What you need to know about photographer & videographer pricing
Photo: MIKI Studios
Couples often ask: Why does photography and videography cost so much? The truth is, the price reflects far more than just hours behind a camera. It represents artistry, preparation, emotional presence, and the talent to capture fleeting moments whilst respecting the people living that moment.
“We are constantly reading the room, managing energy, adapting to unpredictable light or timelines while holding space for the most important moments in people’s lives. The work goes beyond cameras. It’s about trust, intuition and presence.” MIKI Studios.
To shed light on wedding pricing, we spoke with four leading professionals - all trusted, exceptional and recommended on The Directory.
“I love photographing the moments of the getting ready and the First Look because there's a tension in the air that gives me butterflies in my stomach.”
“Our fav moment is always the in-between. That exhale when the ceremony ends. The way a father looks at his daughter when no one else is watching. The footsteps behind a veil. Real emotion doesn’t announce itself. It reveals itself quietly.”
“We love the couple portrait session. It’s where time briefly pauses and we can get creative images that feel editorial yet honest. Clean compositions, beautiful cinematic light, and a moment away from everyone to focus on each other.”
“My favourite moment to capture is just after the ceremony, when emotions are still raw — hugs, tears, laughter, relief, and joy all mixed together. It’s the truest reflection of what a wedding is: love in its purest, most unfiltered form.”
Advice for Choosing a Photographer
“Look for consistency, not just hero shots. Watch full films, ask for full galleries, not just highlights. Read testimonials. Most importantly, ask yourselves if you feel seen by the work and safe with the team. That connection will shape your entire experience.” MIKI Studios
Consistent work, full galleries, testimonials, and style alignment.
Evaluate the experience: rapport, communication, and client care matter as much as images.
Confirm deliverables: clarity in contracts ensures transparency and trust.
Verify press features. If someone claims “featured in Vogue,” confirm it’s an earned editorial (a real wedding), not paid placement.
Gradisca: “Never compromise on quality; the secret is to reduce and optimise. A limited budget means a beautiful location but few selected guests, fewer courses for dinner, a vintage outfit, a DJ for the entire event, and a top-of-the-line photographer."
Contract Red Flags
Gradisca highlights the importance of a transparent contract.
If it doesn't include a section on how to handle unexpected events (illness, replacement, etc.), ask for it to be added.
If you are hiring an associated studio with multiple photographers and want the principal photographer to shoot your wedding, make sure it's included in the contract.
Your choice of style is often more important than cost. Look for work that moves you and aligns with your vision.
Photo credit: Sara D’Ambra
The Hidden Work Behind Pricing
Wedding imagery costs far more than the visible hours of shooting:
Time & Editing: Weeks of preparation, 40–100+ hours of editing, timeline consultations, location scouting, and album design.
Gear & Infrastructure: Professional cameras, lenses, drones, stabilizers, editing software, cloud storage, insurance, marketing, and subscriptions.
Emotional & Creative Investment: Professionals anticipate moments, manage energy, solve problems, and ensure moments unfold naturally.
Olivia & Dan: “Couples often underestimate the scale of what happens before and beyond the wedding day: prep, timeline consultations, travel logistics, intensive editing, secure backups, and detailed album design to a fine-art standard. The value of guidance is easy to miss too - structuring a timeline around light and flow can be the difference between good images and amazing ones.”
Photo credit: MIKI Studios
Factors That Affect Price
Experience & Reputation: Years of practice, technical skill, and creative problem-solving.
Consistency: Full galleries and films with dependable quality.
Connection: Choosing a photographer you trust and feel comfortable with.
Scope of Work: Hours, team members, travel logistics, and optional extras like albums or video.
Taxes & Business Costs: Especially in countries like Italy, where VAT and fiscal requirements significantly affect pricing.
The “day rate” is only a fraction of the value; the rest reflects professionalism, skill, and care.
Photo credit: Gradisca Portento
Budgeting Without Compromising Quality
Experts agree on one key principle: optimize, don’t compromise.
Consider reducing hours or skip non-essential add-ons while keeping your preferred photographer.
Secure your date with a base package and add extras later if budget allows.
Prioritise chemistry, style fit, and experience over sheer quantity of coverage.
Sara D’Ambra: “A shorter but beautifully crafted story from a human that you like is far more valuable than hours of content you’ll never revisit.”
Photo credit: Olivia & Dan
What Couples Often Miss
Contracts covering contingencies (illness, backups, cancellations).
Technical and logistical orchestration: lighting, group photos, equipment redundancy.
Editing and sequencing, which transform raw images into a cohesive narrative.
Emotional investment and presence: the photographer’s intuition and ability to create natural moments.
Invest wisely. Choose style, trust, and presence. The right professionals turn fleeting moments into a timeless legacy and we know the ones to trust - find your team today.
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