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Wedding Photographer serving Portland and Beyond!!

Blair and Cody

Haley and Cole.... engaged

Why Does Wedding Photography Cost So Much??

Why Do Professional Wedding Photographers Charge So Much??

All too often, I hear, “Why do Wedding Photographers charge so much?” Brides and their families get discouraged by the prices, choose a family member to take the photos, and then regret their decision after they receive the results.

Other still, will use a low cost photographer who may do a fair job, put the photos online, and then rather than purchasing the photos from the photographer, they’ll save the pictures to their computer and print them out; only to end up with poor quality, pixilated photographs.

When you choose a Professional Wedding Photographer, you are choosing someone who is experience in their field and who’s main purpose and goal is to award you with beautiful documentation of your most special day. And when you pay for your Wedding Photography, you are not just paying for someone to click the camera a few times and print your pictures… you are paying for experience and the great amount of time involved in provided you with quality professional prints.

Let’s look at just what goes into your Wedding Photography…

1^st… There is at least 30 minutes of preparation before the photographer even leaves their home or studio… charging battery packs, packing their vehicle with equipment, etc.

2^nd… There is the travel to the venue, and depending where the Wedding is booked, the photographer could be traveling anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours or even longer... many times out of state.

3^rd… You have at least 30-60 minutes preparation, talking to the bride and wedding party members, setting up and so forth.

4^th… Depending on the size and length of the wedding, there is anywhere from 2 to 8 hours of non-stop photography. Not to mention the cost of an additional photographer if required.

5^th… At least 30-60 minutes to upload between 2 to 10 GB of photos to the computer, backing it up, making back-up discs, etc.

6^th… Anywhere from 2 to 12 hours of computer work, which can include making additional copies of photos, editing each and every photo consisting of cropping, contrasting... photo effects such as enhancing, coloring, sharpening, etc. If the wedding is large… you are looking at many, many more hours of work…

7^th… 30 minutes to 2 hours of uploading edited photographs to an online photo gallery.

8^th… anywhere from 2 to 10 hours of interaction with the bride and groom, discussing and taking their order and payment for their photos, designing photo albums, placing the photo order, receiving it and making sure everything is perfect and then delivering it to the customer.

Additionally, any number of circumstances can come up during the entire process, ie: additional meetings, change of venues, etc… which require extra time.

So, as you can see, there is an extreme amount of work involved in assuring the bride and groom a beautiful documentation of their very special moment. When you break it down you can see why the photography costs are a little more involved than most folks think.

Although Uncle Joe can take pretty good photos… It is a big risk to trust your most valued moments to a family member or friend. Uncle Joe wants to be a part of all the fun and excitement, and he no doubt will miss many wonderful shots. A professional photographer has years of training and experience. They know what works and what doesn’t. They know how to pose people and how to get the right shot for the right moment.

There is one more thing to consider in choosing your professional photographer. There are many chain studios or quite large photography groups. When you book your wedding with one of these groups, you may not know who you are getting. Often they send out who is available... and do you want to risk your wedding photos to the new kid on the block??

A professional photographer should take the time to meet and consult with you at least twice before the wedding… and one of those meetings should be at the wedding venue and the reception venue. It’s ok to deal over the internet via emails, etc... But be sure that you are dealing with a reputable photographer and don’t be afraid to ask for references! Your photographer should get to know you… your likes… your style, etc. in order to give you a personal and individualized photography experience for your wedding day.

Finally, when choosing your wedding photographer, be sure that it is someone you can interact well with. If your photographer is only doing the job for the money… then they are not a true professional photographer. A true professional photographer takes great joy in their work, and it is evidenced in their disposition, outlook and professionalism.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions!

Debi… Deborah Marie Photography ~ www.deborahmariephotography.com ~ copyright 2011

Blair and Cody