“It all happened so fast!” Most couples feel their wedding is over in an instant. What they're left with is blurred memories of wonderful moments all jumbled together. In that way, photographs are not just nice canvases to daze at but also a powerful way to clear the memory haze. Enter the wedding photographer, your memory's best friend. They capture those fleeting moments, turning them into lasting memories you can revisit again and again.

This is especially true for destination weddings and even more so for those taking place in Greece. You're almost guaranteed a picture perfect backdrop. From the iconic blue domes of Santorini, the windmills of Mykonos, the surreal lunar-like beaches of Milos, the historically-dripped feel of Monemvasia all the way to the jaw-dropping scenery of the ionian islands.

Having said that, not all photos are born equal, however awe-inspiring the backdrop. The person behind the camera makes all the difference. It is no surprise then that photographers are consistently one of the most hired professional vendors by engaged couples.

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Understanding the Role of a Professional Wedding Photographer

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When hiring a wedding photographer, it helps to know what the job of a professional actually involves. It makes it easier to understand the value you're getting for your money and be better equipped to know what to look for. Spoiler alert: it’s more than just someone showing up, camera in hand. Much of the critical work actually happens before and after the event itself. This  ensures everything runs smoothly and that you get beautiful, lasting memories of your special day.

The pre-planning process

Preparation is key.

It starts with those initial consultations photographers will have with you. They'll want to understand your vision, style preferences, and any specific requests. This often includes teasing out of you a detailed shot list to capture all important moments and people. Maybe you’re not keen on group photos but would be gutted to not be captured in all your glory in at least one full body shot. Photographers might also visit the venue beforehand to scope out the venue's layout, lighting conditions, and ideal spots for those killer shots. If you find a photographer who's already familiar with your venue, they might even cut you a break on the price since they’ve already got the lay of the land down. For bigger weddings, they might suggest bringing along a second shooter or assistant, which takes some extra coordination. Plus, they’ll prepare and check that all their gear is ready to roll. They'll need backups for cameras, lenses, and memory cards in case of faults or being pushed into the sea by that overexcited uncle of yours.

The post-production process

Post-production is where the real magic happens.

After your wedding, your photographer will sift through hundreds, maybe thousands, of photos to pick the best ones. But they're not just photographers, they're storytellers. They'll piece together a cohesive and beautiful narrative of the day, which is as much an art as taking the photos themselves. Once a selection is made, each image will then get a little tender love and care. They'll go through colour correction, retouching, and maybe some special effects. From here, photographers will design albums and online galleries, often going through a few rounds of feedback with you to make sure your story is told just right. The more photos you want edited and the more tweaks you request, the longer this part takes. Meanwhile, they'll also be handling file storage and backups to keep your precious memories safe for years to come.

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What impacts the cost of a photographer?

The decisions you’ve already made

Greece is often a cheaper country in which to get married compared to many other European nations.

Considering that it also offers many dream-like destinations to choose from, it is no wonder it's such a popular option for couples. Obviously, for the same reasons, this southern European paradise is a tourist hotspot too. So if you’re planning to gather your loved ones in the peak summer season, say in Santorini, you can expect the cost of a photographer to be higher than in the quieter months of Spring and/or in a less touristic island.

Your Wedding Location

No matter which slice of Greek paradise you choose, different locations come with their own realities, impacting your decisions and, ultimately, how much a photographer will end up costing you. For example, choosing an estate by the Athenian Riviera makes for an easy trip for your guests, but likely for your photographer too. Islands with an airport such as Milos, are also easier to reach than the more secluded islands like Sifnos. Less time and money spent on travelling by your photographer, means they’ll charge you less for their services.

The choice of a local vs an international photographer

The reality is that, with the exception of some of the bigger, more popular islands like Mykonos, Santorini and alike, finding a local photographer on most other islands is going to be a challenge given their small permanent resident population and shorter season.

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A photographer from Athens, on the other hand, can be a more cost-effective option for your budget. And they come with other potential benefits too. They are more likely to be familiar with your chosen venue and to have worked with your other vendors. Bonus: language won’t be an issue either. All of these factors increase the chances of a smooth experience.

Your wedding venue

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Regardless of where you source your photographer from, your venue’s location is going to influence their cost to you. That is especially the case with travel related costs as tourist hotspots come at a heftier price tag. Though reasonably priced food (think souvlaki) will almost always be an option no matter where in Greece you haul your photographer to, accommodation can vary wildly. As an example, accommodation in the most popular islands of Santorini, Mykonos and Milos could weigh on your budget roughly 60% more than in the quieter islands of Sifnos, Ios and Paros.

