Seattle Wedding Photographers

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Seattle wedding photographers. I’m Dan Cassuto, Seattle wedding photographer and head storyteller at Sound Originals. We’ve earned 5-star reviews from 100+ thrilled couples across Washington State and Oregon. Seattle Bride magazine picked us as the official storyteller for the “Best of” awards. I’d love to chat about your special day.

Best Wedding Photographers in Seattle, Washington

We understand how tricky it feels to find the best wedding photographers in Seattle, WA. If you start your search by looking for the best photographer, you’re looking for the WRONG thing.

Forget about finding the best. Instead, search for the RIGHT photographer for YOUR wedding.

It’s all about appreciating how different photographers bring different styles, approaches, and personalities to their craft. When you discover the photography style and artistic approach that matches your wedding vision, it’s time to consider the photographer’s experience, availability, and… yes… price.

It’s easy to make a long, long, long list of photographers in the Puget Sound region. The Knot lists more than 900 photographers in Western Washington serving couples from Olympia, Tacoma, and north to Bellingham.

We prepared this guide to help you appreciate the value of investing in a professional, experienced and highly-rated wedding photographer.

We hope you’ll consider us. There’s a reason Sound Originals earned the endorsement of 100+ thrilled couples across the Pacific Northwest.  We also recognize we’re not the right match for every couple. And that’s OK! Hopefully, you’ll use this guide to find the perfect photographer to create the images you’ve always dreamed of.

Narrow down your list using these factors: Wedding Photography Style, Artistic Approach, Personality, Experience,  Price, Reviews and Ratings, and Availability on Your Wedding Date!

Seattle Wedding Photographer Prices

The cost to hire a wedding photographer in Seattle varies. A LOT.

If you’re like most couples, you have a set wedding budget, possibly with some wiggle room. You probably want to prioritize where you spend your money to get the most value, considering you’ll also need to budget for your venue, DJ, decor, catering, and other vendors.

Couples say they’re surprised that wedding photography prices fluctuate so much. After all, aren’t photographers providing a very similar service? Yes and no. Many PNW wedding photographers are full-time professionals. Others consider it a side hustle or hobby, a way to earn extra income.

Prices will typically be higher for full-time photographers who rely on weddings to earn a living. This is a good thing. A full-time professional takes your wedding seriously. They have to. Their business, reputation, and livelihood are on the line. They pay taxes, have insurance, and follow the law. A hobbyist may take pretty pictures. And they may be great, but they also may not be.

Wedding photographer prices reflect local costs of living within the larger Puget Sound region. You might find value in hiring a photographer who lives and works primarily in a less expensive local region. For instance, the average cost to live in Bellingham is less than in Kirkland. Couples often say that wedding photographer prices in the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas and the Olympia area tend to be lower than in the Seattle-Bellevue-Kirkland area.

Picking a top wedding photographer is sort of like buying a car. Why? You can find photographers with a wide range of prices, styles, quality, and reliability. Same with cars. There’s a big difference between a Jaguar and a Kia, a Toyota and a Ferrari. There’s an even bigger gap in quality and reliability between a new Volvo and a $500 clunker you bought from Craigslist. Even with all the differences, most cars still perform the same function. They transport you from place to place. The same principle applies when evaluating the prices of Seattle wedding photographers. Most photographers can take pictures, just like most cars can transport you. But that’s where the similarity ends.  If you were embarking on the most important road trip of your life, would you buy the 25-year-old rusty used car with 264,280 miles from the stranger who posted an online classified ad? Probably not. The car might break down. It might be awfully uncomfortable, noisy, and dirty. It might be unsafe. The steering wheel might snap off in the middle of your adventure. Sure, you’d save a bunch of money, but you might not make it to your destination.

Seattle wedding photographer prices reflect their quality, reliability, and experience.

Couples sometimes overlook the importance of reliability. You can trust seasoned wedding photographers with great reviews. They’ll show up. Their cameras work. They’ll deliver your images in a timely fashion. That’s how we earn a living – capturing memories for couples on the most important day of their lives. At Sound Originals, wedding photography makes up the bulk of our income. It goes without saying that trust is everything. Trust is worth every penny!

Your special day deserves beautiful storytelling.

Picking a wedding photographer is a big decision. Choose a team you can trust. Sound Originals is known for unmatched service, quality, and satisfaction.

Affordable Seattle Wedding Photographers

Our friends at Seattle Bride magazine wrote an article several years ago with their suggestions for wedding photographers, “A Moment in Time: 10 Photographers You Can Trust To Capture Your Big Day.” We used the magazine’s guide to compare pricing options for the photographers with investment costs posted on their websites. (Sound Originals was honored to be the Official Storyteller for Seattle Bride’s Best of 2020 Awards.)

Sound Originals photography pricing begins at $3000 for 8 hours of coverage. Please click here to view our pricing and package options for photography, videography and photo + video packages.

Are you searching for an affordable Seattle wedding photographer under $2000? Click here for some ideas.

Wedding Photography Packages

Here are popular services and deliverables from PNW wedding photographers.

– Telephone or virtual consultation meeting
– Wedding day timeline advice
– Wedding day portrait photography suggestions
– Engagement session
– 6, 8, 10, or 12 hours of wedding day photography coverage
– Editing and color-correction of photos
– Professional backup of photos
– Sneak preview the day after your wedding
– Gallery of images optimized for social media sharing
– Fully edited images
– Print release/printing rights
– Online gallery to share photos with family and friends
– Downloadable images in high resolution
– Commemorative USB hard drive in a decorative wooden box
– Fine art prints
– Canvasses, wall art, metal prints, picture frames, posters, physical products
– Heirloom album
– Parents or grandparents album
– Guestbook album with engagement photos

We invite you to check out our pricing options! Sound Originals offers wedding photography and videography, available together or separately. Photography begins at $3000, which includes 8 hours of coverage, digital images, full printing rights, and a private online gallery. We also offer photography by the hour for $500 per hour.

THE KNOT’S LIST OF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS IN SEATTLE, WA

Almost every engaged couple has heard of The Knot. Photographers pay to be listed. The real value here are the reviews from real couples.

01. Sound Originals Photo & Video (108 reviews / 5.0 rating)
02. Stefan & Audrey (80 reviews / 5.0 rating)
03. ElevenEleven Films (49 reviews / 5.0 rating)
04. Savanna Marlee Photography (45 reviews / 5.0 rating)

JUNEBUG’S LIST OF BEST SEATTLE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Photographers have to apply and pay to be listed by Junebug. The editors are selective. They won’t even consider photographers who don’t pay for memberships and substantial monthly advertising dues.

01. Jonas Seaman Photography
02. Ryan Flynn Photography
03. Lukas Korynta Photography
04. Chelsea Abril Photography
05. Bri McDaniel Photography

EXPERTISE.COM’S RANKING OF BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS IN WASHINGTON

We suspect Expertise.com uses an automated bot or algorithm to put together its list. Some of the photographers here are wonderful. The reason we’re cautious is because Expertise has this exact same formula in cities across the country for a huge number of professions. In other words, it’s kind of like a glorified Yellow Pages. It could still be a good resource for couples who want to check out dozens of websites and portfolios for great wedding photographers in the Puget Sound region. 

Important Pictures On Your Wedding Day

Washington Wedding Photographers

As a top Washington wedding photographer, we’ve been hired to take pictures at weddings across Washington State. Our team is experienced in all types of venues and settings. We routinely work in the Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellingham areas, as well as in Eastern Washington near Leavenworth and Wenatchee. Be sure to check out our guide to the best outdoor wedding venues in Washington!