How Much to Pay (My Friend) the Photographer

Zoe, where are you located? I wouldn't go less than $1000, and I'd probably offer about $1500 just to make it worth his time.

I'm in PA, we paid $1500, we are getting 2 photographers (One is the owner/professional, the second is her husband who is less experienced but will be taking pics of the cake, decor, etc. while she focuses on us) for 8 hours and we get a cd with all pics, we can print them ourselves. She had a promo going (and I love a good sale) if you either contracted for a wedding or paid off your wedding package by valentines day, you get 2 extra free hours, so... now we have her for 10 hours!

ETA: I'm sure that photographers are more expensive in Hawaii (I hear everything is!) so I would definitely throw out an offer of $1500 or so. It's a lot more work than just taking the pics the day of, editing is what takes up so much time.

In NE Ohio we are getting: engagement shoot, 2 photographers, 8 hours, fully retouched images for $2,150 and I actually think we got a really good price looking at her work.

Can you afford to give him $1,000? That's still a great deal for you guys, but also gets him paid for the day.

We are paying 3800 for two photographers, bridal portraits, 8hrs, a 200$ credit, edited photos, and all rights to them (except to sell them lol)

$2700 for full day coverage with 2 photogs, all edited, full rights to all photos, pics delivered on a USB as well as an online album, also includes a 2 hour bridal photo shoot and all the pics from that as well...I'm in Houston, TX...also, that was a bit of a discounted rate since we booked him at an appointment that we made while speaking with him at a Bridal Show in our area.

We have two photographers for 8 hours of coverage and all the rights to pics and we're paying $1500. Tulsa, OK. I agree with Centerpiece - definitely sign a contract just so the expectations are clear. Since he's experienced with weddings I'm sure he knows his stuff, but wedding photographers should take around 50-100 pics per hour, also, just for perspective.

FH's aunt who does professional photography is charging $1800 for engagement photos,9 hours of wedding day, edits, rights to all photos. In Southern California. She took off 20% because we are family.

Chicago Burbs- $2800 2 photog's for 9 hours. This was very cheap for my area. Def get a contract

For an experienced wedding photog here (Victoria BC) that would be about 4-5k. Definitely sign a contract.

ETA: $4500cad is about $3500usd right now

We're paying $2050 for a photographer and his assistant for 8 hours. We get an engagement shoot, a print package, a DVD with all of our photos with print rights.

We paid $3200 for:

- 8 hours of covereage

- second photographer

- photo booth

- all edited high resolution pictures (online viewing gallery and dvd)

- full print release

- an engagement shoot

- $150 print credit

this is what our contract said, at least.

Thanks everyone! I talked to him yesterday, and we will be signing a contract. Since we're friends, I used the old "my venue requires contracts" line and he had no problem with that. LoL.

Honestly, if it takes 6 months to get my photos edited -- I don't think it will, I'll be fine. Pictures aren't really my thing - especially staged photos. One of the things I'm most excited about is how my wedding will be shot! With the exception of a small set of staged photos with immediate family and our bridal parties, the whole affair will be shot paparazzi style! I always look my best in pictures when I don't know they're being taken, so I want to capture my day in candid shots. Since our guy is a friend, he knows my style and really understands my vision!

Our wedding is a super casual affair. We rented out an inn with a lovely property, and we've got a food truck catering a pig roast on a lawn next to the ocean. Picnic tables, lawn games, casual attire, 10-minute ceremony. Maui is one of the most expensive places ever, so this is still about a $20K budget!

We've considered other costs, and we think that we can comfortably offer $1250 (with the intention of giving a $250 tip on the day of the event). Thoughts?

I will be creating wedding flowers for a friend's wedding on Labor Day weekend at a destination locale. Logistics will be very difficult, to say the least. I will have to get a hotel room the day before because of traffic, and the night of the wedding (solely because I'm doing the flowers - otherwise I could drive to and from home, an hour and a half away). The venue is what I consider a wedding factory. It is gorgeous, but they only allow vendors to get in to set up one hour prior to the wedding.

