Blog

Have you been searching Atlanta wedding photographer prices online and gotten sticker shock. You’ve noticed there is a HUGE difference in what Atlanta wedding photographers charge. Unfortunately it’s not really possible to make direct comparisons because it’s such a personal service. But here are a few reasons why there’s such a big difference.

1. Talent & skill
Talent is the biggest factor in determining the value of a wedding photographer. Some are downright bad, possessing no fundamental knowledge of photography and relying on their camera to get the shot. In the middle you have the mediocre, or what I call competent wedding photographers. Yes, they can get the job done with proper exposures and create nice pictures, but the images are boring and uninspired. They don’t elicit any emotional response. Finally there are those with true talent to create or capture an image. Their images are captivating and draw the viewer in. I believe having a photographic eye is inside a person and can’t be learned. It can be developed with experience but not learned. With that comes the skill, or the knowledge of the technical side of photography needed to pull off your vision. Skill without talent is why some photographers are only competent.

2. Experience
Experience is the second biggest factor in the price. Newer photographers are generally less expensive even if they are talented. But they may have difficulty organizing your family for portraits and quickly & politely get them done. They may not be able to anticipate moments or be in the right place to get the shot. Experienced photographers are able to work under pressure and solve problems without missing a shot.

3. Image Processing
Some photographers will deliver your photos straight out of the camera with little or no adjustments, while others will completely retouch some or all of your images. Several hours of work goes into processing these images so some with lower fees may charge you to retouch a photo, while others like myself, include it in the base fee.

4. Quality of Products
Some photographers offer consumer style albums where you slip prints behind plastic sleeves. These are not archival and can eventually result in discoloration, fading or even transfer of the image to the plastic. Then there is varying quality in professional albums where the images are permanently mounted to the page. Some don’t hold up to wear & tear. The image may discolor at the seams or even separate from the page. Cover materials (leather versus leatherette, metallic or canvas photos) are also a big factor in the price. High quality wedding albums are expensive even at wholesale so a low priced photography package will likely not have the best quality albums available. I guarantee my wedding albums.

5. Customer service
Lower cost photographers may not have the time or patience to deal with the many questions a bride may have. They’ll take days or even weeks to respond to questions. They may not be helpful or pro-active in handling problems. There’s also a big difference in delivery time-lines. Some photographers deliver your wedding photos within weeks of the wedding while others take can take several months for the photos with even more time need to complete your album. I’ve delivered wedding albums to couples as quickly as 2 months after their wedding.

6. Legitimate business
Photography is one of the easiest businesses to start. There are plenty of magazine articles advising people to make money with their cameras but it’s actually a very challenging and expensive business to maintain. Some cut corners by not being properly licensed and insured, not paying taxes, or having inadequate equipment for the job. I do operate my business legally but I keep costs down by not having staff and limiting myself to only the number of weddings I can handle while still providing excellent customer service.

I remember going through sticker shock when I was a bride. I was a hobbyist not a Pro photographer at the time. Wedding magazines often underestimate the true cost of photography and give bad advice for keeping costs down (like using disposables or hiring students). But here is a good resource for actual cost of Atlanta wedding photography as surveyed by recent brides. My prices are very competitive and I do offer a lot of value. Contact me for more information.