Why is "Wedding" Photography More Expensive?

I read a great article by Lauren Grove, the editor of wedding blog Every Last Detail. In the article, she addressed 5 Wedding Truths and today I want to share my thoughts on one of those with you: The word "wedding" isn't the reason that wedding photography is expensive.

To be perfectly honest, this was a misconception I had as a bride. I had not yet started my photography business, so I only had a bride's perspective of wedding planning. During the planning process, I saw the advice on wedding forums to book a consultation with a vendor for a "big family party" only to tell them later that it was actually a wedding. I didn't like this idea at all, because honesty and trust with my vendors was very important.

Now that I've had the opportunity to photograph over 50 weddings as well as one big family party, I can state without a shadow of a doubt that there is a HUGE difference in the amount of work that goes into planning these two events. For the family party, I chatted with the client once or twice in person and we sent a few emails back and forth. And then I showed up a few minutes early and made sure we were all on the same page since the party was a surprise. Then I photographed the event for a few hours, edited the images, and sent her the files. That was it. Now let's look at a wedding in comparison.

For the average wedding, I spend at least 4 hours planning the event. In addition to our consultation and the booking process, we send emails back and forth to build their timeline, put together their family formal list, and make note of a dozen other details that I need to know for their wedding day. I also send my clients a welcome email with additional information that they might find helpful. And that doesn't count driving to and from meetings, booking travel arrangements, or anything relating to the engagement session.

For the family party, I shot for 2 hours. For weddings, I tend to shoot 7-9 hours. And I take twice as many photos per hour at weddings, because there's more to photograph, so I have way more post-processing to do.

For the family party, I took candid shots and a few family pictures. Everything is very casual. For a wedding, I'm shooting details, candids, family portraits, romantic bride and groom portraits, group photos with the wedding party, the ceremony, and the reception. All in different lighting situations. Some parts of the day like candid shots and the ceremony are very hands off, but portrait time is very involved. So not only do I have to be good at blending into the background and capturing moments as they happen, but I have to lead and organize large groups of people as well.

All these different lighting scenarios requires more gear and more expensive gear. Photographing weddings means very dark receptions, which was the reason I upgraded my camera body. Photographing a variety of different things (details, candids from across the room, large groups, couple's portraits) means I need a wide variety of lenses. I could shoot family events with a much cheaper camera and much cheaper lenses.

Add on top of all this the fact that weddings are a high-pressure situation. Friends and family members of the couple have gathered from all over just for this one event. There's no redo. There's no room for error. Everything has to be done right the first time. So it takes a lot more experience and confidence to shoot a wedding well than it does to capture a casual family event.

These are just the main ways that weddings are more expensive to shoot than other family gatherings. Much more time goes into making the wedding day and the wedding images perfect for the bride and groom and all that time (and additional gear) means that we have to charge more for weddings.

So even though it looks like a wedding photography package might be jacked up in price, you're getting much more for your money than just the hours that we'll actually be shooting the wedding. And it's the same for other vendors across the board. While the comparison would be a little different for every vendor, a wedding is a bigger event, and therefore costs more.

Jamie & Bert - Colorful Norfolk Botanical Garden Wedding in the Butterfly Garden

Jamie’s maid of honor echoed the words that Bert’s dad had just said in his toast. “As soon as I saw Jamie and Bert together, I knew they were meant to be.” In all the years she’d known Jamie, no one made her smile like Bert. No one made her feel so comfortable. No one made her laugh as often. In every way, they were perfect for each other.

She smiled across the room at the newlyweds, holding hands at their sweetheart table, and asked everyone to raise a glass. “Love is friendship set on fire. May your love burn bright for years to come. Here's to my best friend… and her new best friend.”

Jamie and Bert had a beautiful wedding day at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. A heat advisory threatened to spoil the outdoor reception they had planned on the terrace, but Jamie pressed on. And just as the guests were taking their seats at the ceremony, the clouds rolled in, thunder rumbled in the distance, and a cool breeze dropped the temperature a good 15 degrees! Just in time for Jamie and Bert enjoy their garden ceremony, sunset portraits, and reception under the café lights. It was perfect!

We worked with a dream team of vendors on this wedding! I always love working with the ladies at Norfolk Botanical Garden! Ashley & Liz were amazing and took such wonderful care of Jamie & Bert. And this wedding was my first of two weddings this year with Sterling Dawn Events, which was so exciting, because we’ve been waiting to do a wedding together for two years! Beauty by Sharra had the ladies all looking flawless in the heat, and Palette of Petals put together the stunning florals!

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The Creative Team:
Coordination: Sterling Dawn Events
Venue: Norfolk Botanical Garden: Butterfly Garden and Baker Hall Terrace
Venue Coordination: Liz & Ashley

Bridal Gown: David's Bridal | Beauty: Beauty by Sharra | Bridesmaids: David's Bridal | Catering: Creative Catering Virginia | Cake: Gourmet Bake Shoppe | Florals: Palette of Petals | Groom's Attire: Jim's Formal Wear | Officiant: Danny McLamb | Lighting & Linens: Classy Covers | Music: Brandon Bower Band | Photography: Caitlin Gerres Photography | Stationary: David's Bridal

If you're getting married in 2018 and looking for your wedding photographers, we would love to meet with you! Contact us here!

Monday Musings - The One with More Ryan Quotes

Ryan has been saying some funny things lately. So today we're skipping the musings and going straight to everyone's favorite part. Here's what you've been missing from Ryan:

5.3 ounces of gross.

