What's a reasonable price for a photographer?

It really varies by region. I've also found that, in my area at least, many "photographers" are people that have a semi-nice camera, and claim to be a photographer.

We did our E shoot with our Photog to make sure we liked her personality, style, and to make sure she had the ability to capture candid moments really well, because that was important to us.

Well worth the money spent.

$975 is a bargain! I'm in CT and we are going with a photographer who does packages (starting at $1800 for the day) or $250/hour. We will only need them for 3-4 hours so our max cost will be around $1k. But there are some photographers here that start at $3k+.

Again, depends highly on the area. Generally, you pay for what you get. I'd hire a pro who does it for a living, not someone that does it for a hobby.

Depends on the area. I'm near Philly and I don't think there is such a thing around here as a photographer for less than $2000. If you know and trust this friend's work, $975 is a great price!

$2500 is more in line with what I would expect than $975! Photography costs ranges a lot from region to region, and what is included in the package (2nd shooter, engagement shoot, number of hours of coverage, etc.)

WW's Budget Guide is a great resource, definitely check it out : https://publications.weddingwire.com/i/644940-weddingwire-budget-guide-2016

On average, couples typically spend 12% of their total budget on photography/videography!

It definitely varies by region. Make sure to check out reviews everywhere! What is his basic package though? What does it include?

We got 9 hours, 2 photographers, all edited photos for $2000 in San Diego. And they were amazing! I made sure to get someone who had great reviews. Do your research on people who have used them before.

Varies by place. In my area a beginner professional is less than $3000, but the photos are so-so. A good photographer is $3000 and up. An phenomenal photographer will be $7000 and up. I would not bother with a so-so photographer, but I'm probably rather picky about photos.

In my area? (NY/NJ) . The photographers I refer start at 3500.

Katherine, I'm in Indy now, but I grew up just south of Fort Wayne (Decatur) and really, that's a steal. Our photographer is $2900 and he's sort of in the "beginning professional" realm (thanks for that term, LadyMonk).

Most photographers I found started at $2000 and some of the more well known ones were $4000+. I ended up shopping around and found one I love at $1250, but she recently raised her prices a bit after we booked.

I hardly ever see the prices under 1k for a well reviewed photographer in my area, and up to 4K is "the norm".

I'll never understand it, but there it is.

I'm in NYC and my photographer's packages range from $1400 to over $5k. I'm paying $3675. I wanted the $5k photographer but I found someone just as great for a lower price. And he's not even local to NYC. With that being said, look for out of state photographers. Check the areas/states surrounding where you live. They MAY not charge a destination fee. Mine isn't because he comes here so often.

Please stop using the word reasonable in regards to pricing of a professionally provided service. Reasonable is neither here nor there. You have to hire a photographer based on their style and approach that you are inspired by and most passionate about, and get the best you can afford. Personally, in the Nashville market, my average range is $2500-$4500 including album. Sometimes engagement photos. Yes, there are cheaper. But there are no other true photojournalist style wedding photographers in the area, if they like my style, it's worth it for them to invest or it isn't. I do my best to work with people but it's not my goal to be cheap. If you know yo have the experience and accountability. And the best products, you know it's worth paying for. You can get under $1000.00 wedding photographers, they won't be rock stars. Reasonable works both ways. There is far greater investment on our part than showing up and clicking a shutter button. The right photographer provides you the memories, and the experience, and you don't have to stress it. The thumbtack uncle bobs, well....that can be a crapshoot.

Definitely varies by region. The only way I've seen decent photos for under 1k is new photographers just starting out on sites like thumbtack. Check their portfolios and past weddings, some are quite good and their prices are low because they are still gaining professional experience. Others are terrible so do your research. If you are serious about the family friend, maybe try hiring him for just engagement photos if you are taking any as a test run to see if you will be satisfied with the quality of his work. Maybe he is just cutting you a good deal? You can't redo wedding photos, I'd be most comfortable with a pro.

Photographers in my area (Utah) range from $1000 to $5000 - but you really get what you pay for. There are some really great photographers on the lower end of the price range, but when you invest more you get more. The photographers at the upper end are extremely involved, making sure to get to know you and they try to tailor their own style to something that also works for the style of the couple. Those that cost more typically have more experience, higher quality equipment, more creativity, and they'll include more in their packages, like albums and flash drives with all your pictures.

For my wedding (coming up in August) we went with a guy that's charging us around $1500 (we got an extra percentage off for booking him at a bridal show) - which is not something I would have originally wanted to pay, until I started looking around at what a professional photographer costs (I had a "sticker shock" just like you!). Sure I could have gone cheaper with some of my college friends that are getting into the business, but it was worth it for my fiancee and I to have the peace of mind that a professional wedding photographer brings. We know that we are paying for quality. The guy we hired does weddings almost exclusively - he knows which shots to get and when. He has experience at our specific venue. He also includes an app with all our pictures, and full copyright is given to us. We are paying for what we want (an experienced photographer), and not paying for what we don't (extra albums, etc). That's really what you need to consider with a photographer.

Good pictures are important to me so while I was first taken aback by some sticker shock, in looking at reviews and looking at different photographer websites, I could see a difference in ones with a much lower price. In the end, FH and I looked at lots of websites to see a photographer's style and work that fit us and our day.

It seems like **** is the average I hear for how much people are paying for a photographer. If you have seen his work and like it then I would consider anything under $1,000 a good price. Keep in mind that If he's a friend who would have been invited to the wedding then he's going to be spending more time working at your wedding then enjoying it as a guest. That's fine, but some people feel strongly that they don't want friends/family "working" at their wedding.

When I was searching the range was from $1,500-$4,000.

I think the friend could be a really good option IF you like his style. I'm using a friend (and that's kinda loose... as I, I probably would not have invited her to my wedding as it is super super small, but she gave me a killer discount. So, we are friends-ish?) and it is great. Mostly because I feel super comfortable with her and I think she does a great job. I do agree with PPs that if he's a really good friend you might be bummed that he can't enjoy the wedding.

I will add this....anyone who really is a friend, there are very few I'd shoot their wedding...those who I would do it for, already know who they are. If my own mother remarried, I'd help her hire a photographer, and be there eating and drinking with everyone, lol.