WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES & PRICES
If you’re currently looking for a wedding photographer, I’m sure you need help understanding Wedding Photography Pricing & Packages.
What are you actually paying for? You’re seeing a few different options, they include hours, images & galleries but what does that even mean? Let’s break it down.
Different photographers will offer different packages that could include anything from prints, to extra hours, additional photographers, albums and even champagne glasses!
I keep my packages pretty simple and focus on what clients absolutely need so that my couples don’t get overwhelmed with all the extras.
UNDERSTANDING WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PRICES
Wedding photography pricing and packages are made up of a few different things;
- the experience and expertise of your wedding photographer
- how long your wedding is (for example a 2 hour wedding will require a lot less editing than a 14 hour wedding)
- how many images you’ll receive after the wedding
- how your images will be delivered
- travel to and from your wedding
- accommodation if needed
- wedding albums or prints
- a second shooter or assistant
HOW MUCH DOES WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY COST IN THE UK?
This can really depend on where you live and how experienced your wedding photographer is. Some wedding photographers charge upwards of £8000 and only take on 15 weddings a year. While others charge as little as £650.
In my experience, for someone with VERY basic experience you should be looking at anywhere from £1000 – £1500. However, if you’re looking for a wedding photographer with many years of experience and who is extremely skilled – you are more likely to pay £2000 – £4000 for a full day.
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PRICES IN LONDON
It’s important to keep in mind that wedding photography prices will differ throughout the country.
And that it is likely that London & the South East will be more expensive. However, wherever you go, there will be photographers at all budgets.
COST OF A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE UK
For example, I offer the following packages – which all differ in two things. How many hours you need me for, and how many photographs you get. Some photographers will include things like engagement shoots or albums. I include those as add-ons which my clients can purchase separately. But, all my packages include travel throughout the whole of the UK!
I also have weekday packages, which are slightly more affordable.
If you want to see my full wedding photography prices & packages – click here.
| The Unlimited Package | The Full Day Package | Short & Sweet | The London Ceremony | ||
| Hours | 12+ | 10 | 5 | 2 | |
| Edited Images | 1000+ | 600-800 | 400 | 200 | |
| Sneak Preview | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Engagement Session | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | |
| Online Gallery | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Travel | Included | Included | Included | London Only | |
| £ 3100 | £ 2500 | £1600 | £800 |
why is wedding photography so expensive?
If you’re hiring someone with years of experience and talent, they’re definitely going to be charging prices that reflect that. Remember that wedding photography is a high pressure job, that you only get one chance to get right. And it’s one of the jobs that your work only increases in value as time goes on.
If you’re looking for someone who is extremely good under all circumstances (think about rain, difficult groomsmen, tricky lighting etc) – you’re going to need to up your budget. Photographers are also limited to how many weddings they can take on in a given year. Not just because of how many days there are in the year, but because of the work involved in preparing for, shooting, editing and delivering a wedding.
Most photographers will shoot anywhere from 10 – 14 hour days. They’ll head home with around 8000 – 12000 images to sort through and often will hand over 600-1000 edited images.
how long should you hire a wedding photographer for?
This depends on three things;
- how ‘eventful’ your wedding is
- how much of it you want captured professionally
- how much budget you have
You can get a good idea of what a photographer is doing on the day in my post here. If you’re having a short courthouse wedding, or don’t feel comfortable with a photographer shooting while you’re getting ready – go for a shorter package! If you’re wanting everything captured and your wedding consists of a separate ceremony & reception – you’re going to want at least 10 hours of coverage. If you’ve got the budget and don’t want to worry about timings, rushing things, and a photographer leaving before the dance floor gets going, then I’d recommend going for an unlimited package.
is travel and accommodation included?
My packages include travel and accommodation within the UK and I have packages for European weddings, and international destinations too. I’ve flown to Chicago, Australia, Costa Rica and Angola for weddings and my travel and accommodation was included in their packages too. If you’re starting early or ending really late, I’ll do what is needed to make sure that I’m well rested and ready to snap away. One thing that is helpful to know is that travel time to and from the wedding does not take up your package hours. But, if we’re travelling between venues throughout the day that would count towards your hours.
does it include an online gallery?
After all that shooting – what do you actually get? Most photographers are moving away from sending USBs to clients and sticking to delivering images through online galleries that you can also share with family & friends. With me, you’ll get an online gallery that has all your images in high resolution (for print) and low resolution (for web & social media) which you can then download and keep safe!
and how many images do i get?
I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll receive around 50 images per hour of shooting, but I never limit myself to what I deliver – so you’ll most likely get more lovely photographs! When you get your images, I’ve been through every single one of them (sometimes thousands) and selected all the ones that are well lit, well composed, where faces aren’t doing funny things and eyes are open. I then professionally edit every single one of those making sure that the colour, the composition and the edit is the best! When I hand those files over to you, they’re un-watermarked, you have the rights to the digital image and you can go ahead and do what you like with them – they’re yours!
and what about an engagement shoot?
This is not absolutely necessary but if you’re feeling nervous about being in front of the camera or want to know what it would be like working with me on the day – it’s a great chance for us to hang out and give you a sense of what to expect. I’m also a big fan of creating more relaxed images of you as a couple at this special time in your life – without the fancy outfits and pressure on the wedding day!
Trying to decide whether or not you should have an engagement shoot? Read my 7 Reasons Why You Should Do an Engagement Shoot
you get a great photographer with plenty of experience
This is my favourite part of what you get in your package when you work with me! You want to meet up for coffee before booking me? You want to pick my brain while you plan your wedding? You want to go over the schedule a few days before? You want someone on the day who’s keeping you on time and making sure that you’re having the best day yet? I’m your girl. I love serving my clients and helping them throughout the entire process, making sure they’re comfortable every step of the way and I’m honoured to have so many clients become friends after their weddings!
what about wedding albums and prints?
This is where you can really pick and choose what you need and want to spend any extra budget on. I’m a big fan of printing your images and gifting those prints to all the special people who were there. Even better – create an album that tells the story of your day that you can look at every anniversary. But you know what? You don’t need these straight away or even at all. You can always come back to it a year later or chat to me a few months after the wedding when your bank balance isn’t feeling so tender.
Still a bit confused about what’s right for you? Get in touch and we can chat more about your wedding and figure out what would work best for you!
