What wedding photography and videography cost in the Quad Cities

Typical Quad Cities ranges

For our current packages and what each one includes, see our pricing page — we keep starting prices public on purpose.

• Wedding photography: most full-day coverage in this market lands between roughly $2,500 and $5,000.
• Wedding videography: highlight-film coverage commonly runs from about $2,500 to $5,000.
• Photo and film together as one team: usually less than booking two separate companies at the same coverage level.
• Engagement sessions, second shooters, albums and drone coverage are the most common add-ons.

What actually drives the price

• Hours of coverage — an eight-hour day and a twelve-hour day are very different jobs.
• Number of creators on site. A second shooter means getting ready in two places and two ceremony angles.
• Editing depth. A highlight film with licensed music and color grading takes weeks, not days.
• Travel beyond the metro, and whether a hotel night is required.
• Deliverables: album design, raw ceremony audio, full ceremony edit, drone footage.

How to split a budget between photo and film

If you can only do one, do photography — it covers the whole day and it is what ends up on your walls. If film matters to you at all, though, book it at the same time as photo rather than adding it later; availability, not budget, is what usually kills the plan.

A practical rule: aim for roughly 10 to 15 percent of your total wedding budget on photography, and add film on top of that rather than carving it out.

Deposits and payment timing

Most Quad Cities photographers hold a date with a non-refundable retainer and collect the balance before the wedding. We take a deposit at booking and automatically charge the remaining balance two weeks before your date, so there is nothing to remember during the final month.