum Pinkey | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://callumpinkney.com/ | 4403 |
Captivate Photo Cinema | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://captivatephotocinema.ca/ | 2600 |
Corina V. | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://corinavphotography.com/ | 5311 |
Dan Clements | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://www.danclementsphoto.com/ | 3330 |
David Morris | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.davidphoto.ca/ | 2542 |
Derek Hui | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.derekhui.com | 4294 |
Edris Daraian | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://edris.ca/ | 3955 |
Evolylla | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.evolyllaphotography.com/ | 3500 |
F29 | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.f29.ca/ | 4068 |
Face Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://facephotography.ca/ | 4400 |
Focus Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.focusphotography.ca/ | 3729 |
Frances Morency | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.francesmorency.com/ | 4000 |
Gillian Foster | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.gillianfoster.ca/ | 3842 |
Green Tea | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://greenteaphotography.com/ | 6000 |
Harvard Photo | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.harvardphoto.com/ | 5185 |
HRM Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://hrmphotography.com/ | 5085 |
Isberto Weddings | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.isbertophotoweddings.com/ | 3955 |
Jamieson Dean | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://jamiesondean.com/ | 3899 |
Janice Yi | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://janiceyiphotography.ca/ | 4294 |
Jennifer Ballard | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://jennifer-ballard.com/ | 3955 |
Jennifer Moher | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.jennifermoher.com/ | 5876 |
Julian Moniz | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://julianmoniz.com/ | 5644 |
Just Klik Production | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://www.justklikproductions.com/ | 2400 |
Lushana Bale | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.lushanabalephotography.com/ | 4803 |
Natalia Zuk | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://nataliazuk.ca/ | 2375 |
Olive Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.olivephotography.ca/ | 5650 |
Ondi Studio | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.ondistudio.com/ | 3800 |
Pavel Kounine | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://pavelkounine.com/ | 6413 |
Photographika | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://photografika.ca/ | 3842 |
Photography by Calin | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://www.bycalin.com/ | 2999 |
Raph Nogal | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://raphnogal.com/ | 5079 |
Rhythm Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.rhythm-photography.com/ | 5085 |
Sage and Sea Co. | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://www.sageandseaco.com/ | 4000 |
Samantha Ong Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://samanthaongphoto.com/ | 3499 |
Sarah Andrews | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.sarahandrews.photo/ | 3503 |
Scott Williams | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://www.scottwilliamsphotographer.com/ | 5367 |
Studio Arash | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://studioarash.com/ | 4238 |
Studio Epic | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://www.studioepic.com/ | 3786 |
Tamara Lockwood | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://tamara-lockwood.com/ | 5085 |
Tara McMullen | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://taramcmullen.com/ | 7458 |
Tara Weddings | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://taraweddings.ca/ | 4746 |
Tied Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://tiedphotography.com/ | 3400 |
Z Moulu | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://www.zmolu.com/ | 5495 |
John and Samantha | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://johnandsamantha.ca/ | 4875 |
Matt Trimble | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://matttrimblephotography.com/ | 2990 |
Le Image Inc | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.leimageinc.com | 4098 |
Dream Life Wedding | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://dreamlifewedding.com | 3190 |
Sincerely Emelia | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://sincerelyemelia.com | 3875 |
Emin Kuliev | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://wedding.em34.com | 7000 |
Jason Thomas Crocker | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.jasonthomascrocker.com | 3950 |
Angelica Criscuolo | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://angelicacriscuolophotography.com | 5500 |
Rick Bacmanski | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://rickbacmanski.com | 3000 |
Ph NY | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://ph-ny.com | 1899 |
J C Lemon | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://jclemon.com | 6500 |
Maggie Marguerite | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.maggiemarguerite.com | 6500 |
Maria Hunter | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.mariahunter.com | 5195 |
Marie Labbancz Photography | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.artoflove.com | 7000 |
