How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost?

The average cost of capturing the precious memories from your special wedding day

Average costs

Budget is a huge part of every wedding. According to ASIC’s Moneysmart, the average price of an Australian wedding estimated at $36,200 - $54,000.  Included,  the average cost to hire a photographer in Australia is $3983. Yes, that is quite a lot of money! Depending on the service and its output, wedding photography cost varies from photographer to photographer and can be quite subjective. You have to keep in mind that a lot of photographers may charge extra for travel, photo albums, a copy of digital files and post-editing processes.

The real value

Not a lot of newly engaged couples realise the time and effort a professional photographer puts behind your wedding photographs. The service they provide does not only include the time they go out and take photos, but also the time undertaking administration, setting up, preparation and the hours spent after the wedding, post-editing, backing up and uploading the photographs.

There is an art and skill to capture a moment. Your wedding photographer knows the ins and outs of their equipment and the itinerary of your wedding. Remember, you get what you pay for. An experienced wedding photographer will capture all the important moments - the first look, the first kiss as husband and wife, putting the ring on, the toasts, bride walking down the aisle, couple’s departure...the list goes on.

‍A photo is worth a thousand words - and a thousand memories to look back to.

Extra considerations

Having a second shooter for your wedding is also worthwhile. If you want  to have a more holistic perspective of your wedding, requesting second shooters from your primary photographer would give you the opportunity to have more candid shots, photos of guests, and shoot at different locations. Your second shooter is there to compliment the primary photographer and not mimic them. Additionally, they will be there to backup the primary, just in case things don’t plan out the way they wanted to.

Moreover, take into account your pre-wedding events. This includes bridal and couple’s showers, bachelorette and bachelor parties, groom’s bucks night and bride’s hen’s night as well as the welcome and rehearsal dinner. These precious moments should also be captured on camera. Considering hiring a photographer for these events and not just your wedding day.

If you are tight on budget, there are a few services out there that can help you out. Snappr is a photography service operating in the Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne metro that connects you with amazing and pre-qualified professional photographers - including those who specialise in wedding shoots! These photographers can become your pre-wedding event photographers and even your second shooter. Snappr offers a standard shoot (3 hours) for only $209 and a full day shoot (7 hours) for $449. That’s only a fraction of the price. If you want to make your wedding process worth looking back to, consider booking a Snappr photographer today.

Remember your wedding photographs increases value over time. Consider the longevity of this service. You are paying for the artistic perspective and the moments captured that you will treasure forever.

Ed Kearney

Co-founder, Head of Operations & Marketing