Revealing the Price Range of Wedding Photographers in South Florida

Planning a wedding requires making numerous decisions, and one vital element is preserving those special memories with the help of professional photography. South Florida, with its breathtaking beaches, tropical scenery, and vibrant culture, is a highly desirable wedding destination for couples. Nevertheless, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the expenses involved in hiring wedding photographers in this region in order to budget wisely and make well-informed decisions. This blog post aims to delve into the factors that influence pricing and offer a general overview of what couples can anticipate when they hire a wedding photographer in South Florida.

Factors Influencing Pricing

When it comes to the cost of wedding photographers in South Florida, several factors come into play. First and foremost is the photographer’s experience and expertise. Those with extensive portfolios and a stellar reputation often charge higher rates due to their proven track record.

The duration and complexity of the event also affect pricing. Larger weddings that span multiple locations, require longer hours, and involve more guests necessitate additional resources and a greater time commitment from the photographer, which translates to higher prices.

Moreover, additional services like engagement shoots, pre-wedding consultations, and custom albums can contribute to the overall cost. These extras enhance the photography experience and provide couples with personalized keepsakes but can add to the final price tag.

Lastly, the demand and popularity of specific seasons can influence pricing. For instance, the winter months, known for milder weather in South Florida, tend to be in high demand for weddings. As a result, photographers may adjust their rates accordingly during peak seasons.

Price Ranges

In South Florida, the pricing for wedding photographers can vary significantly, typically falling between $1,500 to $6,000 or even higher, depending on the aforementioned factors. For couples with a more limited budget, less experienced photographers in the industry might offer packages starting at approximately $1,500 to $2,500. These packages generally provide coverage for a set number of hours, basic editing, and a digital gallery of the captured images.

On the other hand, highly sought-after photographers with extensive experience and an impressive portfolio may charge anywhere from $3,500 to $6,000 or more. These premium packages often encompass full-day coverage, the inclusion of a second photographer, professional editing, engagement sessions, prints, and high-quality albums.

It’s important to bear in mind that the prices mentioned above are approximations, and actual costs will vary depending on individual photographers and the specific services they offer.

Investing in Lasting Memories

While wedding photography comes with a significant cost, it is crucial to recognize it as an investment in preserving lifelong memories. Photographs serve as tangible reminders of the joyous moments shared on your special day, allowing you to revisit those cherished memories for years to come. Choosing a skilled and professional wedding photographer is an investment that guarantees the beautiful preservation of your memories.

When planning your wedding in South Florida, it is advisable to allocate a fair portion of your budget towards hiring a talented wedding photographer. By understanding the factors that influence pricing and having a general idea of the cost ranges, you can make an informed decision that aligns with both your budget and your photography expectations. By investing in an experienced photographer, you can ensure that your wedding day memories are captured and preserved in an extraordinary and lasting manner.

Engagement Session at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, FL | Yvette + Diego

We first learned about Yvette and Diego back in December when we were running our Complimentary Engagement Session contest.  We found out quickly that they have a strong network of friends and family as they received tons of votes daily! Although the outcome was not in their favor, we made sure to give perks and incentives to all of the couples that entered and Yvette and Diego luckily did not hesitate.  We say lucky because it was really a delight to meet these two and we are really looking forward to their wedding.  Their wedding date is in November of this year (2017) and it was smart of them to book right away as it was the last Saturday in November we had available!  We have had too many sad encounters with couples who contact us for their wedding date and we are already booked.  We only shoot one wedding a day and limit the amount of weddings we shoot in the year in order to bring our clients the absolute best experience we can provide.  We strive to do this for each of our clients and we are so happy that we will be able to offer this experience for Yvette and Diego.

A little about the couple – Yvette recently moved back to South Florida after living in Atlanta, GA.  She is now continuing her career as a news producer at WPLG Channel 10.  Diego is a co-owner at Temple Street Eatery in Ft. Lauderdale where he is also the chef.  As you scroll through the blog you may notice Yvette brought her vintage typewriter and Diego brought his notepad of recipe ideas as props to express their interests.   Individually, these two are just cool, interesting people.  Together, they are the couple you want to hang out with and not want the evening to end!  There was so much laughter during their engagement session that we can only imagine how much fun these two must have on a daily basis.

Their session took place at the beautiful Hugh Birch Taylor State Park in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  This park offered a gorgeous backdrop for their photographs. This state park is an oasis of preserved tropical hammocks just steps from the buzz of Ft. Lauderdale Beach.  It is a perfect little escape for any nature lover or anyone just looking for a bit of tranquility.  It is always exciting to shoot in a new location and were pleasantly surprised at all the pretty spots there were to shoot at this park. As lovely as the setting was, the focus of each session is always the couple.  Catching their personalities and love for each other in every image is the goal. It wasn’t too difficult to do during this engagement session as it is clear that Yvette and Diego are crazy about each other!

