Wedding Photography Cost in Los Angeles (2026)
Couples asking this usually want two things: what Los Angeles photographers typically charge, and whether a quote is fair. Here is the 2026 picture, then our published rates so you can compare without a sales call.
[PHOTO: couple portraits, Pasadena or Los Angeles golden hour]
Los Angeles sits above the national mid-range. Experienced full-day coverage here often falls between $3,500 and $7,000. Shorter courthouse and micro weddings cost less. Large productions with extra shooters run higher.
Those numbers move with hours, whether a second photographer is included, how fast the gallery arrives, and how much of the day is actually covered.
A useful way to budget:
1–3 hours (courthouse, elopement, ceremony plus portraits): often $1,200–$2,500 at studios that will book a short day
About 6 hours: often $2,500–$4,000
8-hour full day: often $3,500–$7,000
Photo and video as one team: often several thousand more than photo alone
Citywide “averages” near $3,000 usually mix short packages with full days. Plan from hours and who shows up, not one average.
For the rest of the wedding budget, we also keep a broader guide: How much do weddings cost in Los Angeles?
What we charge
We post pricing so you are not guessing. Check your date here and get an immediate quote: check availability and pricing.
What is included
Fully edited, full-resolution files
Every image we capture—not a highlight-only set
Print-ready files with no watermarks
Photos usually in 3–5 days, always under 10; no rush fee
True-to-life color (film-style editing if you want it)
Candid coverage, with direction when you need it
Backup camera bodies, flash, lenses, and memory cards on every job
Tom is the primary photographer and books first-hired. When he is already secured, our full-time team can cover. We have not missed a wedding in 23 years.
See complete some examples of our work, not just a few frames: wedding portfolio.
$4,000 is mid-range in Los Angeles for experienced full-day work. It is not a luxury price by itself.
$2,000 is low for a traditional full LA Saturday at many studios. For us, $1,995 is eight hours in California.
$5,000 is a normal experienced full-day number in this market when it includes real hours, backups, and a finished gallery. It is “too much” only when the quote is vague.
The better question: how many hours, who is shooting, what do you receive, and when?
How many photos should you expect?
Many photographers deliver about 50–100 edited images per hour after they remove near-duplicates. That often means 150–300 images for three hours and 400–800 for a full day.
We do not trim your gallery down to a set count. You get every frame we shot, edited. A busy eight-hour day can be thousands of files. You decide what to print.
200 photos can be enough for a short courthouse. It is thin for an eight-hour wedding if that is all you are given.
At LA Digital Photo we have been consistantly providing 2000 to 4000 images on an 8 hour day and yes, we do give them all to you, edited... in 10 days or less.
Common LA range | LA Digital Photo | |
3-hour courthouse / micro | $1,200–$2,500 | $675 |
6 hours | $2,500–$4,000 | $1,499 |
8 hours, photo only | $3,500–$7,000 | $1,995 in CA |
8 hours, photo + video | often much higher combined | $3,400 |
Full day elsewhere in the U.S. | package + travel | $2,499, no travel fee |
Weekday rates are usually the same as weekends. Smaller weekday weddings simply book fewer hours. Quinceañeras and mitzvahs use the same booking page.
Photography is often about 8–12% of a full Los Angeles wedding budget.
You are paying for a day that cannot be reshot, backup gear on site, insurance, the Saturday that cannot be booked twice, and the editing week after the party ends.
We keep pricing direct: published rates, no extras you did not ask for, and a 23-year experienced workflow so delivery stays fast. - under 10 days for photography!
No full wedding gallery, only a highlight grid
No written contract
A price that only works if gear, insurance, or editing were skipped
Slow replies before you have paid
No backup-camera plan
No answer to “what if you get sick?”
You never speak with the person who will shoot
Ask us the same questions.
Courthouse and Pasadena notes
Strong civic locations in California include Santa Barbara Courthouse, San Francisco City Hall, Pasadena City Hall, the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana, and Beverly Hills Courthouse. Pasadena City Hall is the best-looking option in our backyard.
We already have planning pages for it:
Good portrait spots nearby include City Hall, Old Town, the Colorado Street Bridge, Arlington Garden, and permit gardens such as Huntington and Descanso. Permit costs live here: Huntington, Descanso, and Arboretum photography fees.
Engagement location ideas: best engagement photo locations in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Orange County.
How to get an exact quote
Decide how many hours you need.
Open availability and pricing.
Look at recent weddings.
Hold the date with a contract and a retainer deposit.
We are based in the Pasadena area and photograph throughout Los Angeles, Southern California, and all 50 states.
