You and your significant other have found some photographers you would like to shoot your wedding, but you don’t know if you can trust their prices. Maybe their photos look good, but they have a questionable high price. Well, it’s actually pretty simple to determine if they’re the right photographer for you and your wallet.

In 2023, a two-hour wedding photoshoot in St. Louis will be expected to make you pay on average around $1,256. On average a one-hour wedding shoot will cost $785 and a four-hour shoot will cost $2,199. Can you find photographers prices lower than this, sure! But ask yourself why, if this is the average. The reasons might be simple, they haven’t invested into their business, gear, or maybe systems. You might be thinking how does this all affect me? Good question, are you okay with hiring a photographer that is just starting out? So, set your budget and get to picking your perfect photographer, because it may take a while. But to get you started here are just few amazing photographers in the St Louis area.

• Jessica Lauren Wedding Photography https://jessica-lauren.com/
• Cassidy Parker Smith Photography https://cassidyparkersmith.com/
• McKinley G Photography https://mckinleyghotography.com/
• Mike Cassimatis Photography https://mnc-photography.com/
• Emily Broadbent Photography https://emilybroadbent.com/

This all makes sense when you factor in that photography, dress and videography are the only things that live past your wedding day. Sure you can get creative an have your flowers pressed but not all of them, and how many times will you be wear that dress, to remember what it looked like on you, you will look back at your photos.

You need to figure out what style of photos you want, and how much you are willing to pay for that certain style or extra benefits offered.

Figure out whether you only need the photographer for a limited time or the entire day. Last but not least, figure out when you need to book them. 9-10 months in advance is a good number, but if you are paying a premium price for a true professional, you may want to book at least a year in advance.

So with all that taken into account, you have your final price. Reflect on who you have chosen. Will you have to book very far in advance? Will they take photos for the entire day, or a few hours? Are you getting extras and the style you want in your photos? Are you happy with their price? Once you find a photographer that fits these areas, you found your perfect photographer!

Find out how we can help you capture your dream wedding day.

Next comes the harder part, fitting your photographer budget with the budget of the rest of your wedding.

Food, alcohol, dj, venue, pastor, these all come to concern when you budget your wedding. In STL, you have so many good venues to choose from and it can be hard to find one that you think is the perfect location. Depending on the style of photos you want, you might want a place with lots of natural light. You should also pick somewhere you think fits you, your partner, and your wedding.

• Exploring 31 Unique Wedding Venues in St. Louis: A Comprehensive Guide
• Finding Timeless Elegance: 8 Short Tips to Choose Your Dream Wedding Dress
• Why do wedding photographers charge so much?
• Navigating the Aisles of Budgeting: Tips and Templates for Your St. Louis Wedding
• How to find the right Wedding Photographer for you

Next, food and drinks, most likely alcohol for the adults and virgin drinks for the kids if there are any. And food can be somewhat complicated as this includes your cake, which can cost a lot of money. Food is also a touchy topic, especially if there are kids at the wedding. If there are no kids, you can go for something more fancy or something you think most adults will like. If there are kids, something like barbecue is actually good at a wedding, and most will cater to weddings.

A DJ can also be a great part of a wedding, and you need to find a DJ that will come to your wedding for a good price and has good taste. If you and your significant other have a certain song you bonded over, it’s a very good idea to recommend that song to your DJ during the dance or throughout the day.

A priest, rabbi, or minister is also a very concerning topic, as you need someone who follows your religion. Your religion can also influence the food, drinks, and venue, as your wedding may be held in a place of worship.

Once you have all this figured out and planned, you are well on your way to your perfect wedding!