Most live wedding painters in Australia who publish prices start their packages between $1,800 and $3,000. Live guest portrait packages mostly start between $1,000 and $2,000. Here's what the published numbers show, and what moves a quote up or down.
Based on 47 published price lists checked October 2026; the rest quote on enquiry. We checked the websites of all 60 artists in our directory. 29 publish prices for live wedding paintings and 25 for guest portraits (some publish both), while 13 publish no prices at all. Figures are in Australian dollars, as published. Prices change, so always confirm with the artist.
Price ranges at a glance
| Live wedding painting | Live guest portraits | |
|---|---|---|
| Price lists checked | 29 | 25 (22 with packages, 5 with hourly rates; some both) |
| Lowest starting price | $1,800 | $650 |
| Middle half of starting prices | $2,000 to $2,950 | $1,000 to $1,650 |
| Median starting price | $2,295 | $1,200 |
| Largest packages | Mostly $3,000 to $5,200 | Mostly $1,800 to $2,150 |
| Highest published price | $10,000 | $2,990 |
| Hourly rates | Not published | $180 to $495 an hour (median $250) |
Starting price = the cheapest package on each artist's price list. Largest packages = the top tier of artists who publish more than one package.
Live wedding paintings
Seven of the 29 price lists start below $2,000, and 23 start at $3,000 or less. Entry packages usually cover a canvas of around 40 × 50 cm to 50 × 60 cm. Of the 22 artists with more than one package, 16 price their largest between $3,000 and $5,200, and five go to $6,000 or more for big canvases (up to 90 × 120 cm) and longer studio finishing.
Live guest portraits
Guest portrait packages are priced mainly by hours on site. Entry packages typically buy 3 to 4 hours of drawing or painting, while the biggest packages (5 to 8 or more hours) run from $1,050 to $2,990, mostly $1,800 to $2,150. Five artists publish a simple hourly rate instead of, or as well as, packages.
By city
We've only shown a city where at least three artists publish a price for that service.
| City | Live painting starting prices | Guest portrait starting packages |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | $1,980 to $10,000, median $2,900 (9 lists) | $995 to $1,900, median $1,200 (7 lists) |
| Sydney | $1,800 to $4,900, median $2,725 (8 lists) | $750 to $2,500, median about $1,320 (8 lists) |
| Brisbane | $1,800 to $2,000, median $1,920 (3 lists) | Fewer than 3 lists |
| Perth | $1,800 to $2,000, median $1,980 (6 lists) | $650 to $1,000, median $800 (3 lists) |
Brisbane and Perth starting prices cluster tightly around $1,800 to $2,000, while Melbourne and Sydney have a much wider spread. The Gold Coast, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra each had fewer than three published price lists per service, so we haven't shown figures for them. Many artists travel, so it's worth looking beyond your own city.
What drives the price
- Canvas size. The most common difference between tiers. Larger canvases take longer to paint and finish.
- Hours on site. Live painting packages include about 5 to 10 hours at the wedding, most often up to 7. For guest portraits, hours are the main price lever.
- Number of people or pets. A couple-only painting costs less than a scene with the bridal party or guests. Several artists add family members or pets for an extra fee or quote them separately.
- Medium. Oil takes weeks to dry and usually goes back to the studio. Some acrylic and watercolour pieces can be finished on the night.
- Studio finishing and framing. Published studio time ranges from about 5 to 80 hours after the wedding. Some packages include a frame, others quote framing separately.
- Travel. Most include travel within a set distance or drive time, then charge per kilometre, per hour or a quoted fee. Published interstate travel fees start from $1,500 to $2,450.
- Peak dates. Weekends and popular months book out first. At least one artist charges less for Monday to Thursday events, and some publish price rises for the coming year.
What's usually included
Live wedding painting
- A planning consultation before the wedding
- Set-up before the ceremony and live painting through the reception
- Canvas, professional paints and varnish
- Studio finishing, then delivery or collection
- In some packages: a frame, prints or thank-you cards featuring the painting
Live guest portraits
- A set number of hours, typically 3 to 8
- Portraits on A6, A5 or 5 × 7 inch paper, in a protective sleeve or bag
- Often: personalised text or a logo on each page, an assistant photographing guests, or a portrait of the couple
- Remaining guests drawn after the event, where offered, often for $15 to $25 a portrait
How to budget
- Pick the service first. A live painting gives you one heirloom; guest portraits give every guest a keepsake. Our guide to live painting vs guest portraits explains the difference.
- Start from the entry package. For a live painting, $1,800 to $3,000 covers about four in five starting packages; allow $3,000 to $5,200 for a larger canvas.
- Work out the hours for guest portraits. Divide your guest count by the artist's portraits per hour (most quote about 6 to 12). If you can't cover everyone live, ask about post-event portraits.
- Add the extras. Travel, framing, extra people or pets, GST if a price is quoted without it, and a vendor meal, which some artists require.
- Get it in writing. Take our list of questions to ask your wedding painter into every enquiry so you compare like with like.
Deposits and booking lead time
Sixteen artists in our directory publish a deposit amount. Most ask for 20% to 50% of the package to secure the date, and a few ask for a fixed $200 to $500. Deposits are often non-refundable. The balance is commonly due between a week and a month before the wedding, though a few artists take it on the day or when the painting is finished.
Artists who publish booking advice mostly recommend enquiring 6 to 12 months ahead. Popular dates can go 12 to 24 months in advance. For interstate weddings, some artists only take bookings 4 to 9 months out, once travel can be priced. Studio-finished paintings typically arrive between a few weeks and about four months after the wedding.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a live wedding painter cost in Australia?
Across 29 published price lists checked in October 2026, live wedding painting packages start from $1,800. Half of all starting prices sit between $2,000 and $2,950, with a median of $2,295. Larger canvases mostly cost $3,000 to $5,200, and the highest published package was $10,000.
How much do live wedding guest portraits cost?
Published guest portrait packages start from $650, and half of all starting prices sit between $1,000 and $1,650, with a median of $1,200. The biggest packages mostly cost $1,800 to $2,150. Artists who charge by the hour publish rates from $180 to $495 an hour.
Why do live wedding painting prices vary so much?
Canvas size, hours on site, how many people or pets are included, the medium, how much studio finishing follows the wedding, framing, travel and demand for your date all affect the price. Compare packages by what's included, not just the headline figure.
Is travel included in a wedding painter's price?
Usually only within a set distance or drive time of the artist's base. Beyond that, artists charge per kilometre, per hour of travel or a quoted fee. Where artists publish interstate travel fees, they start from $1,500 to $2,450 on top of the package.
How much deposit do wedding painters ask for?
Most artists who publish their terms ask for 20% to 50% of the package, and a few ask for a fixed $200 to $500. Deposits are often non-refundable, and the balance is commonly due between a week and a month before the wedding.
How far in advance should we book a live wedding painter?
Artists who publish booking advice mostly suggest 6 to 12 months ahead. Popular dates can book out 12 to 24 months in advance, so enquire once your date and venue are confirmed.
Do published wedding painting prices include GST?
Some price lists state that GST is included, most don't say either way, and three of the guest portrait price lists we checked quote prices plus GST. Ask for the total including GST and travel before you compare quotes.
How many guests can a live illustrator draw in an hour?
Published figures range from 4 to 15 portraits an hour, and most artists quote about 6 to 12. Couples are often drawn together. Divide your guest count by the artist's hourly rate of portraits to estimate how many hours you need.