Would love to see a follow-up video comparing what low-end, mid-range, and high-end photographers are actually offering. Just stills on a drive? Stills in an album? Both? Couple's album? Parent's albums? How many hours? Second shooter or not? Shooting video as well, or not? One location or multiple locations? Etc.
Here in mid/east Europe $3000 for wedding documentation is the top end if several guys are working and client is wealthy :D Normal wedding with one photographer all day is around $700-800 and low end just for the ceremony is around $200 :) And of course cameras cost here more than in US thanks to extreme taxes.
Okay I’ve been shooting weddings for almost 7 years and I’ve struggled so much with my pricing and I’ve heard alllll the things, but this video literally made it all come together and make sense. Like I’ve seen dozens of these videos and this one is by far the most helpful! Thank you!!
Decide how much you want to net a year, and then add all your expenses, and divide by 11 months and 4 weeks and reasonable amount of hours a week. That'll give you your perfect hourly rate.
You are so correct! It is not just about being good. As Gary V says, it is about "branding" the idea, a person wants to be associated with your name. Not the photos. It took me a long time to realise this!
6:48 facts! In my experience, after getting out of the “what I can afford” frame of mind, I found that there are people out there who can afford a lot more than what I’m charging. $2000 might sound like a lot to some, but to others, they’ve spent more than that on a pair of shoes. So when they see your photography being offered for $2k-$5k for a day that’s monumental to their family, that might seem like a “Cheap” photographer (albeit your work is great) and would rather spend $10k on a photographer for that monumental day, even tho the quality might be the same. Think about it. If a wedding dress cost $40k, the cake is $5k, the venue $50k and food and decor.. etc. what does it look like paying $3k for the person(s) who captured all of that in detail? Just saying. 🤷🏾♂️
Very well said. My wife took to me a luxury fashion store in Toronto and asked me to look at some of the prices of the dresses that clients’ guests most likely wear to a wedding… that was informative. But not only that - the experience of the store and how you’re treated is what they are use to. It’s another level.
i think the main difference is the cost of the eye glasses the photographer can afford to wear during the wedding ceremony. The $10,000 photog will have fancy contemporary glasses with with many shiny pieces, and the "cheap" photographer might carry either cheap pharmacy glasses and or - horror! -- have no glasses at all.
Luke, been a silent follower of you for some time but had to give you a shout out for this amazing video! Couldn’t have come in at a better time for me. Thank you
Love this video describing some of the differences. Can you please go into some of the details in the photograph you think make some photos from more expensive photographers cost more? I’ve seen some of the portfolios from some high end photographers, and I can distinctly see the story telling, the quality of the composition over “regular” wedding photographers. But I would love hear your take analyzing perhaps others or even your own portfolio over the years. Thanks!
Nailed it there Luke. In year three of my business I shot 104 weddings and that was on film:) and a way simpler work flow btw. Needless to say I doubled my prices for year 4 and ended up around 70 weddings which was cool. As my skill level increased so did my prices and the most interesting thing is my venues changed to the more exclusive hotels and that was an eye opener. If you are shooting in the top venues clients also expect to pay top dollar for their photography. As a friend once said to me "I'm reassuringly expensive" :) Also worth noting no matter the price point clients want lovely wedding photos and sometimes the ones looking for deals can be the most demanding. I've spoken to photographers and videographers that are scared about raising prices understandably but in a crowded market place that could be the smart move.
Create a large demand for your limited supply and control the volume with price. Charles Lewis. 1/2 the weddings at twice the price gets you the same income with fewer clients.
Shot my first wedding this year and have an opportunity to shoot a couple more in the spring time next year. Like your early experience, I charged about the same and also sticking to that price for now for the upcoming weddings in the spring. Right now since my photography skill comes from passion, I want to create that brand, grow in reputation and customer interaction with my clients before considering a reasonable bump in cost of service. Great info! Thank you for sharing! I think a big challenge for me is the brand aspect. Being consistent in what I produce while getting better at its quality. Ive come to learn that it's definitely not just the photography but the business you bring in every regard to being a wedding photographer. So much great experience is had when I learn to be willing, patient, and earnest
I have been following you for a while and i think you are one of the best if not the best in explaining the business side of photography. I also really like this concept of this video. I have zero interest in becoming a wedding photographer myself but I can see thesame concepts apply to creating a marketing video or marketing photos, which is what I do next to landscapes. And yes 10k is a lot of money for a wedding but if people want the absolute best, you gotta pay up. If you can get your schedule filled with that fare, good for you!
