What's a reasonable price for a photographer?

I'm getting married in San Diego. WW has over 1200 photographers listed in the vendors tab. I am searching, emailing, and wanting to stay in our budget. So far my top contender has a special for 8 hours $1500.

Thanks for the input!

The guy I work with isn't someone that I would have on my A or B list to invite, since I'm trying to keep the wedding smaller (it just keeps growing! It's like the Blob!) so I don't feel badly about asking him to work while at the wedding.

I've seen his work and I think it's good. I am now surprised at how low his price is after reading these responses! I do think in going to go with him, it fits in our budget more easily.

Thanks for all the responses!

We're in CT and we're paying $3500 and that was a deal for what other people here are charging.

$2,500-$3,000 for full day, 2 shooters in my area

Make sure you LOVE his work, at the end of the day it is all you have left ... I fell in love with my videographers and photographers and I am spending a lot of money on them but for me It was really important and I don't regret it for a second.

In VA, our photographer was $2400. The other two I initially liked were $3500.

5000 NYC area .

@Angela wrote:

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.

I have a full time job outside of photography, but I didn't file LLC paperwork with the secretary of state, obtain business insurance, and buy backup lenses and cameras to call my wedding photography a "hobby."

Many industry veterans such as Cliff Mautner are predicting that within 5 years there will little to no full time wedding pros in business. The number is rapidly dwindling with all the many entrants into the market which drives prices down for both good and bad quality photographers alike. I know several wedding photogs in my market and none of them can say that wedding photography is 100% the source of income for their household.

@Wendy C.

Katherine, make sure this guy isn't just a photographer, but a wedding photographer. I've worked with many great photographers who had little to no experience with weddings and it showed. They missed many of the important events and shots that a good wedding photographer would have known to capture.

This is solid advice. There are some amazing landscape photographers out there, but I wouldn't want them shooting my wedding for sure. Even portrait and family photographers are usually way in over their head.

That's a steal! Mine is $4000 for all day coverage.

Echoes, I was going to say that, and the number of full time wedding photographers are dwindling, well.....because no one wants to pay anything! So each client base for real pros takes more creative ways to reach.

If you're on a budget and they want your business, they will negotiate. If they don't respond to your emails, questions, etc, LET THEM GO.

Should vendors always respond and do so in a timely manner, and do their best to accommodate all clients? Sure thing! Never take for granted negotiations are always feasible. The calendar has to be filled, but it has to be a palatable deal.

Depends on area and how much your getting. I'm having a two day wedding to encompass two cultures. 4 hours of photo on first day, 8 hours photo and video the second day + prints + albums + highlight video. And an engagement session. $7100.

I'm paying $15,000 for video and photos with 8 people working the wedding and 2 drone helicopters.

I would recommend picking against someone who does it only on the weekends, if photos are important to you. Yes, it might be a bit more money to hire a full professional, but it may be worth it. If photos aren't important to you, then that sounds like a good plan.

I would expect to spend **** on a photographer that's decent. This usually comes with digital copies as well as some prints, so it's worth it in the end.

I'm in the Cleveland area. $2000 is about average. IMO $975 seems low anywhere