Wedding Photography Costs Increase

A recent survey by The Conde Nast Bridal Group shows that the average amount spent on weddings has increased to $27,852. This is almost a 100% increase since 1990 when the average cost was $15, 208.

Of the top growth categories, the cost of photography and video jumped the highest percentage – 178%. In 1999, the cost of photography/video averaged $1263. In 2006 it was $3509.

But the statistics don’t explain why and I thought it would be appropriate to address this- I can only speak about wedding photography, and not video.

1. Digital costs and equipment
As studio and photojournalistic wedding photographers have changed from film to digital photography their costs have skyrocketed. Digital equipment is very expensive, plus any photographer worth two cents carries a lot of back up equipment. Depending on the size of the wedding, they also bring assistants and second shooters if necessary.

2. Time
In the old days, a photographer shooting film would have a professional lab process the film and then deliver the images to the photographer who would sort and edit them.
This was tedious work but relatively easy.

Now, with digital photography, photographers do the work the labs used to do- they process the images on their computer, they edit and color correct them and then in some cases post them on a website.

This can take a day or two since most photographers take a lot of images when shooting digital. So time has to be factored into the photographer’s costs.

3. Experience
Never discount the cost of experience. As the market shifts so more and more amateurs pick up a digital camera and profess being wedding photographers, there are more avery inexpensive photographers out there who offer to shoot your wedding and then just give you the images on
a cd without editing them, correcting them or giving you high resolution images. Then you’re stuck making all the reprints whose price you didn’t factor into the cost of your wedding either.

An experienced photographer will give you a fair package that doesn’t contain hidden costs. You will be assured that the images will be technically proficient but also, and just as important, have a viewpoint or artistic sensibility that puts them above the amateur photographer.

In the end, you only have your memories and your pictures so if you’re going to spend extra money, do it with a high-end professional wedding photographer like those on www.TheWeddingPicture.biz!

Trash the Dress

I was reading the Sunday New York Times and right after the wedding announcements, there was an article showing images of brides being photographed in their wedding dress in some situation that totally ruins it. (Think Ophelia in a pool of water!)

To quote the article's caption, “Bridesmaids have had a hostile relationship with dresses for years. Now brides are acting the same way.” See nytimes.com/weddings for a slide show of brides ruining their dresses for a photo op. Apparently, in 2005, a Las Vegas wedding photographer named John Michael Cooper, started the trend called "Trash the Dress" and other photographers have started taking these pictures, too.

Now, as a photographer, I used to amuse myself at weddings by shooting a series called “The Party’s Over "– shots of the aftermath of the wedding. It kept me focused, as frankly, towards the end of the wedding, there wasn't so much to shoot and this kept me on my toes.

So I can see the interest in creating images about the dress. After all, most photographers take a still life of the dress beforehand- it's kind of an interesting idea as an end shot, too. The photos can also be an amusing artistic challenge for any photographer to take. One of the brides is quoted as saying that because she had no plans to wear the dress again, despite paying $2500 for it, why not ?


On the other hand, and I don’t want to sound judgmental here because it’s up to the bride to do whatever she wants with her dress, but please be aware that there are other options, too. You can donate wedding dresses to charities so other people who can’t afford an expensive dress can have a great dress to wear, too. Check out our Charitable Weddings section to get some ideas where you can donate your dress.

I’d love to hear from some other photographers to see if you do your own fine art photography project at weddings, too. Maybe you can post some of your images here!

On a different note, we’ve just started our Promotions section of The Wedding Picture. Visage Studio, one of the best makeup studios in the country, is offering the amazing Chinese Tea Eye gel for brides who spend over $99. One of my favorite photographers, Lyn Hughes is offering two 5 x 7 prints to anyone who books their wedding with her. (These are Lyn's photos on this blog - aren't they great!) And Dr. Jacques Jospitre, the founder of Wealth Therapy, is offering a free consultation to The Wedding Picture readers. Wealth Therapy is a great way for newlyweds and photographers to modify their thinking around money!

Keep posted for new offers. If you’re interested in offering brides, grooms, photographers and others who service the wedding
industry any great deals or promotions, please email us at
info@theweddingpicture.biz.

All photos copyright Lyn Hughes Photography. All rights reserved.