My fiance and I are currently looking at Photographers. We found one we LOVED, but the package we're looking at is $2150. We're near Chicago, so that effects the price, but still...I just don't know. Thing is, everyone else I look at who is under that just can't compete with the quality of his photography. Plus, we get along very well with he and his wife...they're very nice people and would be fabulous to work with, in addition to getting some unique and creative photos of our day. So I guess, my question to all of you is how much is too much? For that price, we get an awesome photographer, an engagement session and an 8x10 from that, 7 hours of coverage, online proofing, unlimited images, and the digital negatives with rights to the pictures. He originally had a DVD slideshow and an album in there, but we swapped that out for the digital negatives (my fiance and I are computer-savvy enough that we can create our own digital album for about $30...and good quality, too!) He had originally offered us the whole package (including album and DVD slideshow,) PLUS the digital negatives and an autograph book with our engagement photos, all for the $2150 price. Apparently, his computer crashed and he needs a new one...which means the catch to all that is that we needed to give him all of the money up-front, which we don't want to do. Luckily, he was very understanding. Oh, I just don't know. Is $2150 too much money for a photographer? I really need advice, here...thanks!

So I know this sounds air headed of me but I cant remember what our package price is, but I know I thought it was a really good deal. And we are getting married in Oak Brook so I thought I would suggest them to you! Its Bella pictures, we haven't had our wedding yet so I dont know about the final product but they are a big company and one of the head guys at their location in LA actually went to France to photograph Eva Longoria's wedding = )

I wouldn't give all to the photographer at once, just for self-protection. $2150 package price with all the things he mention seems like a great deal to me.
But again, don't jump into it just becaues it's a great deal. Must sure you have a good contract (ie every single deliverable written down), and again, I wouldn't pay all the amount upfront.

I'm in Massachusettes and the average price for photographers around here is also in the 2,000 range. We lucked out though and found a really great photographer that offered a package of 1,575 w/ tax. In this package we get: 8 hours of coverage, 120 proofs in a proof album, 20 8*10s in an Art Leather Co. album, a 16*20 framed portrait and the picture for the newspaper. We have the option of changing any pictures to black and white or sepia at no extra charge and they don't charge anything extra for traveling to more than one location. We can also order additional prints such as sheets of wallets, 3*4s, 4*6s, 5*7s, 8*10s, ect...at very resonable prices.
But I deffinately agree with matt_so ~ I would not give them all the money upfront. I don't understand why they are requiring that just because the computer crashed. Is it because of keeping records? Because if so, why can't they kick it old-school for awhile and keep hand written records? lol That just seems a little odd to me. Our photographer only required us to put down 300 to hold our date and the balance is due 4 weeks before the wedding. Whatever you decide, make sure you get a recipt girl ~ and my future father-in-law suggested that we pay for everything with a check when at all possible ~ that way we have like a second recipt for things.

I have to agree with everyone here $2000 is the going rate. I am in St. Louis and I am getting mine for $2000 and my pkg includes 2 photographers from start to finish, which is huge because my ceremony starts at 11 and the reception ends at 10:30. I also get all the proofs in nice albums, a cd with the rights to all my pictures, and an engagement session. It is not the best pkg I found as far as amount of pictures but the rights is a huge deal to me. I also am more excited to have one proof of every picture taken versus 10 pictures in different sizes that I am forever stuck with.

Wedding Photographers usually run 1000.00 to 4000.00 now. I am an INDIANA wedding photographer and I see the main cost is around 2000.00. You have to beware of photographers who only charge 1000.00. They might have JUST started their business and do not have the right (expensive) camera equipment, which you need to capture the ceremony in a dark church.

my website is Hostetler Photography 317-774-0791

Remember pictures last forever and if you hire a cheap photographer to save money- you will have cheap photos and you will be sad. I think it is crazy how everything is expensive. i understand not wanting to spend a lot of money- but spending 2000.00 to 3000.00 in IN is average. I just spent 20,000.00 on new photo equipment last yr because the equipment does not last as long and if i shoot a wedding every weekend, the camera is used A LOT!!

try not to skimp on something that will last forever. photos are important.

I just got married a week and a half ago, and I skimped on the photographer (my aunt took the pics). I do not mind because pictures were not a huge issue to me, but most of the pictures are not great quality. Ok, I just have the rough copies of all of them, and she is going to crop and edit to make them better, but there is a notable difference between the pics that I have and those I would have received from a professional photographer. Like I said, pictures were not a huge deal to me, so we skimped (trying to buy a condo in Seattle costs a LOT). We will probably pick a bunch of the best pics and work them to make them great and get a hard bound book made (my sister in-law did that for her wedding and they were awesome).

I would say check your budget to see if you can save money on other things to get the pro. It sounds like you found a great package. It will be one less thing to worry about on the day, so you can concentrate on looking great for the pics.

check us out Khanna Photography

If there's a way to negotiate woith him, I would see how much he would drop his price if he were to do the ceremony only, plus the photos of the wedding party before the ceremony starts. The reception is mostly candids anyway and you could easily do something cute like have a disposable camera at each table and ask your guests to help create the memories by taking pictures of the reception!

How to Plan Your Cheap Wedding!

The photographer we are looking at is $1100. This includes all day photography, 200 developed pictures, all the negatives on a CD (and rights to them), and a 200 slot wedding album. I agree with some of the other posts that having the rights to the negatives is HUGE. His photos look great online, we are going to set up an appointment with him once we get our reception site situation figured out.