We are so grateful that they took the time to enter our contest and reach out to us to shoot their wedding.  As we just closed another contest, we have started communications with our most recent contestants that are also looking into locking in their wedding dates.  We can’t wait to learn more about them and capture their love story too!

We hope you enjoy the following preview of Yvette and Diego’s engagement session as much as we enjoyed capturing them.

Miami Firefighter Engagement Session – Matheson Hammock Park

We are really excited to share another engagement session with you today!  Meet Gennipher and Chris.  If you follow us on social media, you may remember their faces as they were one of the many couples that entered our annual Engagement Session contest during the Holidays.  We have been running this promotion every year since 2011 and it’s always a lot of fun!  This contest has allowed us to meet newly engaged couples.  We were incredibly humbled to see how many couples entered the contest and wanted to work with us…. but we will talk a little bit more about that later.

Shortly after they won the contest, Gennipher contacted us and we set up a meeting in our studio in West Kendall to go over the details of their engagement session.  We fell in love with them immediately! They came ready with ideas and tons of enthusiasm about their shoot.  We always advise couples to include their personalities into their sessions and these two have plenty of that!  We learned that Chris is a firefighter as well as an artist.  We also learned all about Gennipher’s adorable proposal and how their puppy, Hendrix, was an integral part of the master plan to woo her into saying yes!  We were given a task to incorporate all of these things into their session and, of course, we were up for it.

We have shot a good amount of firefighters’ engagement sessions and weddings and every time it’s been a blast. (Keeping an eye out for other firefighters pulling pranks the day of the shoot is always a fun!) It’s almost guaranteed to be a good time and this engagement session delivered.  We began the shoot at one of the City of Miami Firehouses that happens to also showcase Chris’s murals.  (As aforementioned, Chris is an artist and you may check out some of his impressive work at www.duwerks.com)

The firehouse was a fun place to break the ice and get to know Gennipher and Chris in front of the camera.  It didn’t take long at all before these two felt really comfortable – Gennipher looked absolutely stunning all dolled up by Chris’s side.  Chris brought all his firefighter gear and it was a great opportunity to have Gennipher wear it for some fun shots!  It was also a great time to introduce Hendrix in a couple of pictures.  After all, Hendrix was there from day one of their engagement!  He was perfectly behaved and was a cute addition to the shoot. Shortly after we took a ride to the beautiful Matheson Hammocks Park where we completed their session.

We are so excited for Gennipher and Chris. During our initial meeting about their engagement session we found out we had their wedding date available. This added excitement to the meeting and we couldn’t stop talking about their wedding day plans. Gennipher and Chris are having a destination wedding in the beautiful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They felt comfortable with us and with continued with the booking. We have experience traveling and covering events in Mexico among other destinations. There’s a good amount of couples nowadays that decide to go with a destination wedding but do not consider booking a photographer from the states. We highly recommended it! After the wedding, the only thing you keep is your memories and it is important to have someone close to home to contact and keep in touch during the process of receiving your images.

We are so happy that Chris and Gennipher entered our contest! We are also very happy to announce we have decided to open a new contest today!

Please use the link at the end of this blog post if you would like to enter or share with someone that might be interested in entering the contest. All details can be found in link.

I hope you enjoy this blog post as much as we enjoyed capturing the session!

Enter Our Engagement Session Contest!

Wedding – St Hugh Catholic Church – Rusty Pelican

Spring has been a wonderful season for us at Photography by Santy Martinez.  We have had the pleasure of capturing quite a few “I do’s” in the past few months including these two – Jessica + Danny.  We are pretty sure their friends and family would agree with us when we say – you really won’t find a cuter pair of newlyweds than these two!

Their wedding day began at The Ritz Carlton in Coconut Grove.  We love that this location provides the option of getting ready in a large meeting room with cozy couches and pretty décor for the whole bridal party to get ready.  This is a great option for brides with a big group of bridesmaids as there is plenty of room for the girls to spread out as they wait for hair and make-up.  Jessica had quite a few bridesmaids along with moms and her adorable flower girls. The space worked out perfect as they were able to mingle over mimosas and giggle as they each got prepped to get in their gowns.  During this getting ready time, we were there to capture all the details – shoes, wedding dress, the rings – as well as the little moments of laughter in between! When it was time to get into her dress, Jessica was able to leave the chaos behind and sneak up to her suite which was nice and tidy and perfect for capturing that moment mom helped her little girl get ready!  During this whole event, Danny was having his own getting ready event at his suite.  The guys’ idea of getting ready is less of a production than the girls but just as noteworthy! Danny also had quite a few groomsmen by his side making sure he was ready and looking sharp for that big moment he would see his bride for the first time.