Ferry fares usually depend on the distance travelled. Shipping your photographer to islands closer to the mainland, like Kea (also known as Tzia), would cost five times less than sending them to Ios or Santorini. Your photographer is also likely to need a car to be in the right place at the right time and not miss a single shot. If you are having an island wedding, renting a car on the island itself can often be cheaper than transporting one on a boat. That's especially true if your photographer is only staying for a couple of nights.

Your wedding date

There are plenty of good reasons to get married in Greece, and guaranteed weather is definitely one of them. It’s no surprise then that many couples opt for the summer months for their nuptials. And though you might be new to the whole “wedding thing”, you know from your tourist days that summer means high season which means high prices. That goes for all travel related costs. And the popularity of the season means photographers are also able to charge more for their services. What is often underestimated though is how long the season in Greece actually is. These days it is quite common for people to continue swimming in the sea up until October! So, unless you have many guests with kids who can’t be pulled out of school, you could consider having your wedding in the spring or autumn. Similarly, if you’ve chosen a Saturday for your wedding, you’re likely missing an opportunity to bring your photographer costs down by choosing a less popular day of the week.

Winter can be a cheaper option but is often off the table unless you’ve picked a mainland venue as most Greek islands shut down for the season.

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Now that you’ve got a handle on what you’ll need to take into account given the choices you’ve made, it should be reassuring to know that there are a number of dials you can turn up or down to suit your budget. As with most things in life, there’s a balance to strike between must haves and nice to haves. The good news? You’re in control as it’s down to you.

How much coverage

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On the day itself, you might want the pre-wedding preparations to be part of the story the photographer tells through his work, showcasing close family and friends helping you both to piece together your outfits one garment at a time. Since no matter how good your photographer is, being in two places at once is unlikely to be part of their arsenal of skills, covering this part of the day will often require a second shooter which will increase the overall portion of your budget that you’ll need to allocate to photography.

On the other hand, if all that matters to you is the main happening at the wedding ceremony and reception then you could play with the number of hours that your photographer covers. Most photographers have a minimum number of hours they work, so make sure to ask. However many hours you choose to go for, weddings in Greece tend to start later in the day to avoid a total sweat fest. To capture various angles and distances in both day and night lighting conditions, your photographer will bring multiple cameras and lenses which will be factored into their pricing of the job.

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Sometimes, the already impressive basic tool kit of a professional photographer just isn’t enough. Bringing that creative twist to document everything that makes you and your shared journey unique, they might need to use special equipment. For instance, if you’re dreaming of breathtaking aerial shots of your ceremony and reception venues, that’ll cost extra. Not just for the drone itself, but also for any permits that are sometimes necessary to fly such contraptions.

Or, it could be that for you nothing describes the commitment you’ve made to each other more than your resolve to hold your breath and find each other underwater for an aquatic kiss. If so, the crystal clear waters of the Aegean and Ionian Sea are definitely a good choice for that but it’s something that’ll require waterproof cameras and housings. Alternatively, you’re perhaps envisioning artsy shots with 360-degree cameras or fish-eye lenses. Or as part of your vision, the party just wouldn’t be complete without entertaining your guests with instant photo booths, on-site printing or even slow-motion video booths, which would require a mix of portable printers and potentially extra staffing.

All such unique elements, while adding a distinctive touch to the wedding memories you’ll be able to marvel at for the years to come, can bump up your photographer's fees.

The memories you want

However you want your memories to be immortalised, one of the main factors affecting the final price of your photographer is the number of professionally edited pictures you want.

These edited images are usually delivered through online wedding albums, galleries, or on a custom USB stick. Many couples also opt for physical wedding albums, which are beautifully designed and crafted with high-quality materials. Extras, such as additional albums for family members, thank-you cards featuring wedding photos, and framed prints for display, can further increase costs given to the additional design work and production time involved.

Some couples also request to get access to all of the raw photos taken during their wedding. Maybe you have a friend who’s a photoshop whizz or you simply want to spread out the cost of professional editing to a later date. While both are good ways to relieve the pressure on the wedding budget itself, accessing the raw files will come at an extra charge due to the volume of data and the need for extra storage solutions. Remember, the number of pictures photographers snap during a wedding can easily climb into the thousands. Another cost saving avenue you have available to you is photo films - essentially the best photos from the day played in time to music. These aren’t a replacement for a videographer but it’s a nice alternative.

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The importance of a wedding photography contract

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Timeline of payments and photograph delivery

Make sure the contract lays out the payment schedule. This should include when deposits and final payments are due, whether they’re tied to specific dates or milestones, or a bit of both. Typically, you’ll pay a deposit to secure your booking, another payment before or on the wedding day, and the final payment upon receiving your photos. While you don't want to rush the post-production process, it’s wise to agree on a delivery date or a timeframe (like a few weeks or months after the wedding) to avoid any lingering suspense. Also remember that cash remains a common way to make payments in Greece. Your photographer might prefer cash payment, especially for any payment you make in person on the day of the wedding, so make sure that’s clear to avoid any last minute cash withdrawal runs.

