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• Assistants, at the wedding and in the studio
• Albums
• Prints and products

But there are other costs that if your photographer is aware of, then you know that he/she knows what they’re doing and a true professionals, things like:

• Taxes-professionals are not going to cut you a deal if you pay in cash because we have to pay those taxes regardless of what we charge you. 20% comes off of the top of your wedding payment, that’s big
• Health Insurance-this one is also huge, i.e $1000/month is not uncommon for a family
• Shipping-it really adds up at the end of the year
• Insurance-your photographer should be fully insured for accidents, liability and equipment
• Equipment-woah, these cameras are around $5K each, and you have to have a backup
• Advertising-a full page magazine ad can run over $7K each
• Education-being committed to the craft means continually learning i.e. trade shows, seminars, webinars, books, lectures, professional organizations, fees.

That’s just to name a few. There are even more costs but I’ll spare you the pain of listing them all. In short, if your photographer doesn’t charge close to the average (national average wedding photography cost is $2800) there is a good chance, they will be out of business in 10 years.

Do vendors need to have meals at the wedding? And if so, does the wedding couple provide it or does the caterer? It’s a good question and one that is asked quite often. In short, the couple needs to let the caterer know how many extra meals will be needed for vendors. You should also remember to find out if your vendors are bringing assistants and how many in total. But that’s not the only thing to consider.

Another issue to think about is when are your vendors are getting fed. For example, if you want to maximize the time that your photographer is actually taking photos, have the caterer feed them first. What always happens is that the vendors get fed last after all of the guests. They have to sit around while everyone is eating, then when people are almost finishing dinner, that’s when the vendors sit down to eat. Not the most logical way to do it. For example, when dinner is being passed out and people begin eating, there aren’t many great photo op’s. Rightfully so, the photographer won’t be photographing people as they’re inserting a fork in their mouth.

Instead, let the caterer know to feed the vendors first, that way they get done eating first and are ready to start working as soon as the guests are finished eating. Keeping an eye on the vendor meals will ensure a smooth dining experience at your wedding, and that you’re getting the most work out of your vendors.