By Dimitris Alexandrakis, destination wedding photographer, Alexandrakis Photography

A wedding photography package bundles coverage hours, a set of edited images, and delivery, usually across three tiers: basic, standard, and premium.

Because there is no industry standard for what each includes, the price alone tells you little, so compare inclusions closely. I am Dimitris Alexandrakis, and I build custom packages from €1,600, with photo and video from one in-house team.

This guide explains how packages are built, what each tier includes, and how to choose. For the wider picture, see my complete guide to wedding photography in Greece.

The short answer: what a package is and how tiers work

A wedding photography package is a bundle of services: hours of coverage, a number of edited images, and a way to receive them. Most photographers offer three tiers.

Basic tiers cover the essentials, standard tiers add coverage and often video or a second shooter, and premium tiers add albums, prints, and faster delivery.

The tier names are less important than the inclusions. Two ‘standard’ packages can be very different, so read what each one actually contains.

Why there is no industry standard (and why it matters)

The most important thing to understand is that there is no industry standard for packages. One photographer’s eight-hour package is not the same as another’s.

One might include 300 images and no session, while another includes 700 images, an engagement session, and a second shooter. The price tag alone tells you almost nothing.

This is why comparing packages by price is a trap. You have to compare what is inside them, line by line, to know their true value.

Throughout this guide, I focus on inclusions, so you can read any package with a clear eye.

The basic tier: what it usually includes

Basic, or entry-level, packages cover the essentials. You typically get four to six hours of single-photographer coverage and a gallery of edited images online.

Engagement sessions, albums, and second shooters are usually add-ons at this level rather than included. Editing is often lighter than at higher tiers.

These packages suit elopements, courthouse ceremonies, intimate weddings, or couples who prioritise other parts of the budget.

They can be excellent value for a small, simple day, as long as you know what is and is not included.

The standard tier: what most couples choose

Standard packages are where most couples land, because they balance coverage and value. They typically include six to ten hours of coverage.

Many add a second photographer, an engagement session, or professionally edited images with careful colour grading. This is the sweet spot for a typical wedding.

Eight hours of coverage suits a day with a mid-afternoon ceremony and a reception running into the evening, capturing the full story.

If you are unsure where to start, the standard tier is usually the most sensible first look.

The premium tier: what it adds

Premium packages add scale and finish. They usually include extensive or full-day coverage, two or more photographers, and a larger set of edited images.

They often add a printed wedding album, wall prints, a pre-wedding session, and faster delivery. This is the complete, no-compromise option.

Premium tiers suit larger weddings, multi-part celebrations, and couples who want photography to be a centrepiece of the day.

The value lies in the extras and the album, so weigh whether those matter to you before choosing this level.

Coverage hours explained (6, 8 and 10 hours)

Coverage hours shape what a package can capture, so they are worth understanding. Most photographers offer six, eight, or ten-hour options.

Six hours covers the essentials, from late getting-ready through the heart of the reception. It suits smaller or simpler days.

Eight hours is the sweet spot for a typical wedding, capturing preparations, the ceremony, portraits, and a good stretch of the reception.

Ten hours or full-day coverage suits larger weddings and destination celebrations, where the story runs from early morning to late night.

What counts as a deliverable

The heart of any package is what you actually receive, so look closely at the deliverables. The core is a gallery of professionally edited images.

Check the number of images, the resolution, whether they carry a watermark, and your download and print rights. These vary widely between photographers.

In my packages, you receive around 700 edited, retouched 4K photos with download and print rights, delivered through a private online gallery with no watermarks.

To understand image counts, see my guide on how many photos you get from your wedding.

Common add-ons and what they are worth

Add-ons let you shape a package around your day. The most common are a second shooter, video, drone footage, albums, extra hours, and expedited editing.

A second shooter and a printed album are the add-ons couples value most. Drone footage and pre-wedding sessions add meaning and variety too.

The trick is to add only what matches your priorities, rather than every option. A well-chosen add-on is worth far more than a long list.

Photo booths are a fun reception extra; my Mirror Booth and 360 Booth each run for five hours at €1,000.

Photo, video, or both

A key decision is whether your package is photo only, or photo and video together. Photos are timeless and easy to share, while film adds sound and motion.

Because I offer both from one in-house team, combining them is seamless and consistent, with a single point of contact from booking to delivery.

Many couples who hesitate about video later say the film became one of their most treasured keepsakes, especially hearing their vows again.

My guide on whether wedding video is worth the cost helps you decide.

Second shooter: do you need one?

A second shooter is an additional photographer who works alongside the main one, capturing extra angles and candid moments at the same time.

They are invaluable at larger weddings, or when getting ready happens in two places, or to capture guests while the main photographer stays with you.

For smaller, intimate weddings, one experienced photographer is often plenty. It should be a genuine recommendation, not an automatic upsell.

Whether you need one depends on your day, and I am always happy to advise honestly.

Albums, prints and wall art

In a screen-first world, printed keepsakes are more special than ever, and many packages include or offer them. A custom album turns your gallery into an heirloom.

I design albums around your story, choosing images that flow as a narrative rather than a random selection, so it reads like a book of your day.

Wall art and fine-art prints suit a few standout portraits, bringing your wedding into your home every day.

Albums can be part of a package or added later, once you have lived with your gallery. There is no rush to decide.

How to read and compare packages

Because there is no standard, comparing packages well is a skill worth having. Start by lining up the inclusions side by side, not the prices.

Compare coverage hours, image counts, rights, delivery times, and whether video, a second shooter, or an album is included or extra.

Then look at full galleries to judge quality and consistency. A cheaper package with weaker images is not better value.

My list of questions to ask your wedding photographer helps you compare offers with confidence.

