Choosing the right wedding photographer for you is absolutely crucial to ensure you have an amazing wedding album that you’re proud to leave out on the coffee table and show everyone who pops over. Your photo album will be a keepsake from your wedding that you’ll want to return to again and again, and may even cement itself as a family heirloom for your kids, grandkids and beyond. It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll use them as your profile pics on social media, too!
Every photographer is different, providing a unique way of stylising your wedding photos through framing, lighting, composition and more. Each professional photographer you consider will also have different rates, which will vary depending on a wide range of factors, such as experience and skill.
So, when it comes to budgeting for your wedding, how much might you expect to pay for a wedding photographer? In this post we’ll take a look at the average cost of a wedding photographer, what their rates include, and what you need to be aware of before your big day.
What’s the average price of a wedding photographer?
The price of a wedding photographer can vary wildly, but on average you can expect to pay around £1,300-£1,500. This may sound like a lot, but it’s important to remember that you’re not just paying for the photographer’s time on the big day. You’re also paying for their knowledge, skill and experience, as well as the work that goes into preparing for your wedding and the post-production afterwards.
What’s included in this cost?
What’s included in the price will depend on the package you choose. A basic package may include coverage on the day and your photographs on a USB, whereas a premium package will include this and much more. When making your decision, be prepared with the right questions to ask a wedding photographer to make sure you know exactly what your chosen package includes.
Depending on your choice, wedding photography packages may include many of the following:
- A pre-wedding photography session
- Coverage on the day
- Post-production including photo editing
- A second supporting photographer
- Prints of your photos or digital download link
- A physical wedding album
- Printed canvases
- A ‘best of the day’ video
Most photographers offer a range of packages for you to choose from, with optional extras that allow you to customise your package. For a rough idea of what to expect for your budget, check out the table below:
Budget | £3,000+ | £1,500-£3,000 | £1,000-£1,500 | Under £1,000 |
What may be included | This can offer you up to two experienced wedding photographers to follow you for the duration of your wedding day and a premium, leather-bound album with wedding photographs carefully chosen by you with optional personalisations. | This can offer you up to two photographers for eight hours and a set of beautiful high-resolution images, or just one photographer, an album and an engagement shoot. | This can offer you one photographer for six hours along with an engagement shoot, with all photographs available to view and share via your own private online gallery (or less commonly today, on a USB stick). | This can offer you up to four hours of coverage, with all photographs available to view and share via your own private online gallery (or less commonly today, on a USB stick). |
What factors can affect the cost of a wedding photographer?
While these are general, average UK wedding costs, there are plenty of other factors that can influence the cost of a wedding photographer. These include:
- Your venue: How far does the photographer have to travel? Will they need to take public transport? Are you based in a major city or out in the country? All of these will affect how much a photographer costs.
- Location: Where you are in the UK will impact costs. For example, photographers in London will be more expensive than those outside.
- Multiple photographers: Having multiple photographers means you have full coverage of the day both from your perspective and the perspective of your guests. The more photographers there are the better the coverage will be, but the pricier it will be as well.
- The date: During peak times, such as during the summer and at weekends, you can expect to pay more due to the higher demand. Many photographers are booked months (or even years) in advance during busier times of the year.
- How long they’re needed: Are you only looking for photos of the ceremony itself, or the entire day, including the wedding breakfast and evening reception?
- Equipment: Will they need additional lighting, multiple lenses, or even drones?
- The level of post-production: After they shoot a wedding, the photographer will spend time editing your photos, such as adjusting lighting, cropping, or tweaking your Great Aunt’s eyes because she blinked.
- The type of album: Many photographers will offer your options to customise your album, such as leather-bound covers.
What else should you be aware of when it comes to the cost of a wedding photographer?
As part of your package and one of the questions you should ask your photographer before hiring them for your wedding, find out what type of release they offer (complete copyright, vs a personal use/printing release) and how it aligns with your budget and needs.
By default, your photographer will own the copyright to your wedding photos. To buy the copyright for your photos later could end up being rather pricey – there are horror stories of newlyweds ending up paying hundreds or even thousands of pounds they hadn’t budgeted for. It’s rare, but something to be aware of before making your decision. And in all likelihood, you won’t need the copyright anyway.
In the vast majority of cases, a personal use license or printing release is more than enough to meet your wedding photo needs. It allows you to enjoy your photos (for example, print them at home, or share them on your own social media) without the added expense of purchasing complete copyright.
Whichever you go for, be sure to communicate with your photographer to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting. And in all cases, it’s always good practice to credit your photographer when sharing photos on social media – especially if the images aren’t watermarked – as a sign of appreciation for their work.
What level of experience can you expect for your budget?
As we’ve already covered, pricing structures vary between photographers. At Bridebook, we’ve got a huge directory of photographers that includes photographers to fit all budgets.
A more inexperienced photographer will likely be much cheaper than one who has photographed hundreds of weddings, which means there’s also more risk. Full-time wedding photographers – who rely on events like yours as their sole income – may also charge more than those who use it as a side hustle. But again, if they’re full-time then they’re likely to have more experience, too.
Check out the table below to get a rough idea of what to expect from your budget.
Budget | £3,000+ | £1,500-£3,000 | £1,000-£1,500 | Under £1,000 |
Level of experience | You’ll get a luxury or master photographer, who is admired in the industry. They may also have a second photographer working with them who also has plenty of experience. | You’ll get a very experienced photographer with a unique style. | You’ll get a photographer with a developing style and an increasing level of experience. | You’ll get an enthusiastic but less experienced photographer, who should still be able to produce fantastic photographs. |
Ready to start planning your wedding?
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And if you’re looking for ways to save money on your wedding photographer, check out our expert money-saving tips to help your budget go as far as possible.
And if you’re looking for ways to save money on your wedding photography, we’ve got plenty of tips and tricks to help you stretch out your budget.
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