Looking at different wedding photographers and found one who says she starts at $4,000& most popular package is about $8,500 is that normal ?

Yahoo answers does not let me comment anymore so I'm posting. This is in Illinois. It is absurd the price sounds expensive and I just wanted to see how there's opinions and $25 per picture is a lot and some photographers do not give you photograph rights which means that just because you're in the photo you don't own a picture and they do which is sad and I don't want anyone owning an image of me I wanted to be my image and they can do whatever they want with my consent but for me not to be able to post the photo because the photographer owns it is ridiculous.

Complete waste of money these days. You don’t even need a decent camera, phones are so good these days and from the thousands that will get taken, you’re bound to find some good ones.

Just appoint someone as “official” photographer to get the obligatory groups done, then just ask all the guests to send you their 10 best photos. Edit them yourself and make an album up.You can get an album printed online for about £10.You can also get prints done for a few dollar a time as well.There I’ve saved you at least $5000.

I don't understand the money people put into weddings. If you think it's going to be the greatest day of your life, then you are expecting to have a very sad life! You get all those pictures taken, and then you haul them out 10 years from now, look at them and grow sad at how much you've aged. My father took the pictures at my wedding- they are perfectly good memories of the occasion.

Oh, and if you want fancy pictures to post on social media to impress other people, that's really sad! The people who matter to you will be at the actual wedding. 

Without seeing this photographer's portfolio, there's no way to justify the prices charged.  I don't care what they charge.  If their portfolio doesn't somehow justify the prices, then move on. 

Are these prices and restrictions normal?  For many popular (i.e. excellent) photographers,  yes.  Once a photographer becomes well known for excellent work, everyone wants them to do their wedding, and they end up turning away a lot of clients.  If the photographer is a smart businessman, then they'll raise their prices until they're no longer overflowing with clients. Of course where the photographer is based will greatly affect the prices.  If they live in a small city or town, they're likely to have lower prices than someone in an expensive area like Silicon Valley or 5th Avenue.

Compare this photographer's portfolio to others, and then you'll see if the prices & restrictions are normal.

I don't know where you are, but that's way over the top for UK (London) pricing!  Your lady is either extremely good or she doesn't want the gig.

I do not know the cost of wedding photographers, but although she sounds cheaper, she is going to charge you a fortune for the actual pictures. $25 a picture is absurd, and so is stopping you from posting them on social media. They are your pictures.  

You need someone who will take a couple of hundred shots and give them all to you on a flash drive to use as you wish. 

Shop around and get someone who is going to give you all the photos, and find out how many pictures they expect to take.