I wish I could be paid 2000€ for every wedding I shoot... in my country it is even a lot. My competition charge 300€. It's a struggle!! It's very hard to make people realize the diference for price vs value.
Same here in Czech republic. Normal wedding with one photographer all day is around $700-800 equivallent and low end just for the ceremony is around $200. Only very wealthy clients pay something like $3000 equivallent and that usually includes full video coverage and tons of printed photos.
Obviously region dependent but there’s no universe where I’d charge under $3000 for a wedding. And I have no experience in that specific field. It’s pretty much a week of work and nobody is charging under $100 the hour.
The key is to find the client who’s got disposable income. I’m conflicted in this video because if the price is too high, real people won’t book you. That said we are rapidly approaching cell phones killing the photography industry so make a few bucks while you can, I guess. Find yourself an off-ramp though.
Thanks for your thoughts Luke. I might just look at that Light and Airy preset. I really like the look it creates. I just need to book a few more weddings to justify it :)
This is insane insight. I have absolutely no desire to become a wedding photographer but I watched this whole video because you presented the information so well. If this video is any indication of your services, I can definitely see why you can charge a premium. Thanks!
Thanks for the tips. I been struggling to find a reason to charge more and this is the perfect solution. I heard so much about photographer that was charging high price and I couldn't tell why would one charge this much for a wedding. This should help me shoot more wedding as I been losing motivation to do so.
Such great advice. People pay thousands of dollars to get the advice you just gave away for free. That rebrand transition is very tough to say the least.
Interesting video, but also somehow frustrating. In Spain, where I live, I shoot weddings for around 700 $ and I would be super happy to be able to charge 1500 $, and still get clients. And no, life is not that much cheaper in Spain, so obviously it´s basically imposible to make a living out of it. Of course there are some very established photographers who charge between 1500 and 3000 $, but hardly anyone is willing to pay that here.
I would assume that if you were charging $10k for a wedding, that you would understand how wedding arrangements are going to take place. At first, yes you are shooting for work. Then you become more familiar with the venue. Next step, you engage more with the wedding planners and wedding party. Then, you are getting more help as the scale of weddings are increasing. At $10k, you should produce more than photography. It becomes an experience that is being provided other than photos. I.E. you should be planning the wedding venue along side the wedding planner. The photos aren’t going to change much but you will.
Do you have a pilot's license for your Drone? It is required if you use it to make money from a business. The particular license does not require actually flying a plane.
Lots of comments overlooking (or not understanding at all) that it's NOT just about the day-of the wedding (6-10+hrs) -- it's the whole experience: • Client Intake -> Connection/Communication-> Creating their (custom) Timeline -> The Big Day -> Alllll the post work/processing (not just referring to the images/videos) Ppl also seem to be neglecting ALL THE HATS that's involved: Owner/CEO, Creative Director, Primary Shooter/Team leader, Manager, Admin/customer service, Social media manager/marketing, etc. On the Photography side: You need to know how to pose/direct/prompt ppl, have great composition skills, be a Fashion/Make-up photog, Food Photog, Product Photog, Macro Photog, be an expert or highly competent at Natural & Artificial Lighting (lighting at the venue + OCF), etc etc. & that's not even covering post processing/editing (being able to get the results promised to couples/clients), Cost of Doing Business & Cost of Living** -- I can't tell you how many ppl FALSELY believe Photogs pocket the $10k...that's NOT how businesses work. The Photog doesn't put the $10k into their personal account. It goes to the BUSINESS & they get paid a (small) portion out of that. There's so much more to include, esp if the Photog has a team or is solo but offers "hybrid coverage" -- & I didn't even get into Country/State/City or Destination variables. Didn't even mention different quality gear being utilized either. You can buy jeans 👖 at Wal-Mart & you can buy jeans at Gucci...are the $2500 Gucci jeans 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 than the $25 Walmart version? Depends on the person. ^^This is where the "branding" (& being able to communicate & deliver on it) comes into play. You can get "free" water from a tap...or you can pay $5 for "Fiji or SMART" bottled water...you'll pay $8 for that same bottle at the airport. Yknow? There are very solid objective reasons why a photographer charges what they charge, but yes, there's a bit of "subjectivity" involved too. If you feel like "I could never charge over $6k for wedding photography services," well OK, that's YOU. Other photogs choose differently. Hence, there's a MARKET within this Industry. ^^also didn't discuss that this is a "Wedding INDUSTRY", for a reason, but this comment is long enough 😅
None basically. Both still ruin the images in post production. Mediocre post work and misleading the clients saying they are “high end”Industry needs to change. You are a premium photographer not a high end photographer. This is what people need to realize and we need to teach the consumer the difference between good work and poor work.
