Wedding photography prices vary from $1,000 to $10,000 or higher in the U.S.,
but Millay says the average for a Midwest photographer is between $3,000 to $4,000. In New York,
Brooklyn photographer Susan Stripling says prices range between $2,500 and $5,000. California isn’t much different;
West Coast photographer Zoe Larkin says Bay Area prices are between $3,000 to $4,700 on average.
While wedding photography styles vary—some photographers lean toward bright and airy images while others prefer dramatic or documentary-style images—styles don’t usually affect prices.
Costs are based more so on experience and demand,
but a higher figure doesn’t necessarily mean better photos.
“The price point doesn’t always dictate how good a photographer is,” Millay says.
“A lot of times the price is based on experience, as most photographers raise their prices annually.”
So what does a photographer with, say, eight years of experience cost?
For Millay, who started shooting professionally in 2012, the starting price is $4,250.