There are many articles written on this subject across the internet so please do your own research. Read between the lines and know that the grass isn’t always greener!
My own short opinion is when people see the price they think that it covers one day’s work. Some people do not see where the money paid actually goes. Here is a short list
- camera equipment, lens, batteries
- tripods
- audio equipment
- service tax, prsi, usc – average 18% of money paid Average – €1,550 pays €279 tax.
- Editing computer, hard drives
- Editing software
- Marketing (advertising, website etc)
- Training Course
- 14 to 18 hour wedding day shoot
- 20 to 30 extra hours for customer service (emails, calls, meetings) before, after, delivery of video, including time editing and possible re-editing
Some of my friends would think that the wedding industry is a lucrative industry and I am making a fortune but it is no different to most jobs in being underpaid, over-worked and just about paying the bills. A lot of wedding suppliers have part-time jobs including airplane engineers, school teachers, principles and much more.
I am not complaining. I love my job and always love shooting weddings, editing and running the business but please respect the value and cost of someone producing your wedding video and know that suppliers have families, pensions to pay, a mortgage to pay, the same as most people 🙂