One of my takeaways is that $10,000 wedding photographers can do their own stick figure animations for RUclips. [Edit: also, though, appreciate the takeaway on how price signals quality, good advice for freelancers in any field.]
I'm just curious, when you talk about $3.000 and $5.000 photography, you are talking just about the photos or all the possible aditionals, like: photobook, prints, second or third photographer, etc?
People who charges 10K while only using ONE lens and 0 lighting setup nor a virtual guestbook kiosk is a complete scam... No one is going to pay you 10k when you are only using ONE lens. Using crappy Nikkon gear and lens is just scam on your clients. Also you are trying to sell your LUTS? WHY? if you are making so much money from Wedding bookings....don't try to pretend you are worth that much when your gear in your website is a complete joke...
Thank you so much for this video Luke. I just followed you a couple days ago and ive been bing watching your video. Keep posting man, I'm so glad I found you
Hey Luke! I love this insight as I question my own pricing. Are you able to show full wedding day galleries from each price point? I feel like a 10k photographer would be able to execute a wedding day that’s “low budget” and not aesthetic in a way that only a seasoned photographer could. Wondering if you still shoot weddings that aren’t ideal in venue/florals/overall details at your price point and how you execute it. Sorry if that was all over the place. I’m terrible at articulating 😅
Very good video, rarely do people talk on this issue so candidly! 1. Your intentional improvement was the takeaway from this video. 2. This replication (consistent look) is what a professional distinguishes from others. It is also true in personal life. I had heard this from Rafal Weigel on portrait photography. He had learned this from another photographer.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I’d love to see the differences in your 3k v 10k photos.
Would love to see a follow-up video comparing what low-end, mid-range, and high-end photographers are actually offering.
Just stills on a drive? Stills in an album? Both? Couple's album? Parent's albums? How many hours? Second shooter or not? Shooting video as well, or not? One location or multiple locations? Etc.
Here in mid/east Europe $3000 for wedding documentation is the top end if several guys are working and client is wealthy :D Normal wedding with one photographer all day is around $700-800 and low end just for the ceremony is around $200 :)
And of course cameras cost here more than in US thanks to extreme taxes.
Okay I’ve been shooting weddings for almost 7 years and I’ve struggled so much with my pricing and I’ve heard alllll the things, but this video literally made it all come together and make sense. Like I’ve seen dozens of these videos and this one is by far the most helpful! Thank you!!
Decide how much you want to net a year, and then add all your expenses, and divide by 11 months and 4 weeks and reasonable amount of hours a week. That'll give you your perfect hourly rate.
You are so correct! It is not just about being good. As Gary V says, it is about "branding" the idea, a person wants to be associated with your name. Not the photos. It took me a long time to realise this!
6:48 facts! In my experience, after getting out of the “what I can afford” frame of mind, I found that there are people out there who can afford a lot more than what I’m charging. $2000 might sound like a lot to some, but to others, they’ve spent more than that on a pair of shoes. So when they see your photography being offered for $2k-$5k for a day that’s monumental to their family, that might seem like a “Cheap” photographer (albeit your work is great) and would rather spend $10k on a photographer for that monumental day, even tho the quality might be the same.
