Your wedding photos are one of the most important mementos of your big day. You want them to capture the feel of the event perfectly — but if you’ve never booked a photographer before (let alone for a wedding!) it can be tough to know where to start.
For one: why do costs vary so much between providers? What’s the difference between the packages that are offered? How do I choose the right photographer for my wedding?
As a seasoned wedding venue who have worked with plenty of brilliant photographers, we’ve answered all your questions below.
Contents
What’s the average price of a wedding photographer in the UK?
What’s the average price of a wedding photographer in London?
How does my wedding location impact the cost?
What’s included in a wedding photography package?
What else influences the cost of wedding photography?
What questions should I ask my wedding photographer?
Why is wedding photography more expensive than other types of shoots?
What’s the average price of a wedding photographer in the UK?
According to a survey by Hitched and another by Wedissimo, the average cost of wedding photography in the UK is roughly £1,400-£1,700. In 2023, notes Wedissimo, the average was £1,760—and costs have been pretty steady over the last few years.
Though remember that these prices are averages: some photographers charge a lot less, and others much more. We’ll get into the factors that can influence the price below.
What’s the average price of a wedding photographer in London?
For those of us in London, the average cost of a wedding photographer is a little higher: £1,890. And South East London tends to be the most expensive.
Again, prices can vary widely. It’s not uncommon to see packages advertised for under £1,000, nor those over £2,000. Among other things, you’re paying for the particulars of the package (for instance, do you want a basic shoot for a few hours only, or to capture the festivities from start to finish?), the photographer’s experience, and even the time of year you’re getting married.
How does my wedding location impact the cost?
We’ve mentioned that photography for London weddings (or any others in big cities) tend to cost more. The same goes for celebrations that require travel: be it a long drive or destination wedding.
If your photographer isn’t local to your wedding venue, they may add travel expenses to their fee. Some will have a specific radius they’ll travel within at no extra cost. We must say that this isn’t usually an issue with weddings at Kindred, as we’re located right in the heart of West London—just a few minutes’ walk from Hammersmith tube.
What’s included in a wedding photography package?
It depends! Wedding packages vary hugely. But broadly, here’s some bits that might be included:
- Photography on the day. Photographers will specify how long they’ll be shooting for, i.e. for the full day, up to 8 hours, or from the ceremony until the speeches
- Package of edited, digital photographs. Sometimes the amount of photos is specified
- USB drive of your photos
- Access to an online gallery that can be shared with family and friends
- A printed album of selected photos
- Pre-wedding shoot, or an engagement shoot
- A videographer and wedding video
- A second photographer
What else influences the cost of wedding photography?
There’s quite a few factors that play a role here.
Location
Wedding photography for big city celebrations tends to be more expensive. If your photographer has to travel to your location, they may also charge extra for this.
Number of hours shooting
Booking a photographer for longer will cost more. Especially if you’ve also got a videographer or second shooter to assist.
Number of photographers/videographers
Having more people on hand to capture the day will come at an additional cost, too.
When you get married
As you might have already noticed throughout your wedding planning, costs can vary a lot depending on the time of year. If you’re getting married during peak wedding season (May-September in the UK) or a weekend, there will be more demand for photographers so the price will be higher.
Equipment
This makes up a significant part of your photographer’s costs. Not only do they need to use specialised equipment to shoot your celebration, but they also need to service it regularly, and to have backup equipment in case something fails on the big day.
And sometimes, they might need to bring extra equipment depending on what’s included in your package: like drones or extra tools to shoot in a unique location.
Package extras
It sounds obvious, but the more services you want, the more the package will cost. Having a pre-wedding shoot plus a printed album as well as a digital gallery will be dearer than just the former.
Experience
Like any professional service, fees increase with experience and expertise. You can expect to pay more for a seasoned photographer who has been in the game for decades, and who has a bunch of glowing reviews, than for someone just starting out.
There is a lot of skill in being a brilliant wedding photographer. As well as taking great photos, it’s about knowing which moments to capture, how to arrange different shots, how to interact with the guests without feeling like a burden, and much more. So it really is worth getting someone who can deliver.
What questions should I ask my wedding photographer?
Okay, but how are you meant to choose the right photographer for your wedding?
Before you ask them anything, you should think about what you want from them. Do you want more styled, group photos, for instance, or more candid, natural shots of the day? Is there a clear style you have in mind: are you drawn towards more traditional, arranged photos, or perhaps something more romantic in feel?
Even if you don’t completely know what you’re looking for, if you know roughly what styles you like it could help you find someone who works in that way.
Here’s some questions you might ask to see if your photographer is a fit:
How would you describe your photography style?
This will help you understand their approach and what you can expect from them. It’s a good way to gauge whether you’re on the same page in terms of style.
How do you like to work with couples?
For example, what sort of information do they need from you throughout the planning process? How will they take your preferences and wishes into account?
Do you prefer to direct photos or to capture candid moments?
Here, you can get a sense of how they work and what style of photography they’re more comfortable with.
Do you often shoot weddings similar in size to ours?
Shooting intimate weddings is a different beast to those with hundreds of guests. It can be helpful to understand how experienced they are with celebrations like yours.
Do you shoot at venues like ours often?
Your venue adds hugely to the feel of the day, and it’s useful to know how comfortable they’d be shooting in the location you’ve chosen.
How much is your standard package and what’s included?
A very important, practical question. Make sure you completely understand the services on offer and what sort of assets you’ll get at the end (i.e. a digital album, a print album, a video, etc.) before committing.
Can we see some of your work from recent weddings?
The answer to this question should always be “yes”. Seeing their recent work is a really helpful way to get a sense of their photography and editing style.
How soon after the wedding will we receive our photos?
Another key, practical question.
What do you love most about working on weddings?
This one is a little more abstract, but it can help you to get a sense of who this photographer is and how they approach their work. You want to find a photographer who is invested in your day and cares about doing a great job.
Why is wedding photography more expensive than other types of shoots?
In short: because shooting a wedding takes much more work. As well the hours spent physically on-site, your photographer will spend time planning how they’ll approach the day, editing, travel, and creating the final product. Some photographers even visit the venue ahead of time to get a feel for the lighting and different locations they could shoot in.
It ends up being multiple days of work. But we truly think that it’s worth the cost for the right photographer. These are memories you’ll treasure forever, and you want the photos to reflect just how important a day it is for you.
Planning your wedding
Your wedding is as unique as you are. And we know that choosing the right venue is going to be one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
Kindred is the ideal venue for couples wanting to tie the knot in London, who are down to earth but like the finer things, and who want to make the wedding planning process as joyful and fun as possible. From food to music, and ceremony to reception, we’ve got you covered.
We’re a popular choice for intimate weddings through to bigger celebrations, with a range of different spaces available across our building. And those who choose us, love us.
Have a look at our wedding brochure or get in touch with our friendly events team to see how we could help bring your day to life.
