Brooke Danielle Photography is a Virginia based wedding photographer.
brooke@brookedaniellephotography.com
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I have to admit that as a Northern Virginia Wedding Photographer this is one question we often get asked. How come your pricing is “x” amount more than “enter name here?” Let’s be honest, it’s always a bit awkward discussing the financial side of your business to your clients. However it doesn’t dismiss the fact that sometimes the question does get brought up during initial consultations. How do I explain this to my clients? What is the actual reason for such price fluctuations between different wedding photographers? The fact is there is no direct answer. Hear me out…
Business Model
First & foremost, every wedding photographer’s business model is going to be different. I don’t know why “Photographer A” charges more than “Photographer B” simply because I do not know what their cost of doing business is per year- and also because it’s none of my business 😉 Some photographers may also offer more in their packages, while other photographers may incorporate extra things into their business that would require extra expense. A wedding photographer’s rate mostly comes down to what it takes to actually make their business profitable and successful.
Supply & Demand
Yes, just like with product this can be true of wedding photographers as well. For example, if there is a shortage of vanilla bean the cost of vanilla at the grocery store is going to sky rocket. The same is true in the wedding industry. If a wedding photographer (or any wedding vendor for that matter) finds that they are booking up most of their weekends, odds are they are probably going to raise their pricing. Why? Because the wedding photographer just became that much more valuable. Now they are in high demand.
Equipment & Experience
I’ve always been a firm believer in “you get what you pay for.” Before I step on any toes with this statement I will be the first to admit that I’ve been there. I am not knocking the abilities nor do I mean any disrespect to those who are in the lower price range, however, it most likely means that they are either hobbyists or photographers who are just starting out with their business. Depending on the price bracket, if “Photographer A” charges a significant amount more than “Photographer B” I’m willing to bet it has to do with their experience & the equipment they possess. How valuable is the photographer? Again, the key word is value. What is their level of professionalism? Are they insured? How is their customer service? Do they deliver a top notch product? Do they possess ALL of the proper equipment to capture exquisite images throughout the entire duration of your wedding day? Wedding photography can certainly be an investment, but it’s one you should make wisely.
This Photographer’s Work is Beautiful, So Why Are They So Much Cheaper?
I would like to conclude with this final point. I have seen & worked with a variety of different photographers in different price ranges. I have seen photographers charge as low as $1200 for a wedding (hey, that used to be me!), while I have seen others charge between $2,500-$10,000 for a wedding. I state all of this to say that I have seen GORGEOUS work produced from both the $2,500 photographer AND the $10k photographer. I have also read amazing reviews for both of these photographers. The point I’m trying to make is that in some circumstances, the higher end photographer doesn’t necessarily knock the $2500 photographer. Why? Because it has everything to do with their business model, the area in which they may be doing business, the amount of travel they may include, etc.
A Behind the Scenes Look…
So let’s get real for a moment & address the elephant in the room. If you caught what I said in the paragraph above, I said that I used to charge $1200 for weddings. From a professional stand point, I’m not going to break down my business costs. However, I can assure you that if I charged $1200 per wedding today my business would go down hill very quickly. Sure maybe I would book more weddings, but I would be over working myself just to keep my business afloat. Also at $1200 per wedding I was paying myself a significant amount less per hour than what I currently pay my 2nd shooters ???? So how come I was able to charge $1200 per wedding back then, you may ask? The truth is I was treating my business more like a hobby than a actual business (and mostly because I was inexperienced). It was also due to the fact that I was trying to attract business in order to grow my business, and hey, there’s nothing wrong with that! You have to start somewhere.
Here are some of the things I have since incorporated into my business that I did not have while at the $1200 price point (and should have!)
Business Insurance (yikes!)
A 2nd shooter
Outsourcing Fees (editing)
Software Fees (business email, book keeping, PASS, editing software, etc)
Custom Designed Website/Monthly Website Fees
Bridal Guides
A significant amount more equipment
This list is just some of the essentials. Again, not every wedding photography business is going to incorporate the same things, but this is what I incorporate into my business to make it operate the most smoothly for myself & for my clients. Everyone’s business model is going to be different, therefore explaining the price fluctuations between different photographers. Hopefully this blog post helped you to understand the reasoning, but always remember to do your due diligence in researching a wedding photographer before you hire them. Also remember that no matter how beautiful their work, relationship is key 😉
“Thank you for stopping by! If you wish to learn more about my Wedding Experience, you can contact me here!”
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I’d love to hear about your love and story and celebrate with you on your big day as your biggest cheerleader!