Mark Nelson Photography | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.marknelsonphoto.com | 16000 |
Meg Smith Photography | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.megsmith.com | 14167 |
Melani Lust | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.melanilustphotography.com | 8000 |
Mel Barlow & Co. | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.melbarlowandco.com | 12500 |
Rabbani & Solimene Photography | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.rabbanisolimene.com | 6333 |
Radhika Photography | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.radhikaphotography.com | 6000 |
Raquel Reis Photography | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.raquelreis.com | 6500 |
Ready Luck | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.readyluck.com | 7400 |
Rebecca Yale Photographer | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.rebeccayaleportraits.com | 8500 |
Richard Jopson Weddings | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://rjweddingsnyc.com | 5813 |
Robert London | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.robertlondon.com | 6000 |
Roey Yohai Photojournalists | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.roeyyohaiphotography.com | 7000 |
Ross NYC | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.rossnyc.com | 5500 |
R. Wagner Photography | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.rwagnerphotography.com | 7500 |
A Day of Bliss | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.adayofbliss.com | 6450 |
The Hons Photo | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://thehonsphoto.com | 7000 |
Konrad Brattke Photography | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.konradbrattkeblog.com | 5875 |
Alton Martin | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.altonmartin.com | 3000 |
Lux Photos | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://luxphotos.com | 6285 |
Omega Imagery | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.omegaimagery.com | 3667 |
Suess Moments | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.suessmoments.com/pricing | 4542 |
Grand Lens Photography | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.grandlensphotography.com | 3494 |
Erica Mille Productions | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://ericacamilleproductions.com | 5500 |
Brklyn View | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.brklynview.com | 5900 |
Duncan Moffat | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.duncanmoffat.com/pricing/ | 3500 |
Therese Photo | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.theresephoto.com | 4375 |
Jacek Dolata | New York, NY, United States (US) | http://www.jacekdolata.com | 4125 |
Forever Photo Ny | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.foreverphotony.com | 4900 |
Hudson River Photographer | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.hudsonriverphotographer.com | 5000 |
Christopher's Studio | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.christophersstudio.net | 4200 |
Tom Harmon | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://tomharmonphotography.com | 4200 |
Ayenia Nour | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.ayenianour.com | 5200 |
Weddings by Elvira | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.weddingsbyelvira.com | 5500 |
Jenny Fu | New York, Ny, United States (US) | https://www.jennyfu.com | 5000 |
De Nueva | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://denuevaphoto.com | 6071 |
Ricky Restiano | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.rickyrestiano.com/wedding-packages | 4900 |
Vita Bella | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.vitabellaweddings.com | 3990 |
Framed Elegance | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://www.framedelegance.com | 3000 |
acornproduction wedding photography | 1800 sheppard ave east, Toronto, ON, M2J 5A7, Canada | https://acornproduction.ca | 2300 |
Judy and Gavin | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.judyandgavin.com/ | 5375 |
TTT Photography | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.tttphotography.com | 3000 |
Rob Greer Photography | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.robgreer.com/ | 5950 |
Eivan’s Photo & Video | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.eivans.com/ | 1811 |
Josh Goodman | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.joshgoodman.com/ | 4000 |
Jenna Bechtholt | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.jennabechtholt.com | 5000 |
Wedding Bell Studios | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.weddingbellstudios.com/ | 4000 |
Hasselblad Studios | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://hasselbladstudios.com/ | 2625 |
Gina and Ryan | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://ginaandryan.com/ | 5500 |
Sun and Sparrow | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://sunandsparrow.com/ | 3900 |
Dmitry Shumanev Production | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://shumanev.com/ | 5500 |
Shutterspace studio Canada | Ottawa, on, Canada | https://www.shutterspace-studio.com | 2200 |
Samantha Turchin | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.samanthaturchin.com/ | 3250 |
Magalt Barajas | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://magalybarajas.com/ | 2000 |
Gavin Photography | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | http://www.gavinphotography.com/ | 3750 |