That means that we will have to be dressed in our wedding guest clothes, put all of the flowers into our vehicle, drive to the venue, and set up the wedding flowers - in only an hour. I am usually dripping in perspiration when I am done.

I am asking her to pay the costs of the flowers; our labor will be our gift to them. I will, however, have a contract so that both of us know what to expect - I need to get paid for the cost of the flowers, and she needs to be assured that I will create and set up her flowers.

So - just remember that your friend, the photographer, will not be your guest and enjoy your wedding. Your friend, the photographer, will be working very hard that day. And for days afterward when editing your photos and cataloging them.

Monique, as one who understands exactly what you're taking on, my hat's off to you. I know what it feels like when you're done setting up wedding florals, and let's just say you certainly don't feel like one of the pristine guests, lol. Plus, an hour? An hour??? Is this venue big on pushing their preferred florists (I can't imagine why they would give you such a small window of time unless they were trying to make it intentionally difficult on outside florist. You can do it, but you're going to have to hustle). You're a good friend.

1 photog, 6 hours, $3200 including full digital rights and print rights. We live near Washington, DC. Get a contract - it protects HIM as well as you! It doesn't have to be complicated. I'm in procurement and contracts, and to make a legal binding contract all you need is a date and two signatures.

Your contract, he can use one of his old wedding contracts to make it easy.

At minimum, you should specify the following:

- Location of wedding and reception

- Start time and number of hours of coverage

- How much you will pay him as a deposit, as well as the full amount.

- A contingency clause that specifies what happens if:

---- the photographer is unable to fulfill his obligations, what will he do? (car accidents happen!)

---- weather contingencies

---- if you have to change the date or venue, how much notice he requires, esp. if it requires travel

Finally, that whole print issue.... My contract provides for digital and print rights. Your contract should as well. He should NOT be the only person legally allowed to PRINT your wedding photos - that's crazy in this day and age. That made sense years ago, when the photographer had hard copy negative film, so you had to go back to him for prints, so you wanted to negotiate something fair - but today, you should get those print rights. That is not saying you might not want him to create a photobook for you, or special format prints - but that's different from print rights.

A final note... it's extremely generous of your friend to offer, but... if you look through the boards here you'll see some situations where having friends do photography was a mess, because either the friend didn't deliver on time, or something happened and they couldn't be there, or they took forever delivering the photos because they prioritized paying customers, or in a few cases, the photos were actually deleted or lost! If this is a good friend, please consider to hire someone else as the primary photographer for your wedding. This also allows your friend to attend as a guest, and to simply enjoy the day with you and be part of the memories... .he can still take photos, and you could offer to compensate him for a 'mini-shoot' to commemorate the day - but he might be offering to do it as a favor, not because he's thrilled to work the day of your wedding. My hair stylist is also a friend, and I asked her if she wanted to just come to my wedding as a guest, and she said "Actually, yes - I always have to work at my friends weddings, and I'd really just like to attend." Just something to think about...

We are in Northern California, and our photographer is $1400 for the day. Then we get 2-8x10s, all our pics up on her site for people to order if they want, and a flash drive with every single photo on it and all the rights for printing and everything!

Get a contract.

Pay them what they would get; I'd say at least 3000.00, which is low in my area.

And yes; consider the friendship. This very often gets very sticky.

Thanks, Rebecca. I can definitely see what you're talking about and I had the same thought myself. I originally went to him for a recommendation, and it was his idea to shoot for us himself. His words: you need someone that knows you and what you're about. I agree.

We'll be signing a contract for everyone's best interests.

Celia, There is no "what he would get," as he hasn't had a rate for weddings in years. I've found local work for anywhere between $1-10K, I can't say what the going rate is. Hence feeling like I have a dilemma!

I'm in NJ and paid $2600 for 10 hours with two shooters, rights to prints, and a premium album but it was a special package rate that they were running. Normal prices were more like what Celia said, over $3000. I'm not how New Jersey compares to Hawaii, but I think it would be safe to pay 2-3k.

I would try to find out what his regular rates are. I know that's hard to do.