That big moment took place at St. Hugh Catholic Church in Coconut Grove.  We have captured countless weddings at St. Hugh and every time has been just as beautiful.  Jessica rolled up with her father in a white Rolls Royce as Danny anxiously waited inside.  In their case, they did not have a “first look” prior to the ceremony so this was going to be the first-time Danny would see his bride.  The moment did not disappoint as he could not hold back those happy tears!  We always try to give couples the best advice for their day in regards to photography.  Sometimes we advise on the option of a “first look” in order to have enough sunlight to take pretty bridal portraits.  In other cases, as in this one, the couple had allowed time for the ceremony to take place early enough so there was still plenty of natural light for pictures after.  Either way, we make sure that we work with the couple so they are sure to get the best images of their wedding day.

As mentioned, after the ceremony the couple allotted time for photos so we were able to take advantage of the gorgeous surroundings of the next destination – the Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne.  While guests arrived for cocktail hour, Jessica and Danny followed us around the property for some beautiful scenic shots before we took them into their ballroom for a photo with their décor.  What we most love about the Rusty Pelican – that Miami skyline view.  Visible from their reception space, we know that their guests enjoyed taking that view in!  Once portraits were complete, we allowed the story to unfold.  And we were there to witness and candidly capture all of those moments! 

We would like to thank Jessica and Danny for being part of our Spring line up of weddings! We send them all of our love and well wishes.  Please enjoy a sneak peek of the first day of their marriage.

Photographers: Photography by Santy Martinez | Annie + Santy

Church: St. Hugh Catholic Church

Reception: The Rusty Pelican

Event Planner: Elite Planning Firm

DJ & Lighting: Event Factor

Videographer: Cutting Desk Productions

 

Miami Wedding Photographers Reviews – Photography by Santy Martinez

It’s only April 4th and this month is already bringing in great news!!! We just received The WeddingWire Rated™ 100 Review Club Award for Wedding Photographers in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach area.

The WeddingWire Rated program recognizes professional wedding photographers across the U.S. and abroad for commitment to providing quality service by allowing them to showcase different badges based on their number of wedding reviews. Photographers who make it into the 100 Review Club are part of an exclusive group of premium Pro Wedding Photographers who have worked hard to earn more than 100 wedding reviews while maintaining an average rating of 3.5 or higher.  We are always “shooting” for 5 stars and we are happy to report that we have consistently achieved it!

We would like to say THANK YOU to all the couples who have trusted us with their big day and have taken their time to review us on WeddingWire. As our clients know, we only capture one wedding a day in order to give you the boutique service you expect from us. That means reaching over 100 awesome reviews is an accomplishment we are proud of!

The reviews you write create consumer trust for our potential clients and allows us to continue to grow our small business. In fact, 72% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. We are honored and happy to know that our services have given our clients great memories to cherish for a lifetime.

We take a lot of pride in what we do and the customer service we provide. This has allowed us to have a high average rating showing consistency in our work.

We also want to say thank you to WeddingWire for recognizing our accomplishment. We know there’s a good number of talented wedding photographers in South Florida and this recognition allows us to stand out a little bit more and we have our previous clients to thank for it.

As a member of WeddingWire, the world’s largest wedding review site with over one million reviews, Photography by Santy Martinez advancement to the Rated™ Black Level is considered the ultimate milestone, illustrating our business’ commitment to regularly providing quality service to our clients. As a WeddingWire Rated™ Black badge-holder, Photography by Santy Martinez has reached the highest level of achievement on WeddingWire.

We have won the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards recognize the top 5% of local wedding professionals on WeddingWire that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism. Winners are selected solely based on reviews from newlyweds and are determined by a combination of excellence in four factors: overall rating, total number of reviews, review performance from the previous year, and consistency of reviews from year to year.

The combination of many years winning WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award has brought us to this new milestone. We want to thank our couples once again for trusting us and taking the time to put into words their gratitude with the amazing reviews they have been so kind to give us.

We are super excited on what this beautiful business of wedding photography has in store for us. We are looking forward to all the upcoming weddings for the rest of 2017 and the ones already booked for 2018. We promise to continue to provide top service and preserve your memories for years to come.

Wedding at The Cooper Estate – Homestead – FL

We want to extend a huge congratulations to Iris + Jasen on their fabulous Cooper Estate Wedding in Homestead, FL.  We were simply blown away with how every detail of their wedding was planned to perfection.  They added just the right touches of elegance to enhance an already beautiful wedding venue.  Even with all of that planning, I don’t think either one of them could have anticipated just how happy they were from the beginning to the end of their day!

We’d like to start by saying that we had been looking forward to Iris and Jasen’s wedding since the day we met with them in our Kendall studio.  We felt an instant connection with this couple and were so thankful to have the opportunity to capture their sweet story.  We were also excited to get to work once more at the Cooper Estate – one of the most intimate and lovely wedding venues in South Florida.  Cooper Estate is an ideal location to whisk your guests into a romantic state of mind.  They offer a gorgeous sunken grotto with a waterfall backdrop for the ceremony that is straight out of a fairy tale, an outdoor cocktail space surrounded by majestic trees and bistro lighting, and a rustic farmhouse that is exquisitely charming.  As always, the staff at the Cooper Estate did an incredible job with the event.