Cancellation Terms

Nothing’s going to go wrong, but if either you or your photographer need to cancel, you need to know where you stand. The contract should spell out the non-refundable deposits, cancellation conditions, and any rescheduling fees. Some photographers have a backup plan, like collaborating with other photographers who can step in if they can’t make it. If that’s the case, make sure it’s noted in the contract for extra peace of mind.

Photo Copyright and Usage

Finally, it should be clear who owns the copyright to your photos and what rights you and your photographer have. Typically, photographers retain copyright and give you personal use rights, like posting on social media. If owning the pictures outright is something you’d want, be prepared to pay much more. Either way, make sure these rights are clearly outlined to avoid surprises down the road.

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How to find your perfect wedding photographer

There are many different styles couples can choose from to capture their special day.

Traditional photography offers classic, posed shots that document key moments beautifully, while photojournalistic or documentary photography captures candid, unposed moments as the day unfolds. For those of you who have a penchant for the artistic touch, fine art photography uses unique angles and dramatic compositions. And if it simply must all be glamorous, then editorial or fashion photography might be your best option.

To find out which wedding photography style is for you and your significant other, Instagram and Pinterest are always good places to start. Magazines and blogs are another good option as they often cover the stories of real weddings by showcasing a selection of the photographer’s work and often mention their name in the list of employed vendors. There are many, but a simple google search will quickly land you on BAZAAR, Brides and Whimsical Wonderland Weddings, to name a few… and for Greece-specific blogs allow yourself to get lost in a dream state by spending some time on Chic and Stylish Weddings, Ever After and Love 4 Weddings (note: the latter two might require some use of your browser’s translation feature depending on your level of Greek!). Whatever avenue suits you, you will inevitably land on a few photographers’ websites where you’ll be able to see a wider selection of their work as well as a description of their photography style and put a name to what you like!

Define your budget

Across the web, you’ll find the consensus to be that a wedding photographer will end up costing you around 10% of your total wedding budget. But that’s pretty vague and it all depends on where you put the splurge accent. How much you spend on a photographer also depends on what you can get for your money and getting a feel for that isn’t straightforward unless you’re in the industry or know a few married couples that can provide context.

Photographers don’t tend to publish their prices on their websites. And while the more sophisticated ones out there do write about what you can roughly expect to fork out for a photographer, the most useful resource for you to get a sense will be marketplaces. There you’ll be able to find some indication of prices. Typically they quote a “starting from” price, which is fair enough as photographers cannot anticipate each clients’ requirements and price that upfront. Unfortunately, as you’d expect, each photographer sets their “starting from” price by defining a different minimum package of what is included in their services.

To get an overall sense, you could hunt for online marketplaces that aggregate the prices of photographers in Greece or those that would be willing to travel to Greece, collect enough price points and do a little bit of spreadsheet magic. Alternatively, if you’re thinking “who’s got time for that!?”, you could simply scroll down to find the result of that exact analysis as we’ve done it for you.

Where to look for photographers

Now that you know what you’re looking for and you have a good sense of how much of your budget you should put aside for it, it’s time to actually look for your photographer. No doubt the search for your photography style on social media and blogs will have unearthed some potential options for you. But if you’re looking to pad out the candidate pool, beyond the usual Google search, you’ll find both international photographers covering Greece and photographers based in the country in various marketplaces such as: Wedgo, MyWed and Fearless Photographers.

Of course, as for any service you might need in life, if you can get recommendations from people you know and trust and who have similar taste to you, that’s the ideal. Alternatively, you could consider working with a wedding planner to benefit from their wealth of knowledge and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction and even potentially to a photographer that’s already worked in your venue.

If you’ve already selected a venue, asking them for a recommendation is also a great way to shortcut the process.

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Wedding photographer cost in Greece in 2024

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Key Takeaways

Choosing the right wedding photographer can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, especially when juggling your dreams and your budget. As you narrow in on a few candidates to choose from, it’s best to get detailed proposals and contracts. This way, you can compare your options without any surprise costs lurking in the shadows.

Much like with any other vendor you may hire, it's crucial to know where you stand at all times to avoid any unnecessary stress. Keep track of all your expenses and make sure they’re always up to date. This might sound like a painful chore, but don't fret - Bemazi has got your back. It’s a free AI-powered tool designed to help you stay on top of your wedding finances with ease. It does the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.

Give it a try, your future self will be forever grateful.