Why Is It So Expensive to Hire a Wedding Photographer in New York City, NY?

New York City isn’t cheap. From its exorbitant real estate prices to its pricey restaurants and clubs, New York City is the epitome of expensive. So, it’s no surprise that many a wedding photographer in New York City, NY charges an arm and a leg for their photographic services. If you’re getting married on a budget, you’ve probably scoffed after seeing the prices that some of these photographers charge. So, why is it so expensive to hire a wedding photographer in New York City, NY?

For one, everything is more expensive in New York City than it is in other parts of the country because it’s a huge city with a high cost of living. But there’s a lot more to it than that. Professional, high quality wedding photography isn’t cheap anywhere in the world because of the high overhead costs. The overhead for a typical wedding ranges from $1500 to $2000, so a wedding photographer in New York City, NY has to charge anywhere from $3000 to $6000 to make a living. Furthermore, skilled wedding photographers aren’t a commodity. It takes years of education and practice to become a good wedding photographer, not to mention years of experience shooting weddings.

You could expect to spend 15-30% of your budget on a wedding photographer in New York City, NY. Most couples end up spending twice more than they anticipated on photography. Generally, a decent wedding photographer in New York City, NY will charge at least $3000 for the most basic package. Most couples realize that it’s worth paying this price for wedding photography because they can tell the difference between mediocre photos and professional quality photos.