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Writer's pictureGareth Jones

Wedding Photography Costs Explained

We all know that planning a wedding can be expensive and whilst I work with clients with a range of budgets, the average cost of a wedding in the UK is now over £20,000. So when it comes to wedding photography, how much should you be looking pay?

Let’s take a look at some of the factors involved and shed a little light on wedding photography pricing in more detail.

Wedding Photography Costs

A wedding photographer is one of the key professionals most people look for when planning their wedding. With a wide range of prices available it can often be confusing as to what the differences are between suppliers and what you should be looking to spend.

I know that you will be able to find a part time photographer or someone who does it as a hobby who would happily photograph a wedding just for the experience for a few hundred pounds. However you can also find plenty of full time professionals who charge £5k-£10k.

Average costs in the UK

The average cost of a wedding photographer in the UK is now around £1500-£2000 depending on the area of the country you are getting married. Throughout my time as a photographer my costs have risen steadily, so what are the factors that influence this?

1. Location

Much like other purchases there are often regional differences in terms of the overall cost of a wedding and it is the same for photography services. The South East and London in particular typically charge more than other areas of the UK.

You may also need to factor in travel costs if you are employing someone outside of their area. I typically do not charge any extra for travel within a couple hours of Swansea. However, if there is a significant distance or overnight accommodation required then there may be an additional cost.

2. Time of year

The main wedding season runs from March through to October, getting married during this time can be more costly in terms of venue prices as well as some other suppliers. I have always taken the view that the same amount of time and effort goes into all the weddings I cover, so I therefore do not adjust my pricing either up or down for more popular dates or for bank holidays.

3. Coverage

One of the main factors that can affect the price is the amount of photography coverage you need on your day. A lot of photographers will simply offer either a full day or half day option. If you are having a smaller celebration you may find that ‘micro wedding’ coverage or a shorter timescale is available at reduced rates.

4. Number of photographers

If you are looking to capture preparation photos of both the bride and groom who may be at different locations, an extra photographer may be the only way to do this effectively. An extra photographer would also be able to get photos form different angles during the ceremony and cover your guest celebrations whilst you are having your wedding portraits or any group photos taken.

Adding another photographer typically costs from £300-£500.

For all my weddings I always work with my business partner who is an accomplished photographer and videographer so that you can rest assured nothing on the day is missed.

5. Experience

For me this is one of the most important things to consider and I absolutely believe it is worthy of investment.

You may be able to find someone new to weddings who doesn’t charge a lot yet still produces nice work. However, your wedding day is a once in a lifetime event and hiring an experienced photographer to ensure your day is captured properly is often worth any extra cost.

I have worked in the wedding industry for over 20 years and have seen and experienced pretty much every wedding situation you can think of. This really is helpful when sometimes things don’t go exactly to plan.

If there is a last minute change to the schedule or if the weather is particularly unpredictable I know that I can adapt to whatever is required. Also, based in South Wales, we certainly see our fair share of unpredictable weather!

6. Equipment

Technology is always improving and you can get some amazing photos straight from your phone, however professional photography equipment is an investment and comes at a significant cost.

I regularly update not only my photographic and video equipment which includes cameras, lenses, microphones, drones and various other items, but also the computers and software I use to edit and deliver the photos and films that I create.

Most professional photographers also have insurance and public liability costs and a whole array of other business expenses that most clients will never see.

In summary

So even after looking at all the things I mentioned, you may still be thinking that £1500-£2000 for wedding photos seems expensive. And you’re right, it is not a small amount of money and I would always say that you need to look at the overall budget for the wedding and decide where you want to place value and invest in certain areas of the day.

There are many things that you have on your wedding day that are enjoyed solely on the day. Your wedding photos and wedding film are two things that you can actually enjoy after the wedding and indeed look back on in years to come.

I know it sounds a bit cliche but your photos are your memories to some extent, and for me, finding the right person for your wedding definitely makes it something worthy of investment.

Hopefully this has given you a little more information as the what influences photography costs for weddings and if you would like any pricing information from myself, please reach out and I’d be happy to help.

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