Let's talk money! Wedding photography is one of the first things couples book and one of the biggest line items in the budget, so it's fair to want to know what you're actually paying for. Here's what wedding photography costs in Chattanooga heading into 2027, exactly what my packages include, and why I price my work the way I do.
What Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in Chattanooga?
According to The Knot's latest Real Weddings Study, couples who married in 2025 spent an average of $3,000 on their wedding photographer. In the South and Southeast, the average was $2,700. Spending ranged from about $1,500 for couples on a tighter budget to about $4,700 for couples who invested more.
For context, the average wedding in that same study cost $34,000, and 88% of couples hired a photographer.
Here in Chattanooga, you'll find photographers at every price point, from newer shooters building a portfolio to experienced pros booking a year or more out. The price difference usually comes down to a few things:
Hours of coverage. Four hours catches the ceremony and portraits. Eight hours catches the getting ready jitters, the toasts and the last song on the dance floor.
A second shooter. Two photographers means two angles on your first kiss, and someone catching your guests' reactions while I'm focused on you.
Albums and prints. Some packages include a printed heirloom album. Others give you a gallery and leave the rest to you.
Experience and style. Knowing how to work fast in harsh midday sun, a dark reception barn or a surprise downpour comes from years of doing it.
Time behind the scenes. For every hour at your wedding, there are several more spent planning, culling and editing. More on that below!
My 2027 Wedding Packages
Every wedding package includes documentary coverage, timeline planning support, my wedding planning guides (a timeline template, a family photo list worksheet, my favorite Chattanooga vendors and a rain plan), a sneak peek within 3 days, a private online gallery of your edited images and a personal print release. You also get drone photos when your venue and the airspace allow, and my No Clock Watching promise: I stay until your day is covered, and you're only charged overtime past 15 extra minutes.
The Weekend Package, $7,000. The full experience! Three hours of rehearsal dinner coverage and portraits, ten hours of wedding day coverage with a second shooter, drone photo and video, an engagement session, a 10x10 Artifact Uprising layflat album and priority editing with your gallery delivered in 4 weeks.
Photo + Film, $5,800. Everything in the 8-hour Wedding Package plus a wedding film, delivered together with your photo gallery. That's $400 less than booking them separately.
The Wedding Package, from $4,000. For weddings of about 75 to 150 guests. Six hours ($4,000) or eight hours ($5,000) of coverage, plus a second shooter, an engagement session and a 10x10 Artifact Uprising layflat album.
The Intimate Wedding, from $2,500. Four hours of coverage for celebrations of up to 50 guests ($2,500), or six hours ($3,200). Perfect for backyard weddings, small venues and courthouse-plus-dinner days.
Elopements start at $950. If you're dreaming of something smaller in the mountains, take a peek at my elopement photography.
Want to add on? Wedding video is available for $1,200 with any package. Extra albums and prints are 10% off when you book them with your package. You can see everything in my investment guide.
What My Couples Say
“I’m not a fan of being in front of a camera, but she made us feel so comfortable from the very beginning.” Olivia and Gavin
“She cares so much about telling your life and your story through the photos.” Allie and Gabe
“They were professional, friendly, and handled our crazy friends and family in stride.” Kendra and Andrew
“The real star of the show was Rachel, the way she made us feel, and the beautiful pictures she took that captured the most magical day!” Cassidy and Aaron
“She’s professional but so sweet and made us feel like she was a part of the family for the day.” Sarah Kate and Nick
“I really just want to show up and get married and not have to worry about anything else,” and she truly made this a reality. Allison and Brady
What It's Like to Work With Me
I'm all in for my couples! From our first call to your last dance, my whole goal is for you to have the best day ever, and photos that tell the real story of it.
I'm a storyteller first. I'm not just checking boxes on a shot list. I'm watching for the moments that make your day yours: your dad tearing up before he even sees you, a toast that goes completely off the rails, the flower girl's full-on meltdown. Those are the photos you'll love most twenty years from now.
The weird stuff is my favorite stuff. Queso fountains, custom sunglasses, a cigar bar, horses at the reception, late night bites, or running off to a dive bar to stuff our faces with burgers? Yes please! The more unique your day is, the more excited I get. Bring all your quirks.
I'm here for the big feelings. Nothing gets me like watching you get emotional with your people. The happy tears, the long hugs, the "I can't believe this is happening" faces. I'll be right there catching every one (and probably tearing up a little myself!).
You'll get to just be yourselves. I'll hype you up, keep things easy and fun, and keep portraits to short little blocks so you can get back to your party. All are welcome here, exactly as you are.
Why I'm Priced the Way I Am
I want you to know exactly where your money goes, because it's a lot more than one day with a camera.
Before the wedding. Discovery calls, my planning guides, timeline building, planning around the best light, and a wedding info form about two months out so I know who Grandma is and which shots matter most to you.
On the day. I'm there to document your day as it really happens. And if your timeline runs long, I don't pack up mid-toast. That's my No Clock Watching promise.
After the wedding. Culling thousands of frames down to the ones that tell your story, editing each one by hand, delivering a sneak peek within 3 days and your full gallery in about 8 weeks. Then I design your album, so your photos live somewhere other than your phone.
Keeping your photos safe. Your online gallery stays live for at least 3 years, and I keep your final gallery on my own stored drives permanently. If you ever lose a file, I've got you.
Running a real business. Professional cameras and lenses, editing software, gallery hosting, album printing and taxes all come out of your package price. A fair price means I can keep showing up for my couples at my very best.
Why It's Worth Investing in a Well-Rounded, Creative Photographer
Your flowers will wilt, the cake will get eaten and the playlist will end. The photos are what you'll hold onto, and what your kids and grandkids will pass around someday. It's worth hiring someone who can capture all of it, not just the posed shots.
Documentary and directed, both. I'm a documentary-first photographer, so I'm watching for the real moments: the happy tears, the inside jokes, the flower girl's meltdown. But I also know when to step in and guide you, so your portraits look natural and your family photos get done quickly and painlessly.
An eye for design. I have a degree in graphic design and photography and over 8 years behind the camera. That training shows up in how I see light, color and composition, and in how I design your album.
Ready for anything. Golden hour portraits, flash photos on a packed dance floor, a dark church, a rainy day. Every wedding throws something new at you, and experience means I'm ready for it.
Couples who book a cheaper photographer and are disappointed can't redo their wedding day. Investing in experience is how you make sure the photos match the day you actually had.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Photography Budget
Match your hours to your timeline. If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you may need less coverage than you think.
Think about an intimate wedding. A smaller guest list often means fewer hours and a smaller package, without giving up the moments that matter.
Book your album up front. Albums and prints are 10% off when you add them with your package.
Plan for the payment schedule. A 25% retainer saves your date, and the rest is due one month before your wedding, so you can spread it out over your planning season.
Now Booking 2027 and 2028!
If you love the way I tell stories and you're planning a wedding in Chattanooga, the Smoky Mountains or beyond, I'd love to hear all about it. Take a peek at my Chattanooga wedding photography, read up on the best time of year to get married in Chattanooga, or reach out here and tell me everything!
Sources: The Knot, Average Cost of a Wedding Photographer, The Knot Worldwide 2026 Real Weddings Study