Think about it. If a wedding dress cost $40k, the cake is $5k, the venue $50k and food and decor.. etc. what does it look like paying $3k for the person(s) who captured all of that in detail?
Just saying. 🤷🏾♂️
Very well said. My wife took to me a luxury fashion store in Toronto and asked me to look at some of the prices of the dresses that clients’ guests most likely wear to a wedding… that was informative. But not only that - the experience of the store and how you’re treated is what they are use to. It’s another level.
I think you pretty nailed the reason why two people with similar photography skills would make different money! Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
i think the main difference is the cost of the eye glasses the photographer can afford to wear during the wedding ceremony. The $10,000 photog will have fancy contemporary glasses with with many shiny pieces, and the "cheap" photographer might carry either cheap pharmacy glasses and or - horror! -- have no glasses at all.
It’s a free market. People will think 10k is cheap.. people will think 1k is too expensive. You charge what you want 😊
In other words, the best BSer wins.
Luke, been a silent follower of you for some time but had to give you a shout out for this amazing video! Couldn’t have come in at a better time for me. Thank you
I appreciate that!
Love this video describing some of the differences. Can you please go into some of the details in the photograph you think make some photos from more expensive photographers cost more? I’ve seen some of the portfolios from some high end photographers, and I can distinctly see the story telling, the quality of the composition over “regular” wedding photographers. But I would love hear your take analyzing perhaps others or even your own portfolio over the years. Thanks!
Nailed it there Luke. In year three of my business I shot 104 weddings and that was on film:) and a way simpler work flow btw. Needless to say I doubled my prices for year 4 and ended up around 70 weddings which was cool. As my skill level increased so did my prices and the most interesting thing is my venues changed to the more exclusive hotels and that was an eye opener. If you are shooting in the top venues clients also expect to pay top dollar for their photography. As a friend once said to me "I'm reassuringly expensive" :) Also worth noting no matter the price point clients want lovely wedding photos and sometimes the ones looking for deals can be the most demanding. I've spoken to photographers and videographers that are scared about raising prices understandably but in a crowded market place that could be the smart move.
Create a large demand for your limited supply and control the volume with price. Charles Lewis. 1/2 the weddings at twice the price gets you the same income with fewer clients.
Shot my first wedding this year and have an opportunity to shoot a couple more in the spring time next year. Like your early experience, I charged about the same and also sticking to that price for now for the upcoming weddings in the spring. Right now since my photography skill comes from passion, I want to create that brand, grow in reputation and customer interaction with my clients before considering a reasonable bump in cost of service. Great info! Thank you for sharing! I think a big challenge for me is the brand aspect. Being consistent in what I produce while getting better at its quality. Ive come to learn that it's definitely not just the photography but the business you bring in every regard to being a wedding photographer.
So much great experience is had when I learn to be willing, patient, and earnest
I have been following you for a while and i think you are one of the best if not the best in explaining the business side of photography.
I also really like this concept of this video. I have zero interest in becoming a wedding photographer myself but I can see thesame concepts apply to creating a marketing video or marketing photos, which is what I do next to landscapes.
And yes 10k is a lot of money for a wedding but if people want the absolute best, you gotta pay up. If you can get your schedule filled with that fare, good for you!
Thanks for watching! And I appreciate the kind words!!
It would only work if you're already pretty well known. I don't think anyone can just justify even just a 5k for a wedding shoot.
Are you shooting by yourself the whole wedding?, editing by yourself ? And what are you delivering in your package?
I wish I could be paid 2000€ for every wedding I shoot... in my country it is even a lot. My competition charge 300€. It's a struggle!!
It's very hard to make people realize the diference for price vs value.
Same here in Czech republic. Normal wedding with one photographer all day is around $700-800 equivallent and low end just for the ceremony is around $200. Only very wealthy clients pay something like $3000 equivallent and that usually includes full video coverage and tons of printed photos.
