The Cost of Memories: What Couples Are Spending on Wedding Photography in 2025
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life—filled with memories you’ll cherish forever. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing a photographer to capture those moments. In 2025, wedding photography prices have continued to rise, but it’s important to understand why and what you should expect when budgeting for your wedding photography.
What Are Couples Spending in 2025?
As of 2025, the average cost of wedding photography in the United States has climbed significantly. While prices can vary depending on the region, experience, and style, couples are spending between $4,000 and $10,000 for a high-quality photographer. For those opting for a more specialized experience, such as adventure elopements or destination weddings, prices can go beyond $10,000, with packages that include photography and videography often reaching the $12,000–$20,000 range.
In 2022, the average price for a skilled photographer was around $2500, but in 2025, the tiers are different. Here’s a simplified breakdown:
Beginner: $0-1000 (They’re just starting out and this may be their first wedding or their first solo wedding)
What to expect: This is risky to put it mildly. You have no concrete idea of what the final photos will look like, they most likely can’t make you feel confident that you’ll receive the photographs you want.
Amateur or Hobbyist: $1000-2500 (May photograph weddings regularly or work for another photographer consistently. May not be full time)
What to expect: You may have seen some examples that give you a sense of comfort that you will have good images. It is unlikely they will have the ability to provide natural posing direction, or capture quality candid photographs yet. They are still building their body of work and buying pro level gear.
Semi-Pro or Growing Amateur: $2500-3500 (Probably has a higher demand for style. Still refining their client experience and learning to be consistent with the final images.)
What to expect: These photographers have already begun investing in quality gear, backups, education, and developing systems. They are beginning to develop a personal style that is more consistent but not all the time.
Professional: $3500-10k (Considered full-time pros, they have a high demand due to their expertise and style.)
What to expect: This photographer has many years of experience and has a very established brand. They make you feel well cared for and emphasize incredibly high quality unique photographs.
Luxury: $10k-40k+ starting prices (Typically more established, extremely consistent refined style, and luxury offerings.)
What to expect: These photographers select a handful of weddings to photograph each year and are capable of handling high profile events with ease. Their style influences the industry standards and has a refined client experience that is custom tailored.
What’s Included in the Cost?
While pricing will vary across photographers, here’s a general breakdown of what you can expect to receive for your investment in 2025:
Engagement Session: Many photographers include an engagement session in their packages, giving couples a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera.
Full-Day Coverage: For a typical wedding, full-day coverage (8-10 hours) ensures no moment is missed, from the getting-ready shots to the last dance.
Edited Photos: Expect professionally edited images that reflect the style and tone of your wedding, delivered in an online gallery or USB drive.
Travel Costs: For destination weddings or shoots outside the local area, travel and accommodation may be added to the cost.
Albums & Prints: Many photographers offer options for custom albums, prints, or canvas wall art to display your wedding photos for years to come.
Why It’s Worth the Investment
Wedding photography is one of the few things from your big day that you’ll have to remember forever. Your photographs will be the lasting visual story of your day, and as time goes on, they will only grow in sentimental value. When you invest in a high-quality photographer, you're investing in memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
How to Set Your Wedding Photography Budget
To ensure you're spending wisely, it's important to set a budget based on what matters most to you. Some couples choose to allocate a larger portion of their wedding budget to photography because they know it’s the only thing they’ll have to look back on. Others may trim costs in other areas to allow for a higher-quality photographer.
Start by considering these factors:
What’s your priority? Is photography your top priority? If so, don’t be afraid to invest more into your photographer and make sure they are the right fit for your vision.
Do your research: Look for photographers who have a style that resonates with you. Good wedding photographers don’t just have a signature style (light and airy, dark/moody, editorial, classic, etc) — but each one has their own approach to photographing your day. The person you’re going to spend the most time with on your wedding day is your photographer. It’s an important decision!
Final Thoughts: Quality Over Everything
In 2025, the wedding photography landscape continues to evolve, but one thing remains true: you get what you pay for. The investment in a photographer who understands your vision, captures the raw emotion of your day, and delivers beautiful images will be one of the most valuable decisions you make for your wedding.
When you look back at your wedding day years from now, you’ll want to remember how you felt, the tears of joy, the laughter, and every beautiful detail—captured in a way that feels just as meaningful as it did in the moment. Investing in a talented photographer ensures that your memories are preserved for a lifetime, and trust me, it’s worth every penny.