Average Cost of a UK Wedding Photographer
If after many Google searches for a UK wedding photographer you’re left feeling confused, wondering why there are so many fluctuating prices - don’t worry you’re in the right place, I’ll try to help explain! Of course, hiring a professional wedding photographer is a non-negotiable for most of us, but for those couples who haven’t hired one before, understanding wedding photographer costs can be something of a minefield. As with all your wedding suppliers, prices will vary depending on a number of factors, but looking at the average cost of a photographer for a wedding, along with some expert insight from professional wedding photographers themselves, will help you to understand what a good price for wedding photography is – and what your budget will get you.
What is the average cost of a UK Wedding Photographer?
In 2022 Hitched surveyed 2,400 couples and covered everything wedding-related with questions regarding the costs of each supplier, the most popular trends, and many more interesting topics for their National Wedding Survey. From this survey, they found that the average cost of a UK wedding photographer was around £1300, but that average would have come from a vast range of couples with different ideas, budgets, styles, and locations which all affect the pricing of a wedding photographer. According to the results of the National Wedding Survey, the average cost of a photographer for weddings in the UK in 2024 was £1,500. From personal experience meeting other photographers, I can say that the prices I have seen can vary from anywhere from £200 to £3500.
Regional Price Variations
Hitched is a great place to check out wedding photography prices as you can check many different wedding suppliers with their locations listed, from doing this you’ll notice that their location plays a large role in their pricing. As a rule of thumb, London and the South East often work out the most expensive, and you'll also find that photographers in major cities tend to cost more. For example, nearlyweds in London are spending just over £2,000 on complete photography packages, while those in the north-east of England are spending just over £1,400.
| Location / Year | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| UK Average (2022) | £1,300 |
| UK Average (2024) | £1,500 |
| London & South East | £2,000+ |
| North-East England | £1,400 |
What Impacts the Cost of a Wedding Photographer?
You’re probably wondering why so much. 10% of the whole budget, surely not? The price of your wedding photography will depend on a number of factors, including the hours hired, the location of your venue, the time of year and more. You’re also paying for experience, equipment, travel, time, editing, communication, and everything else we do in between! More often than not, the more you spend on your photography, the more you’ll end up with – whether that’s hours of coverage, the number of edited pictures, an additional shooter or a highly experienced and sought-after photographer who can deliver your creative vision.
Equipment and Professional Costs
A wedding photographer’s equipment can range in price depending on what brand of camera they have as well as which lenses they choose to shoot with. With all of the additional wedding photography accessories needed such as SD cards, hard drives, the software, and high spec computers we need for editing photographers usually still end up spending anywhere from £10,000+ and with technology advancing we’re always upgrading our kit to provide even better quality.
The Importance of Experience
One of the biggest contributors to the price you see for different wedding photographers is the experience they have under their belt. Wedding photographers usually work closely with the wedding planner/coordinator on the day to ensure everything runs smoothly without any delay and to avoid having to ask the couple question upon question, which would have interfered with a couple enjoying their special day. The experience is also very handy when dealing with 100+ guests during group shots or when a rainstorm appears out of nowhere and alternative plans have to be made, as ultimately this all could affect the end result if a wedding photographer couldn’t work with the new environment they’re faced with!
Budgeting for Your Wedding Photography
Out of your whole wedding budget Hitched recommends saving at least £1,840 (10% of a wedding budget) to spend on your wedding photographer and that’s based on the average wedding costing £18,400 from Hitched sources. We would always recommend setting aside a minimum of 10% of your wedding budget for photography and videography, though possibly more if these elements of your day are some of the most important to you. Since the average cost of a wedding now stands at £23,250, this would be around £2,325. When you think back to your big day in years to come, nothing beats being able to revisit those memories in your wedding album or slideshow, which is why capturing them perfectly and professionally is paramount.