Wedding Photograpy

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

abit greedy there Cagenut

erm... what do you do for a living?

[cagenuts]

abit greedy there Cagenut

Are you suggesting I'm greedy for asking if the rate is the norm or greedy for charging that rate?

well that's a good question.
btw - are you talking about R3000 or $3000

3000 USD. I looked at that article Williams posted and the figure there mentioned USD$3k.

No, but if you do the math, that will give you a bit over break even here in South Africa

So to be clear, the good wedding togs charge about R25k?

[elsahoffmann]

So to be clear, the good wedding togs charge about R25k?

So are you saying I can charge 25k?

[uClutchPlate]

For asking...... but hay bills need to be paid

[cagenuts]

So are you saying I can charge 25k?

Dunno, that's what I was trying to find out.

For asking...... but hay bills need to be paid

Ok so I can't ask what wedding togs charge?

[elsahoffmann]

I dont think one should charge less than 25k for a decent wedding

[Anonymous]

So is $3000 the norm here in South Africa?

Remember that figure is probably influenced by short wedding season in Pennsylvania, if you've ever been there in winter you'll understand why (my dad lives there and mentioned the mercury dipped down to −17°c just the other day!).

[jaytee]

I dont think one should charge less than 25k for a decent wedding

Well, if you`re right then clearly all the lawyer jokes should be replaced by wedding photographer jokes.

[elsahoffmann]

Well, if you`re right then clearly all the lawyer jokes should be replaced by wedding photographer jokes.

what Lawyer jokes.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Cost of living and all other expenses also plays a big role... Not sure how she gets away with only about R550 per month for petrol (and it doesn't seem like she takes any other vehicle requirements into account)

[Anonymous]

Cost of living and all other expenses also plays a big role... Not sure how she gets away with only about R550 per month for petrol (and it doesn't seem like she takes any other vehicle requirements into account)

Previous paragraph

Then I have my car, which I would use to get me to and from your wedding, which I pay $400/month for the lease, plus $200/month in car insurance. $27,800 – $7,200 = $20,600

I suspect with only a three month wedding window the majority of the $840/year is spent during that period… or she owns a Prius

[elsahoffmann]

Okey lets get serious

what do togs charge for a wedding in SA.

I understand Cape Town is more expensive that JHB. (only talking about wedding togs)

seems in CT a medium package is between 10-12k
fancy package 15k
and if Jaytee is to be believed - my package at 25k.

cheap cheap is 3k. but even the guys who started these cheap-cheap weddings - no longer thinks its funny to work all day long and edit for a week and only get 3k when you work JUST as hard as the guy that charged 10k.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Every time I have sat down with a wedding photographer "startup" about costing, where they give me all the numbers, they tend to end up with the basic cost of doing a wedding (not subsidized by their "day job" or other work) at R12k to R16k per wedding.

I know many photographers come in at below cost with the hope that they can sell more products to the couple and extended family after the fact, and that is where they then make up the deficit and hopefully profit, playing the odds that the couple will at least be together for a few years.

The sad part is that many photographers do not realize that they are losing money, because they tend to "roll" the money. New deposits pay off old debts and accounts, and if they do other work inbetween that doesn't run at a loss, it takes even longer to see the problem (unless you have a business brain or decent accountant)

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Previous paragraph


I suspect with only a three month wedding window the majority of the $840/year is spent during that period… or she owns a Prius

Maybe the Prius ... I was actually referring to running costs... services, repairs, etc... the cost per km/mile

[Anonymous]

Maybe the Prius ... I was actually referring to running costs... services, repairs, etc... the cost per km/mile

That's generally included in the cost of the lease.

[visagieh]

Not sure how she gets away with only about R550 per month for petrol (and it doesn't seem like she takes any other vehicle requirements into account)

That’s not even quarter tank of petrol for some of us.

[Big W]

Whats going on here Go start your own thread

[elsahoffmann]

Whats going on here Go start your own thread

with an attitude like that you will now NEVER be asked to photograph Hansie's wedding.

[Ranz]

That’s not even quarter tank of petrol for some of us.

You pay R2000+ for a tank of petrol?

[elsahoffmann]

You pay R2000+ for a tank of petrol?

he drives a bus.