When couples email me asking about a "wedding and photography package," what they're usually really asking is: what do I actually get for my money, and how much should it cost? So let me answer it the way I would over coffee at a consultation. I've been shooting weddings in Los Angeles for 17 years, and I run my studio with photo and video under one roof — so I've seen every kind of package, good and bad, and I know exactly where couples get burned.

Here's the short version before I get into the weeds: a real wedding and photography package in LA is not just "a photographer shows up for a few hours." It's coverage hours, an edited gallery, usually an engagement session, and — if you're smart — a film team working alongside the photographer. Let me break down what that looks like and what it should cost.

What actually goes into a package

Strip away the marketing language and almost every legit wedding photography package is built from the same parts. When you compare quotes, you're really comparing these:

  • Coverage hours. The number of hours the photographer is with you on the day. This is the single biggest price driver. Most LA weddings land somewhere between 8 and 10 hours.
  • Number of shooters. One photographer, or a lead plus a second. A second shooter gets your partner walking down the aisle from the front while the lead catches your face from behind.
  • Edited images delivered. Not "how many did they shoot" — how many finished, color-corrected photos you actually receive.
  • Engagement session. Included in a lot of full-day packages, and honestly one of the most useful things in there. It's a rehearsal for how you move in front of a camera.
  • Delivery method and turnaround. Online gallery, USB, print rights, and how many weeks until you see everything.
  • Add-ons. Albums, extra hours, drone, and — the big one — video.

If a package doesn't spell those things out clearly, that's a red flag, not a minor detail. I've written a full breakdown of what wedding photography packages include if you want the granular version, but those bullets above are the skeleton of every honest quote you'll get in this city.

What packages really cost in LA

I'll be blunt, because most photographers dance around this. Here are the honest ranges I see in Los Angeles right now:

  • $1,500–$2,500: Newer photographers or short coverage (4–6 hours), often solo, sometimes with a fast turnaround but a thinner portfolio. Fine for a small ceremony or courthouse day.
  • $3,000–$5,000: The sweet spot for most full-day LA weddings. 8–10 hours, an engagement session, a polished gallery, an experienced shooter who has done this hundreds of times.
  • $5,500–$9,000+: Established studios, two shooters, albums, and usually the option to bundle cinematic video with the photography.

If you're wondering whether the middle band is reasonable, I answered exactly that in my honest take on whether $4,000 is a lot to spend on a wedding photographer in LA. Spoiler: for a full day with a real professional, it's normal. And when someone quotes you $1,000 for a whole wedding, there's usually a reason — I got into that here.

The part most couples underthink: photo AND video

Here's where I'm going to take a stance. Most couples treat video as an afterthought, book a photographer first, then scramble two months out for a videographer. That's backwards, and it costs them.

When photo and video are two separate companies who've never met, your wedding day turns into a turf war. I've watched it happen — the videographer sets up a light exactly where I need to stand for the first kiss, or two second-shooters are elbowing each other in a tight ceremony aisle at a place like the Ebell of Los Angeles. Nobody's trying to be difficult. They just have no shared plan.

When it's one team, that friction disappears. At my studio the photographers and cinematographers walk the venue together, share the timeline, and know who's shooting what during the vows. You get the still and the motion of the same moment, not a compromise. That's the actual argument for booking photo and film under one roof — it's not about convenience, it's about the coverage being genuinely better. If you're still deciding whether film is worth it at all, read my honest take on whether wedding videographers are actually worth it. Fair warning: I'm biased, but I explain why.

A combined photo-and-video package in LA usually runs $6,000 to $12,000 depending on hours and how many people are working your day. If you want a realistic look at splitting a budget across both, I laid it out in my wedding photography and videography budget guide.

How many hours should your package be?

This is the number that quietly makes or breaks your gallery. Six hours sounds like plenty until you map it against a real LA timeline. Getting-ready shots, first look, ceremony, family formals, couple portraits at golden hour, reception, first dances — that eats eight hours fast.

My honest recommendation for a standard LA wedding: 8 to 10 hours. Eight if your ceremony and reception are at the same venue and your day is tight. Ten if you've got travel between a getting-ready hotel in Beverly Hills and a reception in Malibu, or if you want the party covered through the last dance. I dug into this fully in my guide on how many hours of coverage you actually need — worth reading before you pick a package tier, because upgrading hours later almost always costs more than buying them upfront.

Golden hour is a package feature nobody lists

Let me tell you something practical about LA light, because it changes what a package is worth. The best portraits of your entire day happen in the 45 minutes before sunset. On a Malibu beach that light goes soft and warm around 6:45 in summer. On a downtown rooftop it hits the buildings gold right before the sun drops behind the skyline. On an estate in Pasadena the shade under the oaks goes creamy in late afternoon.

A good photographer builds your package hours around that window. A bad one schedules portraits at high noon because that's when there was a gap. When you're comparing packages, ask how the photographer plans the timeline around golden hour. If they don't have an answer, the number of hours won't save you. This is exactly the kind of thing I plan into every shoot, and it's why I always look at the wedding day timeline before I ever quote a package.

What I'd do if it were my own wedding

If I were the one getting married in LA, here's the package I'd build: 9 hours of coverage, a lead and a second shooter, an engagement session, and cinematic video from the same team. I'd skip the fancy leather album at booking and add it later once I'd seen the photos — you'll choose better images when they exist. And I'd book early. The good studios in this city are gone 10 to 14 months out for peak Saturdays in fall.

I'd also read reviews carefully instead of just scanning star ratings, because the story in a review tells you how someone handles a wedding when things go sideways.

FAQ

Does a wedding photography package usually include an engagement session?

In the mid and upper tiers, yes — most LA full-day packages ($3,000+) include one. Cheaper or short-coverage packages often don't. It's worth having; it's the best way to get comfortable in front of the camera before the day that actually matters.

How long until I get my photos and video back?

For photos, expect 4 to 8 weeks in LA for a full gallery. Cinematic video takes longer — usually 8 to 16 weeks for a highlight film and full edit. When one team handles both, delivery tends to be more coordinated, so you're not chasing two vendors on two different schedules.

Should I book photo and video together or separately?

Together, if you want them. One team that plans your day as a unit produces better coverage than two companies improvising around each other. It also usually costs less than booking two separate premium vendors.

How many edited photos should be in the package?

For a full 8–10 hour day, expect somewhere around 500 to 800 finished images. If a package promises 2,000 "photos," they're counting raw frames, not edited ones — ask specifically how many are culled and edited.

Can I add hours to a package later?

Usually yes, but at a higher hourly rate than if you'd bought them in the original package. If you think your day runs long, build the hours in from the start.

If you're trying to build the right wedding and photography package for your LA day — photo, film, or both — I'd genuinely love to hear about your plans and help you figure out what you actually need (and skip what you don't). Call or text 818.749.7039 or reach out through ConneryFilm.com, and let's talk it through.

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.