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Wedding Photography Pricing Calculator

Updated · By the CalculatorDash editorial team · How we check our maths

Quick answer

Wedding photographers price packages by coverage hours plus add-ons such as a second shooter, an engagement shoot and an album. Editing usually takes as long as the day itself or longer, so a package should be priced on total hours, not just the hours at the venue.

Wedding photography package

hours
$
$
$
$

Package price

$3,600

Booking retainer (30%)
$1,080
Your total hours
24 hours

Coverage + editing (about 1.5 h per hour shot) + meetings and delivery.

Real hourly rate
$125

After paying the second shooter and album production.

How this calculator works

A wedding is one day on the calendar but several days of work: consultations, the shoot, culling and editing, gallery delivery and album design. Pricing only the hours at the venue is the most common reason photographers undercharge.

This calculator builds the package price from coverage and add-ons, then shows your real hourly rate across all the hours you will actually spend, after paying a second shooter and the album lab.

The formula

Package
coverage hours × hourly rate + second shooter + engagement + album + travel
Your hours
coverage + coverage × 1.5 for editing + engagement editing + 4 hours of admin
Real hourly rate
(package − second shooter − 45% of album price − travel) ÷ your hours

Worked example

Eight hours at $375 is $3,000. A second shooter adds $600, for a $3,600 package. Editing takes about 12 hours and admin 4, so you work 24 hours in total. After paying the second shooter you keep $3,000, or $125 an hour.

Tips

  1. 01Offer three packages; most couples pick the middle one.
  2. 02Take a non-refundable retainer to hold the date.
  3. 03Price albums with a healthy margin. They are a high-value keepsake and time-consuming to design.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I charge for wedding photography?

Start from the total hours a wedding takes you (often three times the coverage hours), multiply by the hourly rate you need, and compare with photographers in your area at a similar level.

How long does it take to edit a wedding?

Many photographers spend one to two hours editing for every hour of coverage, depending on style and the number of images delivered.

Should wedding photographers charge for travel?

Most include travel within a set radius and charge mileage, accommodation or a flat fee beyond it.

What retainer should I ask for?

A retainer of 25–50% is common to secure the date, with the balance due shortly before the wedding.