Indianapolis - Central Indiana

Wedding photography & video, scaled to your day.

Some weddings call for a full cinematic film with multiple cameras and a feature-length edit. Others just need beautiful photos and a clean recording of the ceremony to share with family. Both are valid - and I shoot both. Tell me what your day looks like, and we'll build something that fits.

Indianapolis wedding photography by Chad Swinford
The Approach

Coverage that matches your day.

Every wedding is different. Some couples want a cinematic experience with multiple cameras, drone footage, and a documentary-style film. Others want something simpler - focused photography and a clean ceremony video. I shoot both, and I price both honestly.

Same gear. Same eye. Same fast turnaround that my Indianapolis corporate clients rely on, now applied to the most important day of your life. Tell me what you're hoping for, and we'll build a package around it - not the other way around.

Wedding Packages

Three options. Real prices.

Start with one of these, or reach out for a custom package. Every option is delivered in a professionally edited, easy-to-share online gallery.

Photography

The Album

$1,250
2-3 hours of coverage
  • Ceremony coverage
  • Couple & family portraits
  • Key reception moments (first dance, toasts)
  • Professionally edited gallery
  • Private online gallery delivery
  • Full print & sharing rights
  • 2-week turnaround
Video

The Ceremony

$950
Ceremony video only
  • 4K ceremony video, locked-off
  • Full ceremony captured start to finish
  • Vows & readings audio
  • Lightly edited, ready to share
  • Digital delivery via private link
  • 2-week turnaround
  • Perfect for couples who only need video
Custom Cinematic

Want the whole day told as a film?

For couples who want their wedding documented as a cinematic story - multiple cameras, full-day coverage, drone footage where it makes sense, and a documentary-style edit. Every package is built around your day, not the other way around.

  • 4-6 hours of coverage
  • Multiple cameras & angles
  • Documentary-style edit
  • Highlight film + ceremony film
  • Custom music licensing
  • Drone footage available as add-on
  • Full-day coverage from $4,500
  • 4-week turnaround

See the cinematic example below to get a feel for the style and finish.

The Film
Starting at
$3,500
Typical full-day cinematic packages run $4,500-$6,500. Luxury packages with second shooter and feature-length film start at $8,000.
Request Custom Quote

Travel fees apply for weddings 50+ miles outside Indianapolis. Need something custom? Just ask - I build packages around real days, not templates.

What to Expect

Booking is straightforward.

i.

Reach out

Send your wedding date, venue, and what kind of coverage you're hoping for. I'll confirm availability within 24 hours.

ii.

Lock the date

A 25% deposit reserves your date. The remainder is due two weeks before the wedding.

iii.

The day

I show up early, set up the gear, and stay focused on the moments that matter. No drama, no chaos.

iv.

Delivery

Your photos and video arrive in a private online gallery within two weeks. Easy to share, easy to download.

Recent Work

Two ends of the spectrum.

Here's what coverage looks like at both ends of what I offer - focused ceremony coverage for couples who want the essential moments preserved, and full cinematic films for couples who want the whole day documented as a story.

Standard Ceremony Coverage

Mike & Nancy's 40th Anniversary Vow Renewal

Bargersville, Indiana. Locked-off 4K coverage with clean audio captured directly from the ceremony. This is what The Ceremony ($950) and The Pair ($1,995) packages deliver.

Custom Cinematic Coverage

A Recent Cinematic Wedding Film

Multiple cameras, full-day coverage, and a documentary-style edit. This is the higher end of my custom packages - built for couples who want the entire day told as a film. Starting at $3,500.

"
Chad captured the magic of our wedding day better than we could have imagined. The video brought us all to tears.
- Emily
Common Questions

Before you book.

Pricing varies widely. My standard packages start at $950 for ceremony video, $1,250 for focused photography, or $1,995 for the combined photo + video package. Custom cinematic packages with multiple cameras and full-day coverage start at $3,500 and typically run $4,500 to $6,500. The right number depends on what you actually want to remember from the day. Reach out and I'll help you figure out which fits.

Yes. Custom cinematic packages start at $3,500 and include extended coverage, multiple cameras, drone footage where permitted, and a documentary-style edit. Send your timeline and what you're hoping for, and I'll put together a proposal that fits the day you're planning.

Standard ceremony coverage is a single locked-off camera capturing the ceremony with clean audio and a light edit - perfect for preserving the vows and key moments. Cinematic coverage adds multiple cameras, full-day shooting, drone footage, and a documentary-style edit that tells the story of your entire day. The video samples on this page show both styles side by side so you can see the difference.

I cover weddings throughout Central Indiana - Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Greenwood, Bloomington, Bargersville, and Lafayette. I also take select weddings within a two-hour radius (Cincinnati, Louisville, Fort Wayne, Terre Haute). Travel fees apply for weddings 50+ miles outside Indianapolis.

Two weeks for photos and standard ceremony video. Cinematic packages take about four weeks because of the extended edit time. You'll receive a private online gallery with full-resolution downloads and easy sharing. Most clients get a few sneak-peek images within a few days of the wedding.

Yes - that's actually the most popular package. I shoot photography during your ceremony while the locked-off video camera captures the wide ceremony shot, then return to handheld photo coverage for portraits and reception. One vendor, two services, less coordination.

A 25% deposit reserves your date. The remainder is due two weeks before the wedding. If you need to split the remaining balance into a couple of installments, just ask - I'm flexible.

For weather, I plan around it. I bring backup gear and have shot in everything Indiana throws at me. For illness, I have a network of trusted Indianapolis photographers who can cover if I'm genuinely unable to make it - though that's never actually happened.

Let's Talk

Available dates fill up fast.

Send your wedding date and I'll confirm availability within 24 hours. Whether you want focused coverage or a full cinematic experience, I'll put together a real quote - not a sales pitch.