It can be tough figuring out what the average wedding photographer costs. With so many talented artists offering their services, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of what is a good value.

What's the Average Price for Wedding Photography?

Did you know the average wedding in Canada costs anywhere from $30,000 - $50,000+? And the average wedding photographer cost is often 5% - 15% of the total wedding budget. This puts the average wedding photography cost in the $2,500 - $4,500+ range. Yet in some bigger cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver it is not unheard of to find wedding photography prices as high as $12,000+.

(Real talk: I came across a wedding planner’s IG post that stated the average 120-person wedding in Vancouver, your budget should be in the 75k range.)

There are quite a few considerations when it comes to wedding photography costs that may explain the big range of wedding prices.

Wedding Photography Cost Considerations

Number of hours. One of the main driving factors of wedding photography cost is how many hours of coverage. Hours can range from a couple of hours to capture an elopement to multi-day coverage that includes pre and post-wedding festivities.

Number of photographers. Most include 2 photographers for weddings with a higher guest count. This helps ensure there are photos of everyone you’ve invited to celebrate with you. For elopements, this may be a benefit because, with 2 photographers, more than one angle of the same pose can be captured at the same time. This gives you more time to go to more locations or include something you both love like stopping for a drink or an ice cream.

Number of locations. If you’re going to a few locations for wedding photos, this may increase the number of hours you’ll need due to the travel time between both spots. Another thing to keep in mind when choosing your location is travel fees, which can apply whether you’re having a destination wedding or a local wedding.

Related: 5 Places to Elope in BC

How Much Does Elopement Photography Cost?

Extras Often Included in Wedding Photography Packages

While these may not directly impact your wedding photography cost, knowing which matters to you may require you to find a photographer with more experience.

Engagement session. The most common inclusion, about 50% of wedding photographers include an engagement session with their wedding photography packages. Couples use their engagement photos on wedding websites, wedding/engagement announcements, table numbers, etc. It’s also an easy way to get to know your wedding photographer a bit better so that on your wedding day, you’ll be just that much more relaxed.

Album. I believe that there’s nothing like seeing photos in printed format and albums are also often included in photography packages. It’s a super easy way to make sure your amazing wedding photos don’t end up forgotten on some old hard drive.

Location scouting. If you’re having a destination wedding, hiring a photographer that can help you with location ideas + scouting can be extremely helpful. Even if you’re getting married locally, there are some locations that may be better suited at different times of day depending on the light. An experienced wedding photographer will know this and be able to help you choose the best location.

Related: Best Outdoor Venues in BC

Custom timeline. You will be spending a lot of time with your wedding photographer on the day of your wedding. Unless you’ve hired a wedding planner or coordinator, often your photographer will work with you to create your wedding day timeline.

Are the wedding photography costs worth it?

As you try to figure out what the average wedding photographer costs, and what’s possible within your budget, it’s important to keep in mind that at the end of the day, after the vows have been said and your outfit is hung, all that you have left of your wedding day are your wedding photos. And those precious memories that are worth every penny, IMO.

Looking For an Elopement or Micro Wedding Photographer?

If you’re planning an outdoor elopement or small wedding, I would love to chat! Simply fill out the form below and I’ll get back to you in 24 hours!

Wanna learn more? Check out my elopement page or small wedding page to learn more about what’s included in my wedding photography packages and to find out starting prices.