If you are planning a wedding in Montreal, photography is probably one of the first quotes you start collecting, and one of the hardest to compare. Two photographers can quote very different numbers for what sounds like the same day, because hours, editing, a second photographer, travel, and what happens after the wedding are not always included in the same way.
I am Mélanie, and I photograph weddings in a refined, editorial, natural light style. I love the candid moments that still feel timeless rather than staged. This guide explains what wedding photography usually costs in Montreal, what moves the price, and exactly what my own collections cost, so you can compare fairly, without mixing up market averages with my prices.
The short answer: what Montreal wedding photography usually costs
In short, most full day Montreal wedding photography costs $3,500 to $6,500 in market guides, while my collections start at $1,500 for 2 hours, $3,000 for 6 hours, and $4,800 for 10 hours.
Market guides for Montreal put full day coverage in a wide range, because Montreal has everything from newer photographers building a portfolio to established, in demand studios. As general market context only, not my prices, most guides put shorter or mid tier packages lower, and luxury or in demand photographers higher. Those ranges are useful for budgeting, but they are not a quote.
A Montreal quote should always state hours, number of photographers, edited image count, delivery time, and whether travel is included. If any of those are missing, you are not comparing like with like.
What a Montreal wedding day asks of a photographer
Montreal weddings have their own light and logistics, and I love photographing here for that reason. Historic churches and grand halls can be beautiful and dark in the same afternoon. Gardens and Old Montreal streets give soft, natural light, but you need a rain plan. Many Montreal weddings also bring French speaking and English speaking families together, so family photos run more smoothly when everyone understands what is being asked.
None of that automatically makes photography more expensive, but it does make planning matter. If your photographer is travelling to Montreal, be clear before you book about travel, timing, and how portraits and family photos will be organised on the day, so there are no surprises later.
My collections, applied to a Montreal wedding
Here are my own prices, plain and simple, from my Investment page:
- Chapter I: Intimate, $1,500, 2 hours. This is the elopement package.
- Chapter II: Essential, $3,000, 6 hours.
- Chapter III: Legacy, $4,800, 10 hours continuous, with an engagement session included and a customised wedding timeline.
- Associate collections, photographed by an associate and edited by me: Intimate $1,000 / 2 hours, Essential $2,100 / 6 hours, Legacy $3,300 / 10 hours, with an engagement session included in the associate Legacy collection.
Add ons: additional hours $400 per hour, second shooter $800 (up to 8 hours), engagement session $500, rehearsal dinner $800 for 2 hours.
Delivery for weddings: a sneak peek gallery within 48 hours, and the full high resolution gallery through a private online gallery within 6 to 8 weeks. You can generally expect 50 to 100 professionally edited, high resolution images per hour of coverage, with quality over quantity.
See the full collections on my Investment page.
What changes the price most in Montreal
Hours of coverage
Hours are the biggest driver. A two hour elopement and a ten hour day from getting ready to the dance floor are different jobs, in shooting time and in editing time. Choose hours around the moments you most want remembered, not just the ceremony.
A second photographer
A second photographer can capture your partner’s reaction while I photograph you walking down the aisle, or cover cocktail hour while portraits are happening. It is not essential for every wedding, but for larger weddings, or weddings with two getting ready locations, it changes the story you get back.
Engagement sessions, albums, and prints
An engagement session is included in the Legacy collections and available as a $500 add on otherwise. Engagement photos can also be added to a wedding album or print order. Ask early what is included and what can be added later, so you are not pressured to decide everything at once.
Light, season, and timeline
A Montreal wedding in peak season, in a dark church, or with portraits planned far from the reception will need more planning time than a small, single location celebration. That planning time is part of what you are paying for, even when it does not appear as a line item.
How to compare Montreal quotes fairly
Before you book anyone, me included, ask every photographer the same questions, in writing:
- How many hours are included, and who is the photographer on the day?
- Is a second photographer included, or an add on?
- How many edited images do you typically deliver, and when?
- Is travel to Montreal included, or quoted separately, and for how much?
- What is included after the wedding: gallery, printing rights, album, prints?
A lower quote that leaves out editing, a gallery, or travel is not necessarily cheaper once those are added back.
For more planning help, see my first look guide and my unplugged wedding guide.
A final thought on value in Montreal
Montreal gives you stone, light, gardens, and celebration energy that photographs beautifully. What you will keep longest, though, is not the backdrop. It is your people, your laughter, and the feeling of the day. Look at full galleries, not just highlights, and notice whether a photographer captures that feeling consistently, in different light and different venues.
If you are planning a wedding in Montreal, I would love to hear about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Market prices vary by hours, team size, and what is included. My own collections start at $1,500 for 2 hours, with $3,000 for 6 hours and $4,800 for 10 hours. See the full collections on my Investment page.
Coverage on the day, a hand edited digital gallery, a sneak peek within 48 hours, and the full gallery within 6 to 8 weeks. You can generally expect 50 to 100 professionally edited, high resolution images per hour of coverage.
A 2 hour collection suits an elopement, a 6 hour collection suits a shorter wedding day, and a 10 hour collection suits a full day from getting ready to the dance floor. See my hours guide for help choosing.
An engagement session is included in the Legacy collections and available as a $500 add on otherwise. Engagement photos can also be added to a wedding album or print order.
I take a limited number of weddings each season, so please inquire as early as you can, especially for peak Saturdays. See my questions guide for what to ask before you book.
Old Montreal is beautiful for portraits, with stone streets and historic backdrops. Historic churches give grand interiors with softer light, gardens give natural light and relaxed portraits, waterfront venues give open sky for couple portraits, grand halls give space for a large reception, and intimate restaurants suit a smaller guest list. Your venue type will shape how portraits and family photos are planned on the day.
Inquire about availability
I take a limited number of weddings each season so I can give every couple my full attention. Please inquire as early as you can, especially for peak Saturdays, with your Montreal date and location, and I will confirm availability, the right collection, and your travel quote.
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