The Cooper Estate boasts a lovely cottage on premise.  With a private bedroom decorated in the same rustic look the venue is known for – the cottage is a great option for the bride to get ready.  As photographers, we love shooting the detail shots and getting ready shots there as it offers a pretty backdrop for photographs.  This was exactly the case with Iris, who used the beautiful room to slip into her gown with the help of her bridesmaids.  There, she put on her shoes, earrings and touched up her makeup just before she prepared herself to walk down the aisle.  All the while, Jasen was anxiously waiting to see his bride!

Often times, the bride and groom decide to do a first look – this is when the couple sees each other prior to the ceremony.  Iris and Jasen decided not to do this and opted for a traditional first look instead – with a twist!  As guests gathered in the grotto, the bride and groom snuck away and had a little moment where they held hands – back to back with a wall dividing the two – no peeking! This was just about the moment Jasen lost it.  The happy tears flowed and we were just ecstatic to be able to witness it all with our lens.  This touch gave both of them the positive energy they both needed to get through the upcoming ceremony.

And what an emotion filled ceremony it was! Iris and Jasen’s love was so apparent.  When Iris started her path down the grotto steps, Jasen lost it once more.  In his defense, Iris could not control the happy tears either!  As previously mentioned, the ceremony setting at Cooper Estate looks like a picture in a storybook.  Guests feel like they are in a different world as they witness the exchange of vows.  With its waterfall trickling in the background and exotic plants peeking through the rocks, it is a picturesque and peaceful setting.  We love capturing weddings here for the simple fact that it makes for stunning photos.  It was the perfect spot for Iris and Jasen to say “I do”!

While their guests enjoyed cocktails, we were kept busy with the newlyweds capturing their portraits around the property.  One of our favorite spots for pics at the Cooper Estate is the front of the manor.  Those big wooden doors are everything! We also love taking the bride and groom into the reception space for the first time.  It is always a magical moment seeing their vision come together. All the vendors did a spectacular job and makes our job just a bit easier! We made sure to capture every detail so that it will never be forgotten.

The rest of the night was their story to tell.  We did not want to miss a beat -from the first dances to the cutting of the cake and all of the partying in between.  The DJ was awesome and knew just the right song to keep the dancing going.  Everyone was having an amazing time! The night ended with a sparkler exit as Iris and Jasen’s guest wished them a lifetime of happiness.  Please join us as we wish them the same!

Venue: The Cooper Estate

Hair and Make-up: Sissi Ceballo Make Up

Dj: SCJ Event

Videographer: Love Squared

Photographers: Santy and Annie

Wedding at The Palms Hotel | Linda + Gabriel | South Florida Wedding Photographer

South Florida is famous for its sunshine and beaches.  Linda and Gabriel took advantage of this for the backdrop of their beautiful wedding at The Palms Hotel in Miami Beach.  From the moment they started getting ready until the very end of their night, we had a fun time capturing all the emotion and laughter of their big day!

Venue: The Palms Hotel, Lead Photographer: Santy Martinez, 2nd Photographer: Janina

Firefighter Engagement Session: Jess + Andrew | Miami Wedding Photographer | Photography by Santy Martinez

Engagement sessions are always a lot of fun and a great opportunity for us to learn how the couple reacts in front of the camera.  Well, we learned quickly that the camera loved Jess and Andrew and their playful personalities!  Their charming firefighter engagement session had a cool retro vibe that fit the couple perfectly.  Pictures don’t lie … when the couple is having a blast as we had during their session, the result is magic!  We hope you enjoy.

Wedding | Church of the Little Flower | Ritz Carlton in Coconut Grove: Ana-Mari + Alex

It is always a pleasure to capture a sweet couple from start to finish on their wedding day and Ana-Mari + Alex were no exception.  The excitement was in the air from the time she started getting dolled up until they celebrated the night away with friends and family.  Their ceremony took place at Coral Gables’ historic Church of the Little Flower and was followed by a stunning reception at the Ritz Carlton in Coconut Grove.  The details in their wedding décor was only rivaled by how exquisite Ana Mari and Alex looked on their big day!

Church: Church of the Little Flower, Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove, Miami, Lead Photographer: Santy Martinez, 2nd Photographer: Annie

 

Engagement Session at the Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo Fl : Julie + Jorge

Meet Julie + Jorge.  Their engagement session took place at the spectacular Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL which was perfectly fitting for this classy and happy couple.  From formal elegance to laid back and fun- this shoot had it all!  We can’t wait to capture their big day!