Why Wedding Photography Is Expensive
For today's blog post I will be writing about that very ambiguous topic, "why wedding photography is expensive?" So let's get the ball rolling on this and start with that word we all hate hearing, "expensive." Everyone has a very different definition of what "expensive" is to them. For some £1600, which is the UK's average cost of wedding photography in 2020, is "expensive." Whilst others will pay more than £5000 for a wedding photographer before they consider this being "too expensive". So the key take out here is that the term "expensive" is relative. Another way to look at it is that getting married is something you need to make legally binding and commit to each other's lives. Wedding photography however is something you want.
As a wedding photographer myself, I would like show you some important details to help you understand the forbidden fruits of how wedding photographers price themselves – It's ok I won't tell if you don't. Before I go on we must remember one key element here, and that is wedding photography is a luxury service. Wedding photography sells the brand and its story, it's exclusivity, and the status it inspires; the timeless photography and ability to retain value longer than other less exclusive brands.
Skills to Pay the Bills
Surely the most important one in anyone's book! You are paying for the skills a photographer possesses. It's not only about the tools that drive their prices up, it's the level of skill, experience, and consistency of amazing results. Think of it like when you pay more for a haircut at a salon depending on the experience and skill level of the stylist.
Equipment
Let's be under no illusions here, another reason as to why wedding photography is expensive is their equipment, which isn't cheap! If I was a betting man, I would happily place all my chips on the equipment value of a decent wedding photographer most likely exceeding the cost of the wedding dress, shoes and catering bill combined. Like a surgeon or a watchmaker, a photographer can't do their job properly without the proper tools. Wedding photography equipment is very expensive and don't forget that as technology grows, wedding photographers need to invest in newer equipment to maintain the expected level of quality. The cost and maintenance of said equipment plays a part in your wedding photography price.
This is where you need to have your wits about you. A photographer who is offering you a service for 12 hours or even a full day for only £500, might not have any backup equipment or a good standard of lenses. I'm afraid this makes them no different from "Uncle Bob" with a point and shoot camera.