How to choose the right package for your wedding

Choosing the right package starts with your day, not a price. Match the coverage hours to your schedule, from getting ready to the reception.

Then match the tier to your priorities. If candid storytelling matters most, protect full-day coverage; if an album matters most, prioritise that.

Consider your wedding size and whether two places or a large guest list call for a second shooter. Add only the extras you truly want.

A short consultation turns these choices into a clear, tailored package built around your wedding.

How I build custom packages in Greece

Rather than force you into a fixed box, I build custom packages around your day. Every one starts from a consultation and a clear understanding of your plans.

You choose your coverage, whether to add video, a second shooter, drone footage, or an album, and I shape a package and quote to match.

Pricing starts from €1,600, with the most popular package at €2,500, and everything set out in a written, signed offer.

To see the deliverables in detail, read what is included in a wedding photography package.

Red flags in a package

A few warning signs are worth knowing. Be wary of packages with no clear image count, vague delivery times, or no written contract.

Watch for limited rights, where you pay extra to download, print, or use your own photos. In my packages, these rights are standard.

An unusually cheap package can hide extra fees for travel, editing, or a second shooter, so read every line before you sign.

Clear, itemised packages are the sign of a professional with nothing to hide.

Engagement and next-day sessions in a package

Beyond the wedding day, many packages include or offer a pre-wedding or next-day session. A pre-wedding shoot helps you relax on camera and gives you save-the-date images.

A next-day session lets you wear your dress or suit again without time pressure, often at sunrise in a beautiful Greek setting.

Both are optional, and both add meaningfully to your story. If you are camera-shy, a session before the day makes a real difference.

To decide whether one suits you, see my guide on whether you need an engagement shoot.

Delivery: galleries, timelines and rights

How a package delivers matters as much as what it captures. Look for a private online gallery, clear download and print rights, and a stated delivery time.

In my packages, you receive a sneak peek within seven days and the full gallery in six to eight weeks, with no watermarks and full rights.

Slow or vague delivery is a common frustration, so confirm the timeline before you book. A clear promise is a good sign.

Owning your images fully, to share and print, is essential, so always check the rights.

Coverage hours: matching the package to your day

The right number of hours depends on your day’s shape. Map your schedule from getting ready to the reception, then choose coverage that spans the moments you care about.

If getting-ready and preparations matter to you, start coverage earlier. If the party is the highlight, protect the evening hours.

A common mistake is buying too few hours to save money, then missing the start or end of the day. Coverage that stops early can leave gaps.

The best number of hours is the one that captures your whole story, not a fixed rule.

How custom packages differ from fixed tiers

Some photographers sell fixed tiers; others, like me, build custom packages. Both can work, but they suit different couples.

Fixed tiers are simple to compare, though they may include things you do not need or leave out things you want. Custom packages adapt to your exact day.

With a custom package, you choose your coverage and add-ons, and pay for what your wedding actually needs, rather than a template.

This flexibility is especially useful for destination weddings, where every day is different.

What a package cannot tell you

A package on paper cannot tell you everything, so look beyond it. The photographer’s full galleries reveal the quality and consistency you will actually receive.

Their manner and communication matter too, since you spend the whole day with them. A great package with a poor fit is not a good deal.

Reviews and real couples’ experiences fill in what the inclusions cannot. They tell you how it feels to work with someone.

Read the package, then read the photographer, before you decide.

Matching your package to your priorities

In the end, the right package is the one that matches your priorities. Decide what matters most, whether candid coverage, an album, video, or two shooters.

Then build or choose a package that protects those first, and treat everything else as optional. Your priorities should lead the decision.

This keeps you from overpaying for extras you do not want, or underbuying on the coverage you do.

A short consultation is the fastest way to turn your priorities into the right package.

A final word on comparing value

The single most useful habit when comparing packages is to ignore the price first and read the inclusions. Value lives in the details, not the headline number.

Line up coverage, images, rights, delivery, and extras, then look at full galleries. Only then does price become meaningful.

A clear, itemised package from a photographer whose work you love is almost always the best value, even if it is not the cheapest.

When you compare this way, choosing becomes far easier and far less about money alone.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in a wedding photography package?

Coverage hours, a set of professionally edited images, and delivery through an online gallery, at minimum. Higher tiers add a second shooter, video, an album, and sessions. There is no fixed standard, so always compare inclusions.

What are the wedding photography package tiers?

Most photographers offer three: basic (shorter coverage, one photographer), standard (full-day, often video or a second shooter), and premium (extensive coverage, album, prints, faster delivery).

How do I choose the right package?

Match the tier to your day: hours to your schedule, coverage to your priorities, and add-ons to what matters most. Compare inclusions across quotes rather than price alone.

What is a second shooter and do I need one?

A second shooter is an additional photographer who captures extra angles at the same time. It helps most at larger weddings or when the day runs in two places, and it is often optional.

Which add-ons are worth it?

The most valued are video, a second shooter, and a printed album. Drone footage and pre-wedding sessions add meaning too. Choose the ones that match your priorities, not every option.

How much do your packages cost?

Packages start from €1,600, with the most popular at €2,500. Because there is no fixed template, final pricing depends on your coverage, extras, and season, and custom packages are built to fit.

Are your packages fixed or custom?

Custom. Rather than force you into a fixed tier, I build a package around your day, so you pay for the coverage and extras your wedding actually needs, starting from €1,600.

Ready to build your package? Book a consultation

The clearest way to find the right package is a short consultation. We talk through your day, and I shape a tailored package with everything set out in writing.

Reach me at +30 693 7303 591 or info@alexandrakisphotography.gr, or send your date through the contact page, and I will prepare a package built around your wedding.