Is wedding photography really dead? I don’t think so

What is the status of professional wedding photography? If you talk to photographers, you will get plenty of mixed opinions.

This post is based on a blog post written by a wedding photographer in England titled “Wedding Photography is Dead.” This writer points out that photographers have had to lower their prices to compete with newbies who charge a very small amount. Many photographers who had been making a living doing wedding photography now find themselves needing to get part-time jobs because they are no longer making a living wage.

I personally don’t believe it is dead, but it probably is a more difficult profession. Higher-level photographers are competing for jobs against people who charge low prices and have limited experience.

How common is this issue right here in Nebraska? To be honest, I really don’t know. I do know, though, that there are countless people trying to break into the business by charging cheap prices. There’s a Facebook page dedicated to brides looking for products and services. Whenever a bride posts that she’s looking for a photographer, they come out of the woodwork. Many offer very low prices.

I know weddings are expensive and couples getting married often have tight budgets. Wedding photography can be very expensive. It should be, however, considered higher on the budget level, meaning couples should dedicate more money to photography than other services.

I recently met with a couple looking for a photographer. They told me they were planning on having 500 guests at their wedding. However, their budget for photography and video was only about $1,500.

This tells me that there are many couples not wanting to pay for quality photography. On the other hand, there still are many who realize its value and are willing to pay a more suitable price.

Prices for wedding photography in Lincoln and in Nebraska are all over the map. The good ones who have the most experience will be more expensive. So I guess couples have to ask themselves how much value they place on their wedding photos, then decide what to do from there.