Wedding Photography Packages: What to Look For
Every wedding photography package looks complete on the landing page. The gaps show up on page four of the contract, or on the final invoice when "travel" turned out to be a $900 line item nobody mentioned in the consultation.
Below is the checklist we'd use if we were shopping for a wedding photographer — what should be included in any honest package, and the five hidden exclusions we see most often.
The eight things that should be in every package
- A specific number of coverage hours — not "full day" with no definition
- A specific delivered photo count range — not "unlimited" (it's never truly unlimited)
- Specific turnaround time — in weeks, not "promptly"
- Named lead photographer — not "a member of our team"
- Travel policy — included, capped, or explicitly billed per mile
- Backup equipment clause — what happens if a camera fails mid-ceremony
- Sick-day clause — who shoots your wedding if the lead is unavailable
- Editing policy — color correction only, or full retouching
If any of these eight is missing from a quote, ask. If the answer is vague, that's the answer.
The five hidden exclusions
1. Prep-time coverage
"8 hours of coverage" sometimes means 8 hours starting at ceremony. If you want getting-ready photos, that's pre-ceremony time that needs to be explicitly added.
Ours is unambiguous: we cover what the wedding day actually needs, not a stopwatch.
2. Travel fees
Local photographers usually include travel within 30–50 miles. Out-of-town, coastal, or destination work often adds flight and lodging. Read the contract for anything that says "travel billed at cost."
Our policy: US travel included. No surprise flights or lodging.
3. Second photographer
Many studios quote a base package with one shooter, then add "second photographer" as a $600–$1,200 line item. Ask upfront whether the portfolio photos you saw were shot with one camera or two — if the galleries you love were two-camera, you'll want that too.
4. Retouching limits
"Fully edited gallery" often means color-corrected, not retouched. Blemish removal, skin smoothing, and stray-object cleanup might be capped at 10–20 images or charged per image beyond that. This is an industry-standard split; just know what you're getting.
Our standard: color correction on every image, light retouching on every image the couple loves, heavy retouching available as an add-on.
5. Print and album costs
Digital delivery is standard. Printed albums, parent albums, and wall prints are almost always separate. Budget $600–$2,000 if you want a physical album; $50–$400 per wall print.
What to ask in a consultation
- "Can I see three full wedding galleries from the last six months?" Not highlight reels — full edited deliveries.
- "What's the sick-day clause?" Any decent studio has a network of backup shooters. If yours doesn't, plan accordingly.
- "Do you have liability insurance?" Venues increasingly require it. If the answer is no or "we can get one," walk away.
- "What does the contract say about weather delays?" Outdoor ceremonies get moved indoors. Contracts should specify coverage adjusts to the day, not the plan.
- "How many weddings have you shot in the last year?" Under 15 is early-career. Over 40 is senior. Either can be good; experience should be priced accordingly.
What our Collections package actually includes
For comparison, here's what's in our most-booked tier ($1,999, Collections):
- 1–2 lead photographers and 1–2 videographers
- Full-day coverage, no hour cap
- 4–5 HD cameras across the team
- Edited photo gallery (600–1,200 images for an 8-hour wedding)
- 1-minute social cut + 5-minute highlight film
- Full ceremony video
- 14-day gallery delivery
- US travel included
- Pre-wedding timeline planning with your concierge
- Digital delivery of all files
- Optional add-ons: album ($600+), drone ($400–900), engagement session ($350)
That's the whole package. Nothing asterisked. No "travel extra" at the bottom in small print.
The one question that matters most
"What's the total price, including every add-on we'd likely need?" Ask it. Don't compare base prices — compare this number.
A transparent photographer will answer in one email. Opaque ones will say it depends. "It depends" is usually what depends-fee is charged on.
If you want our honest version
Send us your venue, date, and a quick description of what you're imagining. We'll send back a one-page quote with everything included, nothing hidden, and specific answers to each of the questions above.