Weddings 64 | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | http://www.wedding64.com/ | 3670 |
Mark Lang | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.marklaing.com/ | 3250 |
The Sanadas | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://thesanadas.com/ | 5000 |
ABM Wedding Photos | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.abmweddingphotos.com | 3825 |
Alex Z Photography | New York, NY, United States (US) | https://alexzphotography.com/ | 5250 |
Jason Burns Photography | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://jasonburnsphotography.com/ | 4300 |
Victoria Chrystal Photography | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.victoriachrystal.com/ | 3750 |
Karina Santos | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.karinasantosphoto.com | 6000 |
Ryan Chamberlin | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://www.ryanlamedia.com/ | 1500 |
Caitan Co Photo | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://caitandcophoto.com/ | 4000 |
Nicole Amanda Photography | 2013 Seeleys Bay St, Ottawa, Ontario, K2J5P5, Canada | https://nicoleamanda.ca/ | 5800 |
Geaux Live | New Orleans, LA, United States (US) | http://geaux.live | 4000 |
888 Productions | Los Angeles, CA, United States (US) | https://the888gallery.com/ | 3699 |
Sandracardenasphotography.com | Mississauga, Mississauga, On, L5R3P6, Canada | http://www.sandracardenasphotography.com | 870 |
Whiskey & Wolves Co. | Toronto, Ontario, M6P2S5, Canada | https://www.whiskeyandwolves.co | 3750 |
Laura Kelly Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | http://laurakellyphotography.ca | 5850 |
Chelsea Mason Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.chelseamasonphotography.com | 4800 |
Photography by Emma | Ottawa, ON, Canada | http://photographybyemma.ca/ | 4399 |
Stacy Kentopic Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://stacykenopicphotography.com | 2000 |
Mitch Lenet Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://mitchlenetweddings.com | 3300 |
Sophie Fortier Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://sophiefortierphotography.com | 3350 |
Joey Rudd Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.joeyrudd.ca | 4100 |
Boyo Photo | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://boyophoto.ca | 3100 |
Couvrette Studio | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.couvrette-photography.on.ca | 2250 |
Mocha Tree Studios | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.mochatreestudios.com | 3500 |
Anne Marie Gruden Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://amgphoto.com | 3500 |
Christopher Steven B Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.christopherstevenb.com | 2650 |
Intuition Photo | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://intuitionphoto.com | 3900 |
Lauren McCormick Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://laurenmccormickphotography.com | 4250 |
Mark Cooper Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | http://www.markshots.com | 1500 |
Green Tea Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | http://greenteaphotography.com | 5500 |
Samantha Marie Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.photographybysamanthamarie.com | 3000 |
Lisa Provencal Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | http://lisaprovencalphotography.com/ | 5000 |
Harison Baker Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.harrisonbakerphotography.com | 2350 |
Anita Peeples | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://anitapeeples.com | 4750 |
Mary Calotes | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.marycalotes.com | 6000 |
Ali and Batoul Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://aliandbatoulphotography.com/ | 4625 |
Grace and Bowtie | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://graceandbowtie.com | 4500 |
Shutter Treasure | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://shuttertreasure.com/ | 4000 |
Kim Ing Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://kim-ing-photography-1.showit.site | 4000 |
Stacey Stewart Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | http://staceystewartphotography.com | 3500 |
Murray Milne Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://www.murraymilne.com | 3300 |
JI Photos | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.jiphotos.ca | 3500 |
Charlotte Northrope Weddings | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.charlottenorthrope.com | 4500 |
Eddie Lo Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | http://www.eddielo.com | 3000 |
Stephany Beach Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.stephaniebeachphotography.com | 5000 |
Ghattas Weddings | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.ghattasweddings.com/ | 3950 |
Hillary Elizabeth Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.hilaryelizabethphotography.net | 3550 |
Mondays With Mac Photography | Ottawa, ON, Canada | https://www.mondayswithmacphotography.com | 3400 |
Astora Studio Photography | Toronto, ON, Canada | https://astorastudio.com/ | 4000 |
Sanaa Studio | Brampton, ON, Canada | https://www.sanaastudio.ca/ | 2500 |
Avangard photography | Toronto, On, Canada | http://avangardphoto.com | 3500 |
L L photography | 115 gore dr, Barrie, ON, L4N0A8, Canada | https://llphotographysimcoe.wixsite.com/mysite | 1500 |
In Los Angeles, everyone is a wedding photographer! As the industry is not regulated, if you have $1,000 you can go to Costco, buy a camera and you are in business! However, it is not that type of photographers we surveyed.
