Let me give you the blunt answer first, because that's probably why you're here. The average cost of a wedding videographer and photographer in Los Angeles lands somewhere between $6,000 and $14,000 combined for a full day of coverage. Photography alone usually runs $3,500 to $8,500. Video alone runs $3,000 to $7,500. Book them together as one team and you'll often save a chunk off both. But averages hide the interesting stuff, so let me walk you through what those numbers actually buy, where they come from, and where I've watched couples over- and under-spend after 17 years shooting weddings all over this city.

The honest price ranges, broken down

Here's how it shakes out in the LA market right now, based on what my couples see when they're comparing vendors:

  • Budget tier ($1,500–$3,000 each): Newer shooters, students, or someone doing this on the side. Sometimes you find a gem. More often you find someone with one good camera, no backup gear, and a turnaround time that stretches into next year.
  • Mid tier ($3,500–$6,000 each): Experienced solo pros or small studios. This is where most of my Los Angeles couples land, and honestly it's the sweet spot for value.
  • High tier ($6,500–$10,000+ each): Established studios with a second shooter, a dedicated editor, cinematic film crews, drones, same-day edits. This is where the storytelling gets serious.
  • Luxury ($12,000–$25,000+ combined): Name-brand artists, destination-level production, multi-camera film teams. Beverly Hills and Bel-Air estate weddings live here.

If you want a deeper look at where those tiers come from, I broke down the whole thing in my guide on a realistic budget for wedding photography and videography in Los Angeles.

Why photo and video aren't priced the same

People assume video costs more because "it's more work." That's roughly true, but not for the reason you'd think. A wedding film has a brutal post-production tail. When I'm shooting stills, I might deliver 600–900 edited photos. When my team is cutting a cinematic film, we're syncing multiple audio sources, color grading footage clip by clip, and pulling the right eight seconds out of a forty-minute ceremony. A single 5-minute highlight film can eat 20–30 hours in the edit bay.

That's why video turnaround takes longer than photos, and why a good videographer's day rate reflects work you'll never see. If someone's quoting you $1,500 for a same-day film with a drone, ask yourself who's actually editing it and when.

The number most vendors won't say out loud

I'll be blunt: a huge slice of your price has nothing to do with the wedding day itself. You're paying for insurance, backup cameras, redundant memory cards, editing software, years of ruined-shot lessons, and the fact that this person can't un-book your date. When couples ask why wedding photographers charge so much, the real answer is: the eight hours you see are maybe a third of the total labor. The rest is invisible.

So when you see a $1,200 photographer next to a $5,500 photographer, you're not comparing the same product with different markups. You're comparing different levels of risk. And a wedding is the one event where there are no retakes.

Why booking one team for both usually costs less

This is the part I genuinely care about, because it's where I've watched couples make expensive mistakes. When you hire a separate photographer and a separate video crew from two different companies, three things tend to happen:

  • You pay two full retainers, two overtime rates, two travel fees.
  • The two teams have never met, and they fight for the same spot during the first kiss. I've literally seen a videographer step into a photographer's frame during vows at a Malibu ceremony because nobody coordinated.
  • Your photo style and film style don't match, so your gallery and your video feel like two different weddings.

At ConneryFilm we run photography and cinematic video under one roof — one team, one timeline, one point of contact. That's not a sales line, it's the whole reason the studio exists. When the same crew plans your day, the photographer and the filmmaker already know where each other will stand for the toast, the exit, the golden-hour portraits. And bundling photo and video into one package almost always comes in below hiring two separate vendors, usually by $1,000–$3,000. You're not paying two companies to duplicate the same logistics.

What actually moves your price up or down

The single biggest lever is how many hours of coverage you need. An 8-hour day and a 12-hour day can differ by $2,000+ once overtime and a second shooter kick in. Other real factors:

  • Second shooter or second filmmaker: Adds roughly $500–$1,200. For anything over 120 guests, or a getting-ready split between two locations, a second photographer is usually worth it.
  • Drone footage: Adds $300–$800. Stunning at Malibu bluffs and Palos Verdes cliffs, mostly pointless at an enclosed downtown loft.
  • Same-day edit: A film cut and screened at your reception that night. Premium add-on, $1,500–$3,500, because there's an editor working live during your dinner.
  • Albums, prints, raw footage, extra highlight lengths: $500–$2,500 depending.
  • Travel and holiday dates: A New Year's Eve wedding or a Santa Barbara destination day carries a premium.

