How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost
Hiring a good wedding photographer is one of the most important investments you can make on your wedding day! They will be by your side almost all day, trying to capture the most precious of moments. In the end, you should have a beautiful wedding album and a photo gallery that you can’t wait to hang on your walls and brag about to anyone who comes over.
So, take the time in your wedding planning process to choose a professional photographer who will tick all your boxes! You should also make sure that the cost of wedding photography fits your wedding budget. Wedding photography prices may vary depending on the photographer’s experience and the region of Australia they work in. Just remember that this is an investment in long-term memories!
Here’s a quick guide to choosing the right photographer and the right price!
What Should You Look for in a Wedding Photographer
Good photographers are people of many talents.
They have to know how to pick the right timing and capture both beautiful and vulnerable moments. An experienced photographer will be good at becoming almost invisible so as not to ruin any special moments with an untimely flash.
Photographers you’ll love will also know how to make you feel relaxed and confident during your wedding photoshoot. The best of them will make photo suggestions that suit you as a couple. Making you laugh in front of the camera is also a plus!
It’s a good idea to look for a person who you can trust and who makes you feel comfortable. That’s a foolproof way of getting the most out of your gorgeous wedding photos. So choose someone who gets your style and is easy to get along with!
Make sure you ask for examples of the photographer’s previous work. This will help you see if their wedding photography style matches your wants and needs! If you’re in love with the retro style, you won’t be too happy if you hire a wedding photographer with experimental tendencies.
If you had engagement photos made and were happy with the end result, it might be a great idea to hire the same photographer! They’ll already know your story and you’ll know what to expect based on your engagement photo session experience. It will be one less thing to worry about!
How Much Does a Professional Wedding Photographer Cost?
The average cost of hiring a professional wedding photographer in Australia is around $3,100.
But, wedding photography rates can range from $1,800 to over $4,000. The cost depends on the photographer’s experience and reputation as well as on the region of Australia the wedding is taking place.
If a luxurious wedding is your dream and wedding photographer prices don’t bother you too much, feel free to splurge on gorgeous wedding pictures. It’s your day after all! Just imagine a beautiful online gallery of your wedding day’s best moments… You’ll be able to show it to the whole world if you wish to. Of course, if you’re on a tight budget, you can always ask a trusted friend with a knack for aesthetics to capture your precious moments.
So, if you’re wondering about the average price in your region, keep on reading!
NEW SOUTH WALES
The demand for wedding photographers is rising in NSW and so is the cost (an increase in luxury weddings might be to blame!). The average price you’ll pay to get stunning wedding albums and photos is about $3,700. The whole wedding industry is blooming in NSW, so be prepared to pay more. Luckily, you’ll also get more!
VICTORIA
The average wedding photographer cost in the state of Victoria is the closest to the national average and it’s just below it. Here, you’ll be investing about $3,000 in an experienced photographer for your wedding day. That’s great news because other wedding services tend to be quite high-priced here. It’s good to know that you can save some money and still get gorgeous images!
QUEENSLAND
Wedding photographer prices in this region are even more below the national average. Happy couples will pay only $2,700 to get their special moments immortalized.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Prices in South Australia are similar to the ones in Queensland. $2,700 is the average price point at which you can get high-quality professional photographers to create some candid wedding photos for you.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Wedding photography costs in the Western parts have risen slightly in the past few years. About $2,800 in your budget will be enough to get you plenty of beautiful images of your perfect day. That’s not much of an investment to have your happiest and biggest moments captured forever!
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Wedding industry in this region has seen the greatest surge in prices. $2,900 is the average price these days for wedding photographers here, coming close to the national average!
TASMANIA
Prices in Tasmania are much more budget friendly! Only $2,200 is enough to hire a professional who will create the most magnificent wedding memories for you and your family. Not bad, huh?
NORTHERN TERRITORY
The cost of wedding photographers here is a real treat! Newlyweds will be only about $1,800 lighter, but a 1000 memories richer. The package price in the North means you’ll be getting the most value out of your arrangement.
What’s Included in the Price of Wedding Photography?
The job of a professional photographer isn’t just snapping pictures.
A lot of work needs to get done both before and after your wedding day shoot. Not all Australian weddings are the same, so photographers need to get to know the couples, their preferences and the vistas of the wedding venue. When they leave the event, they still have to sort through all the wedding pictures and edit them.
Here’s some of the work that’s usually included in wedding photography packages:
- initial meeting with the happy couple
- defining personalized photoshoot list
- visiting and exploring the wedding venue
- creating a proposal and sending it to the couple for revision
- travel expenses to and from the wedding venue
- travel from the ceremony venue to reception venue
- if it’s a destination wedding, the price might include accomodation cost
- wedding day photoshoot
- x hours of coverage
- processing and editing of the wedding photos
- other business expenses like equipment, insurance, printing, formal clothes etc.
Some wedding packages may include even more. Additional hours of coverage, extra photoshoots, online galleries with digital downloads, album creation and prints can all be a part of someone’s basic or upgraded service offer. So make sure to take this into consideration before judging the price. You can always compare offers from different professionals. It’s the best way to get the most value for the best price!
Videography is often not included in such packages, so if you want a professional video of your wedding, you’ll have to ask for a separate service. Oftentimes you’ll have to hire a whole different person for that! Take that into consideration when deciding on your budget.
In any case, show some love to your photographer if you’re satisfied with how they did their job. Happy brides and grooms are what makes all the long hours worthwhile!
Now that you’ve got all this information, nothing is stopping you from finding the perfect wedding photographer for you!
Jeffrey Wang, a seasoned wedding expert with over a decade of experience, leads a thriving photography business. His team captures couples’ precious moments with a keen eye for detail and storytelling. Jeffrey’s work has been featured on prestigious platforms like Martha Stewart Weddings and Polka Dot Wedding.
Combining technical mastery with emotional understanding, Jeffrey creates a comfortable experience for couples, ensuring their personalities shine through in every image. His approach guarantees that cherished wedding memories are beautifully preserved for generations.