We looked at the Top Los Angeles studios or individual professional photographers to determine their average fees and their distribution. Our data clearly shows that 24% of the studios researched in Los Angeles charge around $3,500.
Please note that destination wedding photographers will build custom packages or offer a la carte options based on the travel and shooting time.
We only analyzed wedding photography pricing, not photo booth or wedding videography services. For those services, please head towards the respective sections of the website.
If you analyse pricing quotes from different photographers, you will notice huge pricing differences. Why such a wide range of price points? What variables impact the average photography price?
The most important factors that influence wedding photography costs are coverage length (time), number of shooters, products included in the collection. In addition, brand name, experience and marketing skills play a crucial role in the amount charged.
Time is a direct cost for the artist and the more time a bride requires, the more expensive it gets. If a couple needs coverage after midnight or the event is outside the photographer’s area, chances are she can not book another gig the following day, so the couple might have to pay extra.
On average, packages include 8-10 hours of photography.
Do you want a lot of reception images? You might have to buy extra hours and that doesn’t come cheap.
Preferably, schedule the key events (cake cutting, bouquet and garter toss) immediately after dinner and let your photographers go one hour into the dances. Most dancing shots are repetitive, so you won’t miss much.
Having multiple shooters document your big day has its advantages: you will get a large diversity of shots captured from various angles, you will have multiple artists with different interpretations of your wedding day, etc. However, additional shooters cost extra. A second photographer will cost you another $500 but gives you a good ROI and is worth the money.
Experience and skill, fame and brand name go hand in hand. It is almost self explanatory that well-known artists are in high demand so they charge above market rates for their services. Newbies often shoot for free, so if you have a small budget, please explore that option.
Please note that the results might vary.
The artist who is established has a solid customer and referral base, and built a network of industry professionals will definitely charge more than the newbie. He will most definitely receive more inquiries than a new entrant in this industry.
Newbies do not have a portfolio to show. As such, they receive a very limited number of inquiries, so they have to compete on price to convince the potential clients to book them. After all, the price is determined by the supply and demand. As the demand for a beginner artist is almost non-existent, the price is also low.
One of the factors that influences fees is the marketing abilities of a studio. The better an artist is at marketing her business, the higher the fees she can command.If the artist is able to build a distinct brand, that will allow her to charge a premium price. Truth be told, it is very hard for a photographer to develop a distinct style as most cameras take the same photos and everyone has access to the same post-processing techniques. In the age of the internet, one can emulate a look in minutes by buying a preset.
Here is why Marketing is extremely important. Being active on social media, advertising on the channels with the highest impact is crucial for the photographer to be able to raise prices.
This applies mostly to artists who bundle their travel costs into the packages offered. Please note that some companies do not charge travel fees, especially if your reception takes place in a place on their bucket list.
Your wedding’s geographical location will affect the cash amount you will spend on your portraits. Getting married in a remote town? You can find an affordable local photographer who will give you a great deal.
Tying the knot in downtown Los Angeles? You will spend more on photography. For money-saving tips, check our Best Wedding Budget Tips.
Photographers’ locations. You can find more affordable photographers outside of Los Angeles’s downtown core where rents are prohibitive. A photographer operating from home incurs lower costs so you will save money and get a better deal.