Obviously region dependent but there’s no universe where I’d charge under $3000 for a wedding. And I have no experience in that specific field. It’s pretty much a week of work and nobody is charging under $100 the hour.
The key is to find the client who’s got disposable income. I’m conflicted in this video because if the price is too high, real people won’t book you. That said we are rapidly approaching cell phones killing the photography industry so make a few bucks while you can, I guess. Find yourself an off-ramp though.
Does the 10k include drone footage? Or a selfie booth .. + editing
Thanks for your thoughts Luke. I might just look at that Light and Airy preset. I really like the look it creates. I just need to book a few more weddings to justify it :)
Awesome thanks! Totally! Book those weddings! :)
This is insane insight. I have absolutely no desire to become a wedding photographer but I watched this whole video because you presented the information so well. If this video is any indication of your services, I can definitely see why you can charge a premium. Thanks!
Thanks very much! So glad you found it interesting!
Thanks for the tips. I been struggling to find a reason to charge more and this is the perfect solution. I heard so much about photographer that was charging high price and I couldn't tell why would one charge this much for a wedding. This should help me shoot more wedding as I been losing motivation to do so.
What do you do when you jump up, but then don’t get a lot of bookings? Be patient? Went from 3k-4k and only do 10 hours now. Not a BIG jump
Such great advice. People pay thousands of dollars to get the advice you just gave away for free. That rebrand transition is very tough to say the least.
Interesting video, but also somehow frustrating. In Spain, where I live, I shoot weddings for around 700 $ and I would be super happy to be able to charge 1500 $, and still get clients. And no, life is not that much cheaper in Spain, so obviously it´s basically imposible to make a living out of it. Of course there are some very established photographers who charge between 1500 and 3000 $, but hardly anyone is willing to pay that here.
yes , life is cheaper in Spain . and good photogs there charge more than 3000 euros
I would assume that if you were charging $10k for a wedding, that you would understand how wedding arrangements are going to take place. At first, yes you are shooting for work. Then you become more familiar with the venue. Next step, you engage more with the wedding planners and wedding party. Then, you are getting more help as the scale of weddings are increasing. At $10k, you should produce more than photography. It becomes an experience that is being provided other than photos. I.E. you should be planning the wedding venue along side the wedding planner. The photos aren’t going to change much but you will.
Great content. Much appreciated - thanks for sharing your insights 🙏
Thanks for watching and glad you found it helpful!
Great explanation 👏👏👏👏
The difference is thousands of more dollars to put into getting a house. Other than a couple on the wall, nobody even looks at their pictures.
Do you have a pilot's license for your Drone? It is required if you use it to make money from a business. The particular license does not require actually flying a plane.
Yeah, this is becoming more of a requirement now. I have met the legal requirements in my country.
Lots of comments overlooking (or not understanding at all) that it's NOT just about the day-of the wedding (6-10+hrs) -- it's the whole experience:
• Client Intake -> Connection/Communication-> Creating their (custom) Timeline -> The Big Day -> Alllll the post work/processing (not just referring to the images/videos)
Ppl also seem to be neglecting ALL THE HATS that's involved: Owner/CEO, Creative Director, Primary Shooter/Team leader, Manager, Admin/customer service, Social media manager/marketing, etc.
On the Photography side: You need to know how to pose/direct/prompt ppl, have great composition skills, be a Fashion/Make-up photog, Food Photog, Product Photog, Macro Photog, be an expert or highly competent at Natural & Artificial Lighting (lighting at the venue + OCF), etc etc.
& that's not even covering post processing/editing (being able to get the results promised to couples/clients), Cost of Doing Business & Cost of Living** -- I can't tell you how many ppl FALSELY believe Photogs pocket the $10k...that's NOT how businesses work. The Photog doesn't put the $10k into their personal account. It goes to the BUSINESS & they get paid a (small) portion out of that.
There's so much more to include, esp if the Photog has a team or is solo but offers "hybrid coverage" -- & I didn't even get into Country/State/City or Destination variables. Didn't even mention different quality gear being utilized either.
