How Much Does Wedding Photography Cost in Toronto?
If you're planning a wedding and looking for a photographer, you may have noticed that the prices are all over the map. The good news is that prices vary depending on experience level, which means there's a choice for those who would prefer to hire a relative novice or beginner photographer rather than a high end shooter.
The average cost of wedding photography in Canada.
The average cost of wedding photography in Canada is around $3000. This figure varies by location, photographer and package. Also keep in mind that photographers often charge more for weddings held on Saturdays or Sundays during summer because they have fewer options when it comes to booking their services during peak hours. That 's why if you are getting married on a Saturday anytime between May and October it is highly recommended to book your wedding photographer at least 1 year in advance. You don't want to leave it until 2 or 3 months before and have no choice in terms of photographer and style as every one of your favorite photographers will be booked.
Before you make a decision about how much money to spend on your photos, consider how important they will be in the long run. If you're planning to put together a photo album or share images with family members after the big day has come and gone, then it's worth investing in high-quality prints that look as good at 20 years as they did back then.
Before you make a decision about how much money to spend on your photos, consider how important they will be in the long run. If you're planning to put together a photo album or share images with family members after the big day has come and gone, then it's worth investing in high-quality prints that look as good at 20 years as they did back then.
The average cost of an affordable wedding photography (student or beginner) in Canada.
If you are on a budget you can find a beginner and affordable wedding photographer anywhere from $1500 to $2000 for a full day. HOWEVER you need to be okay with the fact that hiring a beginner or student photographer has risks. A wedding day cannot be redone. There are no second chances to capture those unique moments. Also beginners usually don’t have back up gear and don’t have high end professional cameras which can support double SD cards which is a great way to back up the photos. Indeed SD card failure happens and this can be disastrous if the camera doesn't have a second card.
The average cost of a high end wedding photographer in Canada.
Having a high end wedding photographer means he is a master at his skill in all situations (rushed situation, unexpected moments, bad weather, difficult shooting conditions) and all types of locations (indoor, outdoor, bad lighting). He usually has a team (2 photographers: 1 lead and 1 second shooter) and has backup for every piece of gear. In short, you will never have to think or worry as the photographer will always have everything under control. His full focus will not only be on providing excellent photos but also a personalized service and “experience”.
The average cost of a high end or luxury wedding photographer in Canada is anywhere between $3500 to $7000 depending on the length of the day and add-ons.
The average cost of a high end or luxury wedding photographer in Canada is anywhere between $3500 to $7000 depending on the length of the day and add-ons.
How to budget your wedding photographer in your wedding budget?
Most couples spend about 15-20% of their wedding budget on photography. If you want to go above and beyond, it’s possible to spend more; but if you don’t have that kind of cash lying around, there are ways to save money on your photographer without sacrificing quality.
You can always cut costs on other services such as the cake which are usually untouched during the weddings. You can have fake bottom layers and only the top part as a real cake. This will help to save a significant amount of money.
When it comes to dresses some brides prefer to rent instead of buying it. This is also a big way to save a few hundreds or thousands of dollars.
If you are on a really tight budget the best option would be a winter wedding as during that season wedding photographers and wedding venues will give some type of discount. Sometimes booking a venue on a Friday might be slightly cheaper.
You can always cut costs on other services such as the cake which are usually untouched during the weddings. You can have fake bottom layers and only the top part as a real cake. This will help to save a significant amount of money.
When it comes to dresses some brides prefer to rent instead of buying it. This is also a big way to save a few hundreds or thousands of dollars.
If you are on a really tight budget the best option would be a winter wedding as during that season wedding photographers and wedding venues will give some type of discount. Sometimes booking a venue on a Friday might be slightly cheaper.
Photography add-ons
Here are some of the most popular add-ons for wedding photography:
- Location and travel fees. Usually travel fees are anywhere from $20 up to $200.
- If the venue is more than 3 hours away you can expect some hotel fees added on top of the travel fees.
- Engagement sessions (usually $250 to $400 per hour). It’s the perfect way to get to know your wedding photographer on a personal level and to practice your poses.
- Pre-wedding photography, usually very popular for Indian weddings.
- Albums and prints (anywhere from $100 to $700, prices vary widely depending on the quality, size and number of images you want).
- A 2nd photographer. Great for a wedding with over 100 guests.
- A 3rd photographer for very large weddings. Usually when there are over 500 guests.
- A videography team (it is easier to have a company that does both).
- Drone coverage, especially if you are getting married in a spectacular venue.
- Faster delivery (to have your wedding edited in priority).
- A bridal beauty shoot.
- Trash the dress post wedding photo session.
Conclusion
Not all packages are created equal and there are many factors that influence the price of wedding photography.
Look for a photographer who has a good and large portfolio of weddings. You should be able to see the types of weddings they've photographed and how they handle different situations (different types of indoor and outdoor venues). Don’t take the risk of choosing a wedding photographer based on only a few photos on Instagram. Always ask for a website with plenty of photos to review.
Make sure you understand what is included and what isn’t before signing. And most important choose a photographer that will make you feel comfortable and that you will trust. The rest is all fun.
Look for a photographer who has a good and large portfolio of weddings. You should be able to see the types of weddings they've photographed and how they handle different situations (different types of indoor and outdoor venues). Don’t take the risk of choosing a wedding photographer based on only a few photos on Instagram. Always ask for a website with plenty of photos to review.
Make sure you understand what is included and what isn’t before signing. And most important choose a photographer that will make you feel comfortable and that you will trust. The rest is all fun.