Additional photo albums and engagement sessions will increase the amount spent on photography. An album sells for over $500-$1000 and represents a large percentage of your average photography package.
An engagement session will set you back over $500-$1,000. Also, canvases, metallic prints, etc are unique products created for you and they are not cheap.
Do you want large prints? Professional photo labs are quite pricey. If your wedding pictures are a big deal for you, pay for professional prints. Couples on a budget can try inexpensive labs like Shutterfly. Is editing and retouching of wedding pics included or you have to pay extra? How much more?
Most photographers process wedding pictures themselves while others outsource to cheap shops abroad. The cost of processing is an important driver in the total price brides pay.
Printed products are expensive, and if you love that Italian leather-bound album, you will have to pay a premium. As the traditional printing industry is in a rapid decline, there are more modern products available, but they come at a higher price tag. Nowadays the brides and grooms can opt for canvases, large prints, or even metallic prints that will cost a few hundred dollars for a 20″x30″ print.
Advertising on print media is extremely costly, and that expense is built in the packages. Even online blogs and magazines are not cheap.
Do you see a studio’s ads in luxury wedding magazines or met them at premium wedding shows? Their packages are probably overpriced.
Each studio’s cost structure is one of the major factors that impact the price tag. Rent is prohibitive in downtown Los Angeles, so if you booked one of the downtown studios, you will realize that you and the other clients pay that $10,000 studio rent.If you have the budget, by all means, hire one of the prestigious studios in the New York area. However, if you are on a tight budget, book an independent artist working in her basement who will deliver the same high-quality photographs at a fraction of the cost.Another variable driving photographers costs is the equipment used. Some photographers use very expensive equipment and charge for it.
Despite the raising costs, the competition in the area is so intense that prices have remained flat for the last 3-4 years since we started tracking them. Besides the full-time photographers, you can find “weekend warriors” who charge even less than a full timer.
The amount couples are spending these days on their wedding is significantly higher than $11,000, the amount paid in the ’80s adjusted for inflation.
Even more important, the more couples spend on their wedding, the less happy they are afterwards. They can not afford a house in good neighbourhoods, so their children attend low-quality schools, which impacts their future.
In 2021, the recommended amount couples are expected to pay for photography is about 10% of the wedding budget. It follows that the average wedding photography price in Los Angeles is $4,500 (including HST).
That is consistent with our Prices Survey of top studios in the Los Angeles area. In Canada, wedding photographers charge on average $3,500 and $5,000.
Generally, packages include a photo album, two wedding photographers and 8-10 hours of photography. That would provide coverage for the bride’s preparation, ceremony, and wedding reception.
Some brides may spend a higher amount on their wedding images if photography is a big deal for them and are looking for famous photographers to document their wedding day.
Couples who want to spend less on photography will choose more budget friendly packages that include less time or no wedding albums.
Finally, clients on a budget could only hire a professional photographer to document the bride and groom’s preparation and wedding ceremony, then ask guests to snap some pictures during the reception.
There is more to the picture than the average price. The distribution of prices gives you a clearer picture of the amount you can expect to pay.
As per Table 1 below, in 2021, Los Angeles, 79% of studios researched charge between $3,000 and $5,500 for a package that includes 10 hours of photography and two shooters.
That is consistent with the average cost calculated as a 10% of the average wedding budget.
Price | Number of Photographers | % of Photographers |
---|---|---|
$2,500 | 0 | 0% |
$3,000 | 2 | 8% |
$3,500 | 2 | 8% |
$4,000 | 9 | 38% |
$4,500 | 1 | 4% |
$5,000 | 2 | 8% |
$5,500 | 3 | 13% |
$6,000 | 2 | 8% |
$6,500 | 0 | 0% |
The price intervals are calculated considering a 10h coverage, 2 photographers and 1 album.
Upscale photographers (top 3% of the market): Do you have the money to hire a famous photographer who charges $8,000+? For a high budget wedding, that is a reasonable target.
