In this article
- How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in the UK?
- Wedding Photographer Cost by Hours
- What Affects the Cost of a Wedding Photographer?
- What Should Be Included in the Price?
- How Much Should a Wedding Photographer Charge?
- Is the Cheapest Wedding Photographer Worth It?
- How to Pay Less for Your Wedding Photographer
- Our Wedding Photography Prices
- Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a wedding photographer cost? In the UK, the average is £1,484, according to Bridebook’s 2026 Wedding Report. Most couples pay somewhere between £500 and £2,500. But an average only tells you so much. What you actually pay depends on how many hours you book, who you book, where you are getting married and what is included in the price. This guide walks through real UK prices, what pushes the cost up or down, and how to get photos you love without spending more than you need to.
How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in the UK?
Prices vary a lot across the country. London and the South East usually cost the most, because demand is high and running a business there is expensive. Here is how Bridebook breaks down the average price of a wedding photographer by region:
| Region | Typical range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| UK (national) | £500 – £2,500 | £1,484 |
| London & South East | £700 – £3,000+ | around £1,700 – £2,000 |
| Rest of England | £500 – £2,200 | around £1,300 – £1,500 |
| Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland | £500 – £2,000 | around £1,100 – £1,400 |
Source: Bridebook 2026 Wedding Report. Most of these figures are for full-day packages, so if you are planning a shorter wedding, you may well pay a lot less. If you are marrying in the capital, our guide to wedding photographer prices in London goes into more detail.
Wedding Photographer Cost by Hours
The single biggest thing that decides the cost of a wedding photographer is time. A forty-minute register office ceremony and a fourteen-hour celebration are very different jobs, yet many photographers only sell full-day packages, so couples with smaller weddings end up paying for hours they never use.
We price by the hour instead, with a 2-hour minimum. Here is roughly what each length of booking covers, and what it costs with us:
| Coverage | What it usually covers | Our price |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | A register office or civil ceremony, confetti, family groups and a few portraits | £320 |
| 4 hours | The ceremony through to the start of the reception | £480 |
| 6 hours | An extended half day, often including the speeches | £640 |
| 8 hours | A full day, from getting ready to the first dance | £800 |
| 10 hours | A long day with plenty of the evening covered | £960 |
Every extra hour is £80, and you can see every option on our wedding photography prices page. Not sure how long you need? Our guide to how many hours of wedding photography you need will help you work it out.
What Affects the Cost of a Wedding Photographer?
Two quotes for the same date can be hundreds of pounds apart. These are the things that usually explain the difference.
Hours of coverage
More hours means more time on the day and more photos to edit afterwards. It is the easiest way to control your wedding photography costs.
Experience and demand
Photographers with years of weddings behind them and a busy diary tend to charge more. Newer photographers are often cheaper, so look closely at full galleries rather than judging on price alone.
Location and travel
Some photographers add mileage, parking, train fares or even a hotel stay to the bill. Others, including us, include UK travel in the price. Always ask, because travel can add a surprising amount to the final figure.
Day of the week and time of year
Summer Saturdays are the busiest days of the wedding year, and some photographers charge more for them. Weekday and winter weddings can sometimes be cheaper. We charge the same whatever the day.
Second photographer
A second shooter captures two angles at once, such as the groom’s face as the bride walks in. It is lovely to have, but it usually adds a few hundred pounds.
Albums and prints
Handmade albums are beautiful, and they are often where wedding photography packages get expensive. Many couples skip the album at first and order prints later, when the budget is less stretched.
What Should Be Included in the Price?
Wedding photography packages and prices are hard to compare, because two packages at the same price can include very different things. Before you book, check that the quote spells out:
- How many hours of coverage you get
- Roughly how many edited photos to expect
- A private online gallery to view, download and share
- High-resolution images and the right to print them
- How long delivery takes
- Whether travel is included or charged separately
- A written agreement
- Whether the photographer brings backup equipment
Every booking with us includes all your edited high-resolution images, a private online gallery and a print licence, and travel anywhere in the UK. Galleries are usually ready within a week.
How Much Should a Wedding Photographer Charge?
It is easy to look at an 8-hour wedding and think £1,500 is a lot for one day’s work. But the wedding day is only part of the job. Before it, there are calls, emails and planning. After it, every photo is sorted, edited and delivered, which often takes longer than the day itself. On top of that come cameras, lenses, backup gear, insurance and software. So the price of a wedding photographer covers several days of work, not one.
That does not mean you have to pay the average. It just means a very low quote deserves a few questions, which brings us to the next point.
Is the Cheapest Wedding Photographer Worth It?
Sometimes, yes. A low price can simply mean you are booking fewer hours, or a photographer with lower costs. But it can also mean no contract, no backup camera, or a gallery that arrives months late. The cheapest wedding photographers are only good value if the photos turn up and look the way you hoped.
Ask to see a full wedding gallery, not just a handful of favourites. Ask what happens if a camera fails. Ask when you will get your photos. A good photographer at any price will answer all three without hesitating. For more tips, read our guide on how to choose a wedding photographer.
How to Pay Less for Your Wedding Photographer
- Book the hours you need, not a package. If your ceremony is short, a short booking is all you need.
- Pick your key moments. Decide what matters most, such as the vows, the family photos or the speeches, and plan your coverage around them.
- Look at weekday or off-peak dates. Some photographers offer lower rates outside summer Saturdays.
- Leave the album until later. You can always order one after the wedding.
- Check for hidden extras. Travel, overtime and delivery fees can turn a cheap quote into an expensive one.
Our Wedding Photography Prices
We keep things simple. Wedding photography starts at £320 for 2 hours, then £80 for each additional hour. There are no weekend premiums and no travel charges, and every booking includes all your edited images in a private online gallery with a print licence. We photograph weddings across London and much of England, and you can see all the areas we cover here. Getting married at a London register office? Our cheap wedding photographer London page explains how short bookings work.
See the full list on our pricing page, or get in touch with your date and venue for a clear quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of a wedding photographer in the UK?
According to Bridebook’s 2026 Wedding Report, the average wedding photographer cost in the UK is £1,484, with most couples paying between £500 and £2,500. London and the South East usually cost more.
How much does a wedding photographer cost per hour?
Many photographers only sell full-day packages, so an hourly rate is not always given. With us, the first 2 hours cost £320 and every additional hour is £80.
How much should I budget for a wedding photographer?
Start with how much of the day you want photographed. A short register office wedding can cost a few hundred pounds, while full-day coverage across the UK averages around £1,500. Make sure your budget includes travel and any extras such as an album.
Why are wedding photographers so expensive?
The price covers much more than the day itself. It includes planning before the wedding, editing afterwards, professional equipment with backups, insurance and software.
Is it cheaper to book a wedding photographer for fewer hours?
Yes. If your photographer prices by the hour, booking only the part of the day you care about most is the easiest way to lower the cost.
How far in advance should I book a wedding photographer?
Popular summer Saturdays can be booked a year or more ahead, so it is worth enquiring as soon as you have a date and venue. Weekday and winter dates usually have more availability.