Find a Wedding Photographer near you
The average rating for Bark Wedding Photographers is 4.95, based on 258,898 reviews
5/5
based on 258,898 reviews
Setting your budget for the big day? Find out how much wedding photographers cost (and why) with this price guide.
As much as you'd like it to last forever, your wedding day will probably fly by. With all the months (or even years) of planning, excitement, and anticipation, you want to make sure that a trusted photographer will be on hand to capture the best bits from your big day, so you can relax and enjoy every minute.
That's where we come in. Our wedding photography price guide will help you set your budget for the big day. We'll explore average prices across the UK, the cost of popular add-ons, and ways to bring the cost down. Remember, all weddings are different, and your needs are unique; so while this is a great place to start, we recommend getting quotes from local wedding photographers so you really know what you're getting into. Okay, let's go!
If you’re confused about how much a wedding photographer costs, you’re not alone.
The price for the whole day can range anywhere from £300 to £3,000 with an average of around £1,500 - but in the end, it really depends on what you want out of the service. Wedding photographers offer anything from taking a few pictures during the main ceremony to an entire package that comes with retouched prints and a USB digital album.
As a general rule, most people put around 10% of their overall wedding budget towards their photographer.
| Average cost (in total) | £1,500 |
| Minimum cost (in total) | £650 |
| Maximum cost (in total) | £3,000 |
Wedding photographers are often more expensive than other photographers, but there's a reason for that. A professional wedding photographer invests considerable time in planning, shooting, and meticulously editing photos to ensure every moment is perfectly preserved. Their expertise in managing lighting, composition, and spontaneous events ensures that each image tells a unique story. Additionally, they play a crucial role in organising everyone for family shots, ensuring that these important group photos are taken efficiently and beautifully. The cost also includes high-quality equipment, and often a second shooter to cover different angles.
Most wedding photographers will chat to you about how long you want them for; you might want them just for the ceremony, or you might want them at the reception and into the early hours of the morning too. Once you've established the length of time you need them for and any extras you want, they will quote a flat price for the estimated number of hours.
As they are high in demand most wedding photographers will require a deposit, with the remainder paid just before the wedding or on release of the photos.
The cost of a wedding photographer can vary depending on different factors, such as the season and where you live. Let's get into more detail.
If you’re planning to tie the knot in London, be prepared for wedding photography costs (and all other costs!) to be higher than elsewhere in the UK.
| Region | Average cost (in total) |
| London area | £1,800 |
| South, South West and Midlands | £1,500 |
| Scotland | £1,500 |
The lowest prices found in each region were:
| Region | Lowest prices found |
| East Midlands | £500 |
| East of England | £600 |
| London | £550 |
| North East England | £400 |
| North West England | £325 |
| Scotland | £275 |
| South East England | £400 |
| South West England | £500 |
| Wales | £595 |
| West Midlands | £370 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £450 |
'Wedding season' typically runs from May to October, with July and August being the most popular months. If you’re planning to get hitched during these months, expect to pay more for your wedding photographer due to increased demand.
Most wedding photographers accommodate for different budgets by offering package options with tiered pricing.
Basic - At a minimum, a basic package should cover photos of the wedding ceremony including digital copies of your images.
Mid-range - Mid-range packages include around eight hours of coverage, from the ceremony to the speeches.
Full package - Beyond this can include anything from pre-wedding consultations to engagement photoshoots and hiring more than one photographer on the day.
Premium packages may also include wedding videography - ask your professional for more details.
Luxury wedding packages - The secret is in the name. If you opt for a luxury photography package, expect to pay more. These can include anything from online photo galleries to mobile apps to store your digital photos, and professional wedding photography albums, costing anything up to £3,000 - £5,000 in total, especially if you hold your big day in the capital.
Length of time - Typically, you want to hire your photographer for at least eight hours, to capture the most important moments of the day. However, if you want them there from the second your makeup starts getting done into the early hours of the morning, expect costs to be higher.
The number of digital photographs and prints - The more photos, the higher the cost, especially if you're looking to have them digitally retouched.
Digital retouching - Pretty much all wedding photographers will include colour correction and other 'minor' edits to your photos, ensuring each one is as good as it can be. However, if you're looking for heavier editing or additional effects on selected photos, expect to pay more. Editing is a complex skill, and your photographer can do far better than an AI filter.
Videography - As mentioned above, adding videography will incur an extra cost. Usually video footage will be taken by a videography professional working alongside your photographer; they will co-ordinate on the shoot whilst being careful not to trip each other over. Wedding videography (and the subsequent edit) is a skill, and prices will vary based on your requirements.
Hiring a wedding photographer can be expensive, but don’t panic! There are a number of ways you can keep costs down while looking for a wedding photographer.
Consider weekday weddings - Weekday weddings are considerably cheaper than weekend weddings, but if you choose to go for this option make sure your guests can book the time off work before committing to anything.
Book early - Ever heard of the saying ‘The early bird catches the worm?’ Lots of photographers will offer discounts for early bookings. Photographers normally get booked up pretty far in advance too, so it's worth getting in there early.
Choose someone early in their career - Very often you'll pay for experience, meaning the most talented and sought-after photographers are pricier. But it's worth looking at photographers who are early in their career, because everyone needs to start somewhere - and they may offer a better price while they're trying to build their portfolio. Of course, it's important to check their work and make sure you're happy with the quality first
The average rating for Bark Wedding Photographers is 4.95, based on 258,898 reviews
5/5
based on 258,898 reviews