Still, you need to make sure you are getting a good return on investment (ROI) and it is not just the marketing hype increasing the average cost. You must love your photographer’s wedding pictures and personality or you might not be getting the best deal.
Premium photographers are talented and experienced, yet not famous artists who charge anywhere between $4,000s and $8,000s.
Affordable wedding photographers in Los Angeles charge between $3000s-$4,000s for their packages. This is what 24% of Los Angeles photographers charge.
Budget friendly photographers charge $2000-$3000 and represent 16% of the market.
Lastly, you have the cheap photographers whose services you can buy for a song. Sure, they shoot cameras from the last century but they charge under $2000 and that sounds like a great deal!
Unless it is a friend-of-the-family rate, in this price range, clients are taking risks and need to do serious homework. If you intend to spend under $2,000 you are gambling your wedding photos.
Find three photographers whose wedding photos you really like and whose pricing and packages fit your budget. Assess the value of their packages, including extra fees such as the cost of photo albums, travel fees, and cost of digital files.
In Table 2 below, Package 3 ($2,500) has the lowest price, but it is not the best investment because you will need to pay extra for extra time, the second shooter, high-resolution digital images and a wedding album.
Package 1 | Package 2 | Package 3 | |
---|---|---|---|
Time | 10 hours | 10 hours | 8 hours |
Album | included | not included | not included |
2nd Shooter | included | not included | not included |
Digital Images | included | included | not included |
Cost | $3,500 | $3,000 | $2,500 |
Package 1 | Package 2 | Package 3 | |
---|---|---|---|
Time | 10 hours | 10 hours | 8 hours |
Album | included | not included | not included |
2nd | included | not included | not included |
Jpegs | included | included | not included |
Cost | $3,500 | $3,000 | $2,500 |
Comparing the prices and packages above, it appears that Package 3 has the lowest price (Table 2). Still, when calculating the total cost, including the additional fees (please see Table 3 above), Package 1 gives you the highest return on investment, despite the highest price.
This is a basic technique whereby the price of the product or service ends in an odd number just under the round amount. Instead of listing a package at $3,000, the common practice is to offer it at $2,999.
Why do we perceive the two offers so drastically different? Studies by Thomas and Morwitz in 2005 show that because we cannot remember the whole price, we form a perception of low, medium and high based on the left digit of the number. As long as the left digit does not change, we don’t perceive the difference.
As consumers, we think the difference between $4,000 and $2,999 is closer to $2000 than to $1000. Also, which package is more affordable? $2,999 or $3,000?
There are intervals where we are completely price insensitive. For example, when comparing two photographers offering the exact same services, one for $2,780 and the other one for $2,999, the two prices feel the same.
Our brain relies on the first piece of information to decide in a process called “anchoring.” As such, many companies present 3 packages starting with the most expensive to sell you the next service, which now feels way more attractive.
Time | Average Cost | WedPrices |
---|---|---|
1 h | $546 | $328 |
2 h | $1,092 | $655 |
3 h | $1,638 | $983 |
4 h | $2,194 | $1310 |
5 h | $2,730 | $1,638 |
6 h | $3,276 | 1,966 |
7 h | $3,822 | $2,293 |
8 h | $4,638 | $2,621 |
9 h | $4,914 | $2,948 |
10 h | $5,000 | $3,000 |
They calculated the average in Los Angeles using a proprietary algorithm. To confirm availability and obtain a quote, please contact the vendors listed above.
Based on the analysis of packages from top studios in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, in 2021 the average price wedding photography in Los Angeles can run between $3,000 and $5,500. Over 79% of the studios analyzed charge that amount. High-end photographers command rates that can exceed $10,000. Packages usually include 8 to 10 hours of coverage and two photographers.
In US (outside the Los Angeles area), couples pay between $2,500 and $3,500 for wedding photography services.
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