You can buy jeans 👖 at Wal-Mart & you can buy jeans at Gucci...are the $2500 Gucci jeans 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 than the $25 Walmart version? Depends on the person.
^^This is where the "branding" (& being able to communicate & deliver on it) comes into play.
You can get "free" water from a tap...or you can pay $5 for "Fiji or SMART" bottled water...you'll pay $8 for that same bottle at the airport. Yknow?
There are very solid objective reasons why a photographer charges what they charge, but yes, there's a bit of "subjectivity" involved too.
If you feel like "I could never charge over $6k for wedding photography services," well OK, that's YOU. Other photogs choose differently. Hence, there's a MARKET within this Industry.
^^also didn't discuss that this is a "Wedding INDUSTRY", for a reason, but this comment is long enough 😅
im just here to point out, that these prices should be illustrative and can vary from region to region.
Loooool yes. I’m here to point out 00:12
@
Funny. It’s almost as if 00:12 IS THE REASON I MADE THE COMMENT
Of course, but the variation is the same, if not the specific amount.
How do you land your first wedding deal?
Loved this video! Invaluable
Glad it was helpful!
The groom’s monogrammed shirt cuff 😂
None basically. Both still ruin the images in post production. Mediocre post work and misleading the clients saying they are “high end”Industry needs to change. You are a premium photographer not a high end photographer. This is what people need to realize and we need to teach the consumer the difference between good work and poor work.
Does $10k+ include videography?
No I was not talking about video in these price ranges
7,000 USD
Right on!
Great Video
One of my takeaways is that $10,000 wedding photographers can do their own stick figure animations for RUclips.
[Edit: also, though, appreciate the takeaway on how price signals quality, good advice for freelancers in any field.]
I just wish I had MS PAINT. Then I’d be 🔥
are you planning to do some bus videos? that would be great
out of nowhere- found out you have a dead pixel in the camera you, while trying to wipe my monitor thinking there is a dust lol
Escuchandote desde Latinoamerica 😢
I'm just curious, when you talk about $3.000 and $5.000 photography, you are talking just about the photos or all the possible aditionals, like: photobook, prints, second or third photographer, etc?
People who charges 10K while only using ONE lens and 0 lighting setup nor a virtual guestbook kiosk is a complete scam... No one is going to pay you 10k when you are only using ONE lens. Using crappy Nikkon gear and lens is just scam on your clients. Also you are trying to sell your LUTS? WHY? if you are making so much money from Wedding bookings....don't try to pretend you are worth that much when your gear in your website is a complete joke...
Thank you so much for this video Luke. I just followed you a couple days ago and ive been bing watching your video. Keep posting man, I'm so glad I found you
You're welcome! I love it! I'm so glad you've found them helpful!
10K😂😂😂 I’ll use my smartphone 📱
Interesting example with the watches. Personally, I think the super expensive one is ugly and I much prefer the look of yours. lol
Hahah I also like mine. That’s true, just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it always looks better.
Hey Luke! I love this insight as I question my own pricing. Are you able to show full wedding day galleries from each price point? I feel like a 10k photographer would be able to execute a wedding day that’s “low budget” and not aesthetic in a way that only a seasoned photographer could. Wondering if you still shoot weddings that aren’t ideal in venue/florals/overall details at your price point and how you execute it. Sorry if that was all over the place. I’m terrible at articulating 😅
The airy-er it gets the more expensive it is. 🤠
The more blown out you mean ha
@@deadreckoningoutdoors Oh you mean "fine art?" haha.
The 100k photographers just hand out pure white photos. lol
Very good video, rarely do people talk on this issue so candidly!
1. Your intentional improvement was the takeaway from this video.
2. This replication (consistent look) is what a professional distinguishes from others. It is also true in personal life.
I had heard this from Rafal Weigel on portrait photography. He had learned this from another photographer.
Thanks! Glad you liked it. YES the video is actually less about 10k photographers and more about how to get better! So I'm glad you got that. :)
$7000
in positioning yourself and showing off and telling everyone how cool you are , that's it
I’m super duper cool. 😎