Columbia, South Carolina › Wedding Photographers › Leigh Essig Photography
New to LazoColumbia
Free to inquireRankings never for saleContracts in one thread
About Leigh Essig Photography
Leigh Essig Photography brings photographer services to weddings across Columbia, South Carolina, working from Columbia. The studio sits within easy reach of popular venues including The River Center at Saluda Shoals and The Meech House at Mungo Park. This profile is free to claim; verified couple reviews — never payments — determine how it ranks.
Verified reviews
No reviews yet. Only couples who book Leigh Essig Photography through Lazo can leave one, and it’s the only thing that moves a Lazo Score.
Frequently asked questions
Planning a wedding photographer in Columbia
How much does a wedding photographer cost in Columbia?
Most couples in Columbia budget between $1,500 and $3,500 for wedding photography. Packages at the lower end typically cover 6–8 hours with one shooter; higher tiers add a second shooter, engagement sessions, and albums. Always confirm exactly how many hours and edited images are included.
When should we book our wedding photographer?
Photographers with strong reputations are commonly booked 9–14 months ahead — earlier for peak-season Saturdays. If your date is inside six months, ask about waitlists and cancellations; openings do appear.
What should we ask before booking?
Ask to see two full galleries from real weddings (not highlight reels), confirm who will actually shoot your wedding, and get delivery timelines and image counts in the contract.
How does Lazo rank wedding photographers in Columbia?
Rankings come from the Lazo Score — verified reviews weighted for recency — and are never sold. Vendors without verified reviews yet start at the community baseline of 65 and earn their score as verified reviews arrive.
Wedding venues near Leigh Essig Photography
| Venue | Distance |
|---|---|
| The River Center at Saluda Shoals | 1.0 mi |
| The Meech House at Mungo Park | 1.2 mi |
| Palmetto Place Event Hall | 1.7 mi |
Straight-line distance from Leigh Essig Photography to each venue listed on Lazo.
Columbia weddings, month by month
Days typically top out between 65° and 85° in March, April, May, October, November. The driest months are April, October, November.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57° | 37° | 17% | 5:00 PM | 5:38 PM |
| Feb | 61° | 40° | 21% | 5:33 PM | 6:08 PM |
| Mar | 69° | 46° | 19% | 6:58 PM | 7:31 PM |
| Apr | 77° | 53° | 16% | 7:22 PM | 7:55 PM |
| May | 84° | 62° | 18% | 7:43 PM | 8:18 PM |
| Jun | 90° | 70° | 27% | 8:00 PM | 8:37 PM |
| Jul | 93° | 73° | 24% | 7:59 PM | 8:35 PM |
| Aug | 91° | 72° | 21% | 7:36 PM | 8:10 PM |
| Sep | 86° | 67° | 16% | 6:57 PM | 7:30 PM |
| Oct | 77° | 56° | 13% | 6:16 PM | 6:49 PM |
| Nov | 67° | 44° | 15% | 4:44 PM | 5:20 PM |
| Dec | 60° | 39° | 19% | 4:38 PM | 5:16 PM |
Average highs, lows and the share of days with 0.1″ of rain or more, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals at Columbia Owens Dwtn Airport (3.1 mi from Columbia). Golden hour begins when the sun is 6° above the horizon; both times are for the 15th of each month in Columbia.
Getting to Columbia
| Airport | Distance | Est. drive |
|---|---|---|
| CAE Columbia Metropolitan Airport | 7 mi | 10 min |
| AGS Augusta Regional At Bush Field | 69 mi | 1 hr 40 min |
| CLT Charlotte Douglas International Airport | 84 mi | 2 hr 10 min |
| City | Distance | Est. drive |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 85 mi | 1 hr 50 min |
| Raleigh-Durham | 183 mi | 3 hr 50 min |
| Atlanta | 193 mi | 4 hr |
| Jacksonville | 256 mi | 5 hr 20 min |
Straight-line distance from central Columbia; drive times are estimates, not routes. Airports with scheduled passenger service, from OurAirports.
Details
- Based in
- 133 Stephenson Ln, Columbia, SC 29212, USA
- Where
- Columbia · 10 miles northwest of central Columbia
- Listed under
- Wedding Photographers
- In Columbia
- One of 57 wedding photographers we list · 5 within 3 miles
- Phone
- (803) 269-2954
- Website
- Visit site
Around Columbia
- Nearest venue
- The River Center at Saluda Shoals, 1.0 mi
- Venues within 10 mi
- 39 wedding venues
- Wedding Photographers nearby
- 5 within 3 mi, 18 within 10
- Guest hotels
- 25 within 5 mi
- Communities served
- Irmo, Lexington
Distances are straight-line from Leigh Essig Photography; counts come from the businesses and venues Lazo lists around Columbia.
Before you book a wedding photographer
Couples also looked at
PLANNING YOUR WEDDING?
Create a free wedding website — type your names, watch it come alive.
Browse the templatesIs this your business?
Claim this profile free. Reply to reviews free. Receive verified leads free — forever.
Claim this profile