How Much Is My Photographer Going to Cost?

One of the most costly aspects of any wedding can be photography.  The question is, "Are you getting what you're paying for?"  Well we're here to help you know what to look for in different wedding packages and photographers when you are planning your wedding.

When looking for a wedding photographer you should go into the decision knowing that most photographers in College Station are going to having packages starting at around $750 and going up from there to $10,000+ depending on where you are wanting the wedding to be, what you are wanting, how many photographers you want present from the studio, and how long you want the photographers there.  Price also varies depending on the reputation and skill of the photographer as well as the Law of Economics (Supply & Demand).  These are all things to take into consideration when you're choosing your College Station Wedding Photographer.

Most wedding photographers in College Station and Bryan, Texas offer different wedding photography packages that are designed to fit different needs and economic situations (PRICES!).  Others will use a much looser price structuring where they offer many different options and allow you to custom build your wedding package, giving you a price estimate after you've successfully decided what all you want from the photographer.  These can be dangerous situations to walk into because you never know if they're going to boost their prices depending on the client.  Some of the best price structuring options to look for are those who give you a priced package so you can try and determine about how expensive each item is, and then allow you to customize your package as well to get the dream wedding package you are hoping for.  Now, I know what you are thinking - "There are so many options, packages, and decisions; which one is right for me?"

Well, there are lots of things to consider when looking at the different packages.  The first things to look at are THE PHOTOS THEMSELVES!!  Obviously you want to make it priority #1 to get the photographer you like the most and feel captures who you are when you see there photos.  This is a very special day and you want it to be reflected in possibly the only tangible documentation of the events you'll have for the rest of your life.  The next thing you want to consider is the amount of time you want the photographer present at your wedding.  Do you want them to just photograph the ceremony and a couple of formal photos afterwards?  Do you want them to take photos of the ENTIRE day from the Hair Salon to the Limo at the end of the night?  Or, do you want something in between these two extremes?  Some photographers even offer packages that include photography outside of the Wedding day such as Engagement Photos, Bridal Portraits, Trash-The-Dress shoots, the rehearsal dinner, etc.  Time is normally the next largest factor when it comes to price, because it's really what the photographer is getting paid to do!

Other items included in packages that you will want to look for is how you will be able to view your photos once they're finished.  Will they be open for the public to view?  Do you want them in a Password Protected gallery online that you can both view and order from?  Are you wanting printed proofs to view and choose from?  Do you want a CD with digital images for your viewing purposes?  Now that you've seen the photos, how much are they going to cost?  Each photographer has their own print prices and Wedding Packages normally include a discounted percentage off the price of each print or a certain amount of credit with the photographer to be put towards prints and albums.  Think about how many prints you're going to be purchasing from the photographer beforehand, and determine if you'll be better served with a percentage off of price of the proof or are you getting enough credit to cover all of the prints you'll be purchasing.

Albums are by far one of the most classic and popular ways to remember and document your wedding day.  They truly are a way to view the "story" of you wedding as it unfolds over the course of the album.  Albums can also be a very expensive addition to any wedding package.  Ranging in price from $200-$2000+ depending on the number of prints, type of editing being done, number of pages, binding, and other customizations, albums can amount to a lot of work for the photographer, correlating to a decent chunk of change from you.  Fortunately, most wedding photographers in College Station include an album into some of their packages, or allow you to apply your print credit towards an album if its what you choose to purchase.  To learn more about the albums themselves (rather than the cost) check out the Wedding Albums page.

These are the main points to be aware of in any wedding photography package, and each studio offers many more options in their packages as well.  These can include DVD slideshows, thank you card design, save-the-date card design, and many other smaller priced items.  One last point that almost everybody asks is whether or not they will be able to print their own prints from the proofs they receive.  Many photographers will not even give you this option, and if they do it will probably come at a VERY steep price!  So, be aware that this is seldom going to be included and if it is it can be very costly depending on how much reservation the photographer likes to maintain over their art.  Remember, it is your wedding, but they are the artists creating and capturing the magic around them, and just like a painter they too are creating works of art that ultimately belong to the photographer!  You are a client that is contacting the work and purchasing the product.

*DON'T FORGET SALES TAX*

Unfortunately, Texas state sales tax does apply to wedding photographers as well so don't forget this fun little cost on top of whatever you're planning on paying you photographer!