What I'd actually do if it were my wedding

Here's my personal take, and some photographers will disagree. I'd rather spend $8,000 total on one strong team that does both photo and film beautifully than split $10,000 across two mismatched vendors. Coverage matters more than gear. I'd take 8 well-planned hours with a coordinated team over 12 chaotic hours with two crews tripping over each other.

And I'd protect the two moments that carry the whole story: golden hour and the reception energy. In LA, golden hour is roughly the last 75 minutes before sunset — that soft, warm, low light that makes a rooftop in DTLA or a lawn in Pasadena look unreal. I build every timeline around it. That window is free. It costs nothing to schedule your portraits then instead of at high noon when the sun is nuking everyone's face. Couples who skip that end up spending more on retouching to fix squinting and harsh shadows.

Honestly, I think the biggest waste of money in this whole category is over-buying hours you don't need while under-buying the talent behind the camera. Fewer hours with the right person beats all-day coverage with the wrong one.

How to compare quotes without getting fooled

Two quotes at the same price can be wildly different products. When you're comparing, look past the number and ask what's inside. I put together a full breakdown of how to compare wedding videography packages, but the short version: check the deliverables (how many edited photos, what film lengths), the turnaround time in writing, whether there's a backup shooter, and whether they carry insurance. A $4,000 package with 700 photos, a 6-minute film, and a 6-week turnaround is not the same as a $4,000 package that vaguely promises "images" and "a video" someday.

Frequently asked questions

What's a normal amount to spend on both in LA?

Most of my couples spend $6,000–$11,000 combined for photography and cinematic video with a coordinated team. Under $4,000 combined, you're likely getting one solo vendor doing both quickly, which is fine for a small elopement but risky for a full day.

Is it cheaper to hire a photographer and videographer separately?

Almost never. Booking both as one package typically saves $1,000–$3,000 versus two separate companies, and it removes the day-of turf wars I mentioned earlier. One team, one timeline, one invoice.

Why is the video usually more expensive than the photos?

Post-production. Editing a wedding film with color grading and multi-track audio takes far longer than culling and editing stills. You're paying for weeks of unseen work in the edit bay, not just the shoot day.

How much should I budget for add-ons?

Plan a cushion of $1,000–$2,500 on top of your base package for a second shooter, drone, an album, or extra hours if the reception runs late. LA weddings almost always run longer than the timeline says.

Do cheaper packages ever work out?

Sometimes, if you find a talented newer shooter early in their career. But cheap and inexperienced is a different thing than cheap and skilled. Ask to see a full recent gallery and a full film, not just a highlight reel, before you commit.

If you're weighing all this and want a straight answer for your specific date, venue, and guest count, I'm happy to talk it through — no pressure, no scripted pitch. Call or text 818.749.7039 or reach out through ConneryFilm.com, and I'll help you figure out exactly what your photo and film coverage should cost and what it should include. I'd love to hear about your wedding.

Meet the Author: Connery Davoodian Hello, I'm Connery Davoodian, the visionary behind ConneryFilm, and I'm thrilled to share insights from my 17-year journey through the world of wedding photography and videography. My passion extends beyond simply capturing images; it's about artfully weaving your unique love story into a timeless, cinematic masterpiece. My artistic path began long before I ever picked up a camera, deeply rooted in music as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. This diverse background in directing, producing, and editing has cultivated a unique perspective, allowing me to approach each wedding not just as an event, but as a dynamic narrative waiting to be beautifully told. This blend of technical mastery and creative storytelling is the heartbeat of ConneryFilm, ensuring that every frame, every shot, and every film is infused with depth, emotion, and unparalleled artistic integrity. At ConneryFilm, we believe your wedding memories deserve nothing less than bespoke luxury. My philosophy centers on capturing the authentic, unscripted moments – the genuine smiles, the tender glances, the joyful laughter – that truly define your day. While we obsess over exquisite details and sophisticated aesthetics, our true joy comes from making you feel completely at ease, like a "friendor" who genuinely celebrates alongside you. This calm, organized presence allows your true personalities to shine, resulting in images and films that are as real and vibrant as your love itself. Based in the heart of Los Angeles, California, my team and I are privileged to serve couples across the globe, bringing our signature high-end wedding photography and videography to destination weddings worldwide. Through these blog posts, I aim to share invaluable insights, luxurious inspiration, and practical, fun advice to guide you through your wedding planning journey, helping you make informed decisions about preserving your most cherished moments. Thank you for trusting ConneryFilm to be a part of your extraordinary adventure. I'm excited to share my knowledge and passion with you, helping you create memories that will last forever.