One of the first questions we get asked at Bridal Shows is “How much do you charge?” We would love to be able to give the price, but often, we don’t have enough information to adequately say what the price should be. Obviously the price for 5 hours of photography with two photographers on site is going to be different than 10 hours of coverage with 3 or 4 photographers. This can sometimes be infuriating for brides looking to find a photographer, or another vendor for that matter. Wedding photography is different than photography for a birthday party or a portrait session. A wedding photographer only gets one chance to get it right. There are no do overs on the day of the wedding. If the photographer misses the first kiss, it is gone forever. The level of skill needed to perform under such stressful circumstances means that it will cost more to capture great photos. You can read our blog post about “Why Does Photography Cost So Much,” if you are curious about what goes into the cost.
Back to the main point though, what the photographer needs to know is what you want for product. In this sense, we are using the word product very loosely to also include time, editing, albums, engagement session, and anything else the photographer offers. Because every photographer offers slightly different product or does things differently, it doesn’t make sense to ask for a price without having any clue what the service is. Once you have picked a photographer you like, read how to pick a photographer, then you can start looking at the services and products that photographer provides. If you are absolutely unable to meet the photographer in person, at least try to set up a conference call with your fiancee present. Skype is a great way to do this because you can interact with the photographers and get to know their personality.
Here are some things to include in an email if you wish a price quote.
1.) Budget Range:
Low and Highest Price you are willing to pay. If the base price for the photographer is over your highest, the photographer and you probably won’t be a good fit together.
2.) Date:
The photographer needs to know if that date is available to even shoot your event.
3.) Time:
How long do you want the company you are hiring to be shooting? Start and stop times are also important here. If the event is out of town and you wish the photographer to stay until 1 AM, they may need to book a hotel, which could increase the package price.
4.) Location:
This will play the biggest factor when a hotel, plane flight, or long drive is involved. We want to be able to give you the best service, and that means getting sufficient rest before your event so we can keep at 100% throughout your day.
5.) Products:
Would you like to have an album? Prints? What about phone cases, mini albums, cards, or any number of other items we offer? Have you seen and touched that product? What are the quality assurances on those products. A disc full of images is a product as well. What are you expecting to do with that disc? Some photographers only allow prints to a certain size, some only edit select photos, others edit all of them.
With the list of items to include in an email, it is understandable why any vendor doesn’t just give a price. We really would like you to make the most informed choice you can.
