1) Digital SLR cameras range from about $400 – $6,800. Compared to a point-and-shoot camera, they all look like a Benz, but when it comes to what the camera is actually capable of, there’s quite a difference in what’s under the hood. What your photographer’s camera is capable of is especially important in low-lit churches, reception venues, and night photography.

2) Some photographers have one primary camera and a backup camera (maybe), while others might carry two primary cameras, a secondary camera, and a backup to the backup (just in case).

3) Some photographers carry insurance on their equipment as well as liability insurance in case Uncle Joe accidentally takes down a light stand at the reception. Other photographers take their chances and don’t have the insurance expense.

4) Camera lenses typically used for weddings range from about $125 – $6,900. Ever wonder how the pros get that nice blurry background while the subject of the photo is beautifully crisp? That’s the lens. Higher quality lenses more closely replicate human vision, which is amazing… but you gotta pay for it.

5) Some photographers keep their previous clients’ images on an external hard drive, while other photographers keep their previous clients’ images on two or more backup systems that are kept both on and off site, in case of a fire or other disaster.

6) Some photographers are fairly new to the business and are still building their portfolio while other photographers are more seasoned and their weekends are in higher demand.

7) Some photographers offer what they call “shoot and burn” photography services. This is when you get images directly out of camera put on a flash drive, and there is no post-processing work at all….no touch ups, no lighting or color correction, no creative editing. Other photographers see editing as an integral part of the product they offer, but it’s quite time-consuming and therefore quite costly.

The point here is not to call out one wedding photographer as being better than or worse than another. It’s to help brides and grooms more fully understand what they’re paying for (or not paying for) when they choose a professional to capture their wedding day.