Weddings are expensive. And when planning a wedding, it’s only natural to do everything in your power to save money where you can. So you might be asking yourself, “should we negotiate with our wedding photographer?”
The short answer? It depends on the photographer.
So, what’s the long answer?
Some photographers are more than happy to work with you on price to help secure bookings. Others have meticulously calculated their fees based on their time and cost of doing business, and prefer to stick with the script.
So how do you know which type of photographer you’re working with? I recommend answering the following questions before attempting to negotiate price.
- What is the photographer’s skill level? How does the quality of work compare to that of other photographers in this price range?
- How many weddings have they shot? How many do they shoot per year?
- Do they use professional camera bodies, lenses and lighting equipment? How about backup equipment?
- Do they have liability and equipment insurance in case of accidents?
- What is the their level of customer service? Are they responsive? Do they help you solve problems?
- Are they professional? Will they show up early, well-prepared and in good spirits, ready to work?
- What is their reputation? Are they highly sought after by other brides and grooms? What do their past couples have to say about them?
Once you’re clear on this info, you should have a good idea of how much leverage you’ll have in negotiations. Or whether it would be reasonable to try and negotiate in the first place.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Negotiating with Wedding Photographers
Okay. So let’s say you decide to go down this path. It can be a tricky subject to broach and you don’t want to ruffle any feathers. To help guide you through the process as tactfully as possible, here are some “do’s and don’ts.”
Do…
Be excited about photography. Photographers want to shoot with couples who are pumped about capturing unique wedding photos, not those who are simply hiring a photographer because it’s what you’re “supposed” to do.
Don’t…
Start with price. If you begin your email/phone call/meeting with the line “what are your prices?” it’s going to make the photographer wonder if you like their work or if you’re simply shopping around for the cheapest possible price.
Do…
Book an awesome venue/location in which your photographer would love the opportunity to photograph.
Don’t…
Use another (cheaper) photographer’s price point as a bargaining chip. For example, let’s say you’re looking at two photographers. Photographer A charges $3,000 and Photographer B charges $6,000. It might be tempting to try and gain leverage by mentioning to Photographer B that you can book Photographer A for half the price. This would make sense if you’re calling Subaru dealerships to get a quote for the new Impreza. The product is identical from dealership to dealership. The only thing they have to compete on is price. But unlike Subaru Imprezas, not all wedding photography is created equal.
Do…
Get married on a Thursday in November. Or a Friday in February. Saturdays between April and October fill up fast, and your photographer will be more likely to work with you on price if you pick a less popular date.
Don’t…
Be a “Bridezilla” (or a “Groomzilla”).
Do…
Be a good source for referrals. Do you have friends who are engaged? If so, let your photographer know that you’d love to send over more business in the future.
Don’t…
Be that guy (or gal) who expects a photographer to work for “exposure.” We can’t pay our mortgages and grocery bills with exposure, so for the love of God, let’s stick to legal tender. The same goes for trades. Offering a partial trade for goods just feels tacky.
Do…
Have a compelling story. We photographed a wedding a couple summers ago for a bride whose grandmother was in hospice care. The bride wanted nothing more than for her grandma to be present for her wedding, so she and her fiancé decided to hold their ceremony in her grandmother’s back yard, allowing her to watch from her hospital bed. It was an incredibly moving ceremony and we photographed it for about one fifth of our normal rate. Remember, wedding photographers are people, too, with heart strings than can be tugged.
Don’t…
Assume that your photographer is trying to build their portfolio. It’s probably not their first rodeo, so the prospect of giving up a free weekend for portfolio building isn’t an appealing proposition.
The moral of the story is this: if you’re tying the knot on a budget and you have your heart set on a photographer who is out of your price range, feel free to ask if he or she would be willing to meet you halfway. But do so tactfully. Wedding photographers want to shoot with couples who are fun to be around. The manner in which you conduct yourself on a phone call or in a meeting is a reflection of how enjoyable your wedding day will be.
Thanks very much for reading and happy negotiations!
FAQs
The moral of the story is this: if you're tying the knot on a budget and you have your heart set on a photographer who is out of your price range, feel free to ask if he or she would be willing to meet you halfway. But do so tactfully.
