Photography

Choosing the right photographer for your event is one of the most critical choices you’ll make before the wedding. There are major differences between Israeli wedding photography and wedding photography elsewhere in the world, so communication is key.

Check out your photographer’s previous work and meet with them in person before locking them down as a vendor – ask about their strategy and vision when shooting weddings. Be sure to talk about what style you expect – whether you want candid, caught-in-the-action snaps or glamour shots, make your desires crystal clear to the photographer.

Struggling to find the right photographer? If there’s a concert or club photographer whose style you love, there’s a good chance that they’ll be willing to photograph your wedding.

The More The Merrier

Hiring photographers for your Israeli wedding often means that you’ll get an entire team. Many times, you’ll be offered a deal for more than one still photographer. Add into the mix a videographer who may or may not have an apprentice, the magnet photographer who comes with an assistant who prints and cuts the magnets, and so on.

Many Israelis believe bigger is better when it comes to weddings, and having a crew of personal paparazzi makes the couple feel that they’re getting their money’s worth.

Pricing

Keep in mind that if you choose to have a photographer or videographer meet you at the venue for a half-day’s work, rather than a full day that starts with filming at your place, you should be able to negotiate a significant discount.

Package Deals

Package deals are especially good for big weddings with a large number of guests – with a team of photographers covering the event, you’ll be sure to get photos of all the action and everyone in attendance.

A package deal should include:

Still photography in a package deal usually means having two still photographers at your event. This may or may not include a physical wedding photo album (and the option to purchase additional albums).

Videography that may include a highlights video (3 – 5 minutes in length), mid-length video (10 – 15 minutes in length), and a full length-video (30 minutes – 1 hour in length).

Magnets as a souvenir for the guests.

Many photographers will propose a deal promising you the most bang for your buck. Depending on the size of the wedding, the season of the year (summer is more expensive than winter) and the reputation of the photographer, a package deal should cost between 9000 – 16000 shekels.

Still Photography

Hiring an independent photographer is a great choice if you’ve found a photographer whose style fits your aesthetic. The photographer may or may not come with an assistant.

For a still photographer you should pay between 3500 – 6000 shekels. As mentioned earlier, if the photographer comes to the event and doesn’t photograph you at home, you should pay on the lower side.

However, this price will most likely include a digital album only – you probably will have to pay extra (somewhere around 1200 shekels) for a physical photo album.

Videography

Like still photography, the videographer can work independently or as part of a bigger team. The videographer may or may not have an assistant. Typically the videographer will provide you with several different options after the wedding – a highlights video that should be between 3 – 7 minutes in length, as well as a full length video of the event, usually lasting 30 – 45 minutes.

For an independent videographer, you can expect to pay between 3500 – 6000 shekels, with the price towards the lower end if you don’t have the videographer filming for the entire day.

Magnets

Personally, I have never been to a wedding in Israel that did not have magnets for the guests. All Israeli couples hire a special magnet photographer who will take pictures of the guests during the reception (Kabbalat Panim), ceremony, and party.

At the end of the night, the pictures are printed as magnetic photos that the guests can put on their refrigerator at home. The names of the couple and date of the wedding will be written on the border frame.

You can hire a magnet photographer either as part of a package deal or separately – the magnet photographer (not as part of a package) should cost 1000 – 1500 shekels.

Live Streaming

This is an excellent option for those who have family abroad that won’t be able to travel to Israel for the wedding. You can hire a professional live streaming team to broadcast your wedding live to your loved ones back home, via a private link that requires a password.

One company that provides live steaming is Simcha Stream. Live streaming should cost between 1400 – 2000 shekels, depending on the length of the event.