How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in Washington DC? (2026 Guide)
If you're getting married in Washington DC, Northern Virginia or Maryland, photography is one of the biggest line items in your budget, and one of the hardest to compare. Prices online range from a few hundred dollars to well over $10,000, and every photographer packages things differently.
We've photographed and filmed weddings across the DC area since 2010, so here's a straight answer: what couples actually pay, what changes the price, and what our own packages cost, with nothing hidden.
The short answer
Most DC-area couples spend between $2,800 and $5,000 on wedding photography from an experienced professional, and between $3,500 and $6,500 if they add a videographer separately. Full-day coverage of a large hotel wedding, with a second shooter and an album, can run higher.
For context, The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study (10,474 couples who married in 2025) puts the national average for a wedding photographer at about $3,000, and $3,800 in the Mid-Atlantic. The average for a videographer is about $2,300 nationally and $3,000 in the Mid-Atlantic.
What Samshots charges
Our pricing is by the hour, so you only pay for the coverage you need. These are our starting packages; team size and the full details are confirmed on your intro call.
Wedding photography
4 hours: $2,800
6 hours: $3,800
8 hours: $4,800
10 hours: $5,800
12 hours: $7,800
Wedding videography
4 hours: $3,500
6 hours: $4,500
8 hours: $5,500
10 hours: $6,500
12 hours: $8,500
Photo + video together (save 10%)
4 hours: $5,670
6 hours: $7,470
8 hours: $9,270
10 hours: $11,070
12 hours: $14,670
Popular add-ons include a second shooter ($1,000), albums ($800 to $1,200), an engagement session ($500 to $750) and drone photo or video ($850). You can see everything on our pricing page.
What changes the price of a DC wedding photographer
1. Hours of coverage
This is the biggest factor. Four hours usually covers the ceremony, portraits and the start of the reception. If you want getting-ready photos, a first look and the full reception through the last dance, plan on eight to ten hours.
2. A second shooter
At larger weddings, a second photographer captures the groom getting ready while the lead is with the bride, and catches guest reactions during the ceremony. For DC hotel weddings with 150 or more guests, it's often worth it.
3. Adding video
Video is priced separately because it's a separate crew and many more hours of editing. Booking photo and video with the same team saves you money (we take 10% off) and means one team that works together all day instead of two vendors working around each other.
4. Your venue
Big hotel ballrooms like the Ritz-Carlton Washington DC, the Willard InterContinental and the Fairmont in Georgetown often mean more guests, a grand entrance and a longer reception, so couples tend to book more hours. Large Northern Virginia venues such as The Bellevue in Chantilly are similar. A photographer who already knows the venue works faster and knows where the best light is.
5. Albums and prints
A printed heirloom album is an add-on ($800 to $1,200). It's worth considering: it's the version of your wedding photos you'll actually pull off the shelf and share with family.
6. Travel
Our team is based in the DC area, close to BWI, IAD and DCA. For destination weddings, couples cover round-trip flights and lodging for the team, and we cover our own rental car, gas, tolls and meals. Add-on pricing can vary with travel distance, so we confirm everything in your quote.
How many hours do you actually need?
4 hours: smaller weddings, or ceremony plus portraits and the first part of the reception.
6 hours: ceremony, family photos, couple portraits, and the reception's main moments (entrance, first dance, toasts, cake).
8 to 10 hours: the full story, from getting ready and a first look through the party on the dance floor. This is what most of our DC hotel couples choose.
12 hours: long multicultural celebrations or weddings with a separate morning ceremony.
How to save without regretting it
Book photo and video together with one team to get the 10% combo savings.
Cover the moments that matter most and skip the last hour of dancing if your budget is tight.
Do a first look so portraits happen before the ceremony and you need fewer hours later.
Get married on a Friday, Sunday or in the off-season, when dates are easier to book.
The one place we'd never cut corners is experience. You can't redo your wedding day, so look at full galleries, not just highlights, and read reviews from real couples.
Questions to ask before you book
Who exactly will photograph our wedding, and can we see full galleries of their work?
Have you worked at our venue before?
How long until we receive our photos and video? (Ours: photos in under 30 days, video within three months.)
What happens if you're sick on our date?
Is the price all-inclusive, or are there extra fees?
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for a wedding photographer in DC?
Plan on roughly $2,800 to $5,000 for experienced photography coverage, depending on hours. The Mid-Atlantic average reported by The Knot is about $3,800.
How much does a wedding videographer cost in DC?
Expect roughly $3,500 to $6,500 for professional wedding video. Booking video together with photography from the same team usually costs less than hiring two separate vendors.
How far in advance should we book?
For spring and fall Saturdays in DC, many couples book 9 to 15 months ahead, since popular dates go first.
Do you photograph weddings in Virginia and Maryland too?
Yes. We cover weddings across Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland, as well as destination weddings.
Check your date
Samshots is a Best of The Knot award winner with a 4.9-star rating on The Knot, and our team of four photographers and four videographers has been photographing DC-area weddings since 2010. See our wedding photography and wedding films, then send us your date and venue for a free consultation.
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