Can you ask wedding photographer for all photos? ›
The straight answer? No. In a full wedding day shoot your wedding photographer will take thousands of photos. Among these are duplicates, test shots, and inevitably, a few where Uncle Bob blinked at the wrong time or a waiter walked in front of the lens just as you took a picture.
How many photos should I expect from my wedding photographer? ›
On average, most couples can expect to receive around 800-1500 photos from their wedding day. However, if you have a larger wedding or more hours coverage, you may receive more photos. And if you have a smaller wedding or less coverage, you may receive fewer photos.
What is the tipping etiquette for a wedding photographer? ›
How Much to Tip? Generally between 5 and 10% of the total cost of service for the main photographer or videographer, as well as $50 to $150 for each second shooter and/or assistant. If you'd prefer not to give a cash tip, our experts agree a nice gift is perfectly acceptable, too.
Is 5000 too much for wedding photographer? ›
The average wedding photographer cost is a big range, a wedding photographer costs anywhere from $300 to $10,000. While it will vary based on a lot of factors, I would say that in the $2500-$6500 range you can expect professional level photography when setting your wedding photography budget.
What is the average amount to spend on a wedding photographer? ›
In general, wedding photographer prices in the U.S. tend to range between $1,150 and $3,000, with the average wedding photographer cost hovering around $2,000.
Can I ask my wedding photographer for raw photos? ›
Some wedding photographers may allow you to purchase the RAWs if you feel you could benefit from having them, but you're going to pay a hefty price beyond your initial investment.
Why don't photographers give you all the photos? ›
By hiring a photographer and then asking them to deliver their work unfinished, half complete, you aren't receiving the service they intended. More so, by asking your photographer for their RAW unedited photos it means you don't trust them to deliver an edited image you'll love.
Is 500 photos enough for a wedding? ›
Understanding that you only need (and truly want) the images that tell your story, you can start to see why the count doesn't matter. If you've seen that your photographer's galleries beautifully capture the full day, don't sweat the image count. Anything more than 500 for an 8 hour day is plenty!
Is 200 photos enough for a wedding? ›
I'd usually deliver 200+ photos from up to 3 hours of photography coverage for a small wedding. It would likely be nearer 300 photos for an average size 80-person wedding..
Photographers typically capture hundreds to thousands of photos during a wedding. From there, they'll select 500 to 2,000+ high-quality, edited images. Aim to include 100 to 150 photos for your album – a perfect balance that highlights key moments without overwhelming the album's impact.
Is it bad to not tip a photographer? ›
"Generally speaking, if the photographer – or any vendor – is a business owner, you don't tip them, because they take the proceeds from everything,” says etiquette expert Lisa Grotts. “But if the business owner sent their people to provide the service and they're not there, you might tip the workers.”
Is it rude to not tip wedding vendors? ›
While tipping on the wedding day is not necessary, showing appreciation through a thank you note and a monetary gift or thoughtful present after receiving your complete gallery of stunning images is always a kind gesture.
Do I tip the DJ at my wedding? ›
Tipping your reception entertainment is optional but generally preferred. The standard is $20-$25 per musician or $50-$150 for DJs. Gratuity for drivers is usually included in the contract. If it isn't included, 15-20% of the total bill, depending on the service, is the general rule.
Is it OK to negotiate with wedding vendors? ›
You want to make sure you are comparing the same level of service among each vendor so you can see the actual price difference for services rendered," Bishop adds. Be realistic. While negotiating with service professionals is acceptable, you need to respect their offerings and be reasonable about what you can afford.
Is it normal to pay wedding photographer before wedding? ›
In most cases — yes. Most photographers require a payment of some kind, be it a full or partial payment before the wedding. It's common for photographers to require a deposit or retainer upon signing a contract or before arriving on the day.
Do wedding photographers offer discounts? ›
Some Vendors Offer a Discount if You Ask
Most times you may need to ask about a discount as many will not list or provide that to you and they may do it because they too have ties to that industry, perhaps they worked in it at one time or they have family that does.
Who traditionally pays for the wedding photographer? ›
While you may expect that the wedding dress would fall to the bride's family, big-ticket items such as a wedding planner, a photographer, and venue costs would also be expected to be paid for by her family. Today, however, this is rarely the division that happens.