It looks like a set of grapes ate another set of grapes.

Although I have had some success folding a napkin into a spear and stabbing it.

Our quilt will never have nasal congestion.

But then we could say, "Words, go to your mother."

Natalie & Tony - Virginia Beach Engagement Session

It had been a really rough day at work. She had vented about it to Tony and now she just wanted to push past it and enjoy the evening. They were headed to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with their parents. As soon as Tony decided which shirt he wanted to wear.

After dinner, Natalie’s mom wanted to show her a funny cat video she had found. But when Natalie looked at the screen, she saw a photo of her and Tony, and then another and another. A thousand things rushed through her mind as she watched the slideshow. And then… a picture of Tony’s nephew, holding a sign that read “Will you be my aunt?” Then Tony’s sister, “Will you be my sister?” And Tony’s parents, “Will you be our daughter?” Then the slideshow instructed her to go to the backyard.

She walked slowly to the door and opened it. Tony stood in the backyard, surrounded by candles and rose petals, with a ring in his hand. And just like that, her really bad day became one of her favorite days. 

 

Natalie & Tony are getting married this fall at the Historic Post Office! Ryan and I are so excited for their wedding day with Kelsey Ann Events!

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Julia & Tyler - Pastel Wedding at Noah's Event Venue Chesapeake Virginia

Tyler had been tearing up since the rehearsal the night before, watching Julia walk down the aisle on her father’s arm. He must have smoothed and re-tucked his shirt a thousand times. He wanted everything to be perfect for her, right down to the lack of wrinkles on his white dress shirt.

The forecast that day called for thunderstorms. But when Julia arrived at the church, protected from the sprinkling rain by an umbrella, she was smiling. Because as much as she wanted outdoor photos, all that really mattered was marrying Tyler. And when the rain cleared up, and the sun came out, and the warm church building got even warmer, she sat serenely on a pew. The heat didn’t matter either. In a few minutes she would see her groom and then they would promise their lives to each other.

And promise they did. Promises to respect and cherish each other. Promises to fill their home with love and joy. Promises of constant support for each other. Promises to build each other up instead of tearing down. Promises of love and faithfulness in good times and bad. Promises to make Christ the center of their marriage and to love and serve after His example.

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I was so excited to shoot at the brand new Noah's in Chesapeake! It's such a pretty venue and check out this awesome ceiling draping and chandelier!!!

How adorable is this donut wall? So cute!

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The Vendor Team:
Ceremony Venue: Oaklette United Methodist Church
Reception Venue: Noah's Event Venue, Chesapeake

Bride’s Dress: Modern Trousseau at Ava Clara Bridal | Catering: Mini Italia New York Pizzeria | Cake: DIY | Coordination: Leila Oakley | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Lulu's | Florals: DIY | Officiant: Jessie Melendez | Invitation: Papernpeonies | Videography: David Broughton

Do I Really Need a Wedding Coordinator?

I know what it's like to plan a wedding and be overwhelmed with everything that your budget needs to cover. And when you've never planned a wedding before, it can be hard to make good decisions, because you honestly don't know what the best option is and what the ramifications of that choice will be. That's one of the reasons I always recommend that my brides hire a professional wedding planner.

Today I wanted to focus on what happens when a couple doesn't hire a planner or a day of coordinator for their wedding: the photographer kind of becomes the coordinator. And that's not always in the couple's best interest.

Don't get me wrong. I love helping my couples put together their wedding day timelines. I will make sure things keep moving throughout the portrait time. I will tell the girls how to hold their bouquets and advise the bride and groom on how to cut the cake. I will work with the DJ or band throughout the reception to make sure we're on the same page with the parent dances and the bouquet and garter toss.

Sounds like a day of coordinator right?

But what if the cake cutting set goes missing? What about keeping the girls on track during hair and makeup? What about set up and take down of the reception? What about pinning on those pesky boutonnieres? What if the groom forgets his vows in the hotel room? What if a vendor is running late?

A photographer can't handle these sorts of things. But a day of coordinator can.

And I can only give advice on a small part of the timeline... the part that affects the photography! How long will it take for hair and makeup? When should the cake arrive? What about bustling the dress before the reception? A coordinator's opinion is so valuable! 

A day of coordinator not only manages things that go wrong on the wedding day and keeps the timeline on track, but she helps the day run more smoothly. She might ask the caterers to provide a plate of appetizers for the bridal party during cocktail hour. She's a pro with boutonnieres! She will make sure your gifts are loaded into the right vehicle and your 'something borrowed' gets back to your aunt at the end of the night. 

When my couples hire a wedding planner or day of coordinator, they are able to ENJOY their wedding day more. And they get the best possible photography experience from me, because I am completely focused on photographing the wedding day.

On a related note, local Hampton Roads wedding planners, Emily Weddings, recently posted a fabulous article about the difference between a venue coordinator and a day of coordinator.

Looking for a wedding photographer? I still have a few weekends open for this year! Shoot me an email here with your names, wedding date and location!

 

Want more Tips for Brides?
Makeup: Splurge or Save?
How to be Inspired by Pinterest
Do I Really Need a Wedding Coordinator?
Because They Hired a Wedding Planner
Secret Jobs of a Wedding Planner
6 Things Wedding Guests Will Love
The Importance of the Stupid Wedding Decisions
10 Things That Should be on Your To Do List
Choosing Your Bridal Party
Taking Time Off
Wedding Day Emergency Kit

 

Images from a fantastic wedding I did with the ladies from Cherry Blossom Planning Factory.