Budget guide · PhotographyWhat a wedding costs
Wedding Photography Costs
Photography is one of the few wedding costs you keep. It is also one where the cheapest option carries the most risk, because a bad photographer produces a problem nothing can fix afterwards.
- Illustrative planning range
- £1,200 – £2,500
- Suggested budget allocation
- 8–12%
Illustrative planning ranges, rather than national averages or supplier quotes. Costs vary by date, location, guest numbers and the services you choose; confirm prices with each supplier.
Behind the quote
What drives the cost.
- Hours of coverage, and whether you need the evening
- One photographer or two
- Where the wedding is, since local markets differ sharply
- Whether film is booked alongside it
Where the savings are
Ways to spend less.
- Book a midweek or off-season date, which cuts most photographers' rates
- Take eight hours rather than twelve, and cover the evening with guest phones
- Skip the album and order prints yourself later
- Book photