What You Need to Know About Paying a Traveling Fee for Photographers
There are lots of factors that go into choosing a photographer. You'll want to consider if their pricing fits into your wedding budget, if you like their photography style and if you feel like they understand your vision. One factor you should think about? The traveling fee for photographers. Whether you're having a destination wedding that requires them to fly and stay overnight or you're an hour's drive away, your photographer will likely expect those travel costs to be covered. We talked to experts who break down everything you should know about travel fees for wedding photographers. When you're ready to find your dream photographer, head to The Knot Vendor Marketplace.
In this article:
- Average Travel Fees for Photographers
- Wedding Photographer Travel Fee Factors
- Why Do Photographers Charge a Travel Fee?
- How to Talk to Photographers About Travel Fees
Average Travel Fees for Photographers
About 74% of couples in The Knot Real Weddings Study said that cost was the most important thing when picking a photographer. The average wedding photographer's cost may or may not include travel. "Some photographers bundle travel into their destination packages, some require travel expenses to be reimbursed, while others might have an additional fee on top of their travel expenses," explains destination wedding photographer Valorie Darling of Valorie Darling Photography. "Typically, travel fees would cover travel expenses (airfare, baggage, accommodations, transportation and meals) which can range from $1,000 to $5,000+ depending on the destination's distance and cost of living." Use The Knot Budget Tool to factor these costs into your wedding budget.
Wedding Photographer Travel Fee Factors
There are a variety of factors to think about when it comes to paying travel fees for photographers. Our experts outlined them below.
Location and Date
"Some destinations are more expensive due to limited availability of hotels or higher costs for accommodations, food and transportation," Darling outlined. "For instance, traveling to a remote island or an international destination may incur higher costs than a city-based location especially when it's on a holiday weekend."
Airfare
"Airfare is something that photographers like to handle themselves and then bill for," says
destination wedding and editorial photographer Collin Pierson, principal at Collin Pierson Photography. "For myself, I have status on an airline, so therefore it ends up saving the client a bit, as I get complimentary bags and flight upgrades so that my team is fresh and ready to go when we arrive. Bag fees alone for a transatlantic trip for my team can be upwards of $500." There's a big range when it comes to airfare and it depends on where the wedding itself is taking place. "Airfare can range from $300 to $1,500+ per person depending on distance and class of service," Darling says.
Hotel Accommodations
"Typically for accommodation, that is at the same lodging venue as the wedding guests so that we can be nearby to capture some of the experiential components for that wedding," Pierson explains. "In the end, it also reduces costs as there is less transportation involved." Hotel costs vary depending on how nice the hotel is, the time of year and other factors. "Hotels can vary from $250 to $500+ per night," Darling says.
Other Transportation
"In addition to airfare, photographers may need to rent cars or book other means of ground (or water) transportation at the destination," Darling says. "The average cost of rental cars or transportation services can range from $100 to $500+ depending on the location and duration."
Permits, Mileage and Gas
"Some destinations may require special permits, especially in places with restrictions like national parks or historic venues," Darling explains. Depending on how far the drive is to the location some photographers may include a mileage or gas fee.
Why Do Photographers Charge a Travel Fee?
Photographers work many hours in order to capture your wedding day perfectly and if they need to budget extra time into their busy day to get to your venue, especially if it's far away, they should be compensated or reimbursed since it's technically part of their job. "In reality, a travel fee is a compensation for time spent getting to an event that would otherwise book up that photographer," Pierson says. "Much like anyone working at a store would get an hourly pay for the time spent working in that store, when working on an event outside of the photographers' home base, they should be compensated for that time spent."
Darling explains that a travel fee may also be included because of the work opportunities they miss out on during travel time. "When traveling, photographers are away from their home base, often for several days, which prevents them from booking local sessions," she says. "If the photographer charges a fee on top of their expenses that would be to offset any lost opportunities on travel days and ensure they can deliver the same quality of service regardless of where the event is held."
How to Talk to Photographers About Travel Fees
It's important to get clarity about what the photographer's expectations are in terms of travel fees so you don't run into any issues down the line or find yourself faced with hidden wedding costs. Travel fees for photographers are usually outlined in their wedding photography contract. "It's important to clarify what's included in the quote if you have budget concerns and want to make sure you're within or close to your overall budget," Darling recommends. The biggest rule? Talk to your photographer openly and ask questions to ensure you're on the same page. "Couples are not professionals at getting married, but photographers are professionals and are more than willing to have the conversation and explain all the components that go into their commissioning and fees," Pierson says.