Pricing Explained

Pricing

Why So Expensive?

We Pour Our Hearts Into This

This work isn’t just about pretty pictures—it’s about capturing some of the most meaningful moments of your life. I become invested in your story, your emotions, and your memories. And while I absolutely love the art, I also do this to support my family and sustain a creative business that allows me to keep serving clients like you.

Trust me—years from now, you’ll never regret what you invested in those beautiful, heartfelt images. They’ll become priceless keepsakes that bring back every emotion, every detail, and every moment. Every time you look at them, they’ll tug at your heartstrings and remind you why it was worth it.

Many people wonder why it costs anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 for just one day of wedding coverage. The truth is—there’s a lot more to it than most realize. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Below is a breakdown of what goes into creating the quality of work you see on my site.

Time Investment: It’s a Lot More Than Just One Day

While wedding day coverage may only last 8–10 hours, what you’re investing in is often 40 to 80 hours of total work. The bulk of work is in image editing after the shoot. A large gallery of 600-700 images requires significant editing time, including culling (selecting the best shots), color correction, and retouching.

The process includes:
• Pre-wedding planning and timeline consultation
• Full-day coverage
• Manually editing every single photo to ensure it meets the highest standard
• Delivering a polished, cohesive collection of images that tell your story

This level of attention to detail is how I consistently deliver the quality you see across my portfolio. You’re not just paying for one day—you’re paying for nearly two weeks’ worth of dedicated effort behind the scenes.

Expertise: Creating Beautiful Moments in Any Environment

A good photographer doesn’t just take pictures—they craft images, even in less-than-ideal conditions.

See the photo below, for example: the couple appears to be basking in beautiful golden-hour sunlight. In reality, it was a dark, overcast day that ended with rain. Using multiple off-camera flashes, I was able to simulate sunset lighting, and later enhanced the scene in Photoshop to add sun rays. That kind of result doesn’t come from luck—it comes from years of experience, technical skill, and creative vision. Things don’t always go as planned, the weather may not cooperate, and we may have to shoot in a location we did not expect, but a good photographer can overcome all these obstacles.

Gear: Professional Tools Make a Difference

High-end camera bodies, premium lenses, flashes, lighting controllers, memory redundancy, editing computers, and professional software—all of this gear is essential for capturing clean, crisp, true-to-life images in any lighting situation.

Budget photographers may not invest in the same level of equipment, which can directly impact image quality and reliability. When you hire a professional, you’re also hiring their gear—and the expertise to use it well.

The Real Cost of Running a Photography Business

It’s easy to look at pricing and think you’re paying for just the time spent at your wedding. But professional photography is a full-time business with real overhead, including:

• Gear maintenance and upgrades
• Business insurance and liability coverage
• Website hosting, galleries, and storage
• Marketing and client communications
• Professional development and continuing education
• Travel expenses and client meetings

This all adds up to a sustainable business that delivers a consistent, reliable, and personalized experience for every couple.

Why Pricing Varies

In the Upstate NY Capital Region, professional portrait sessions typically range from $300 to $1,000, while full-service weddings are usually between $3,500 and $8,000, or even higher, depending on the photographer’s experience, the services offered, number of photographers, and the time invested.

Beginners or part-timers may charge less while building a portfolio—and there’s nothing wrong with that. We all start somewhere. But comparing those rates to full-time, seasoned professionals is like comparing a student cook to a professional chef. The price reflects the experience and the final result.

Respecting the Work

If you love a photographer’s work but aren’t able to invest in a full package, ask about mini sessions. Many professionals offer shorter sessions at reduced rates during certain times of the year. It’s a respectful and effective way to work within your budget without asking for discounts or undervaluing someone’s work.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to understand what goes into professional photography—and why the investment is worth it. We appreciate each and every client we work with and hope for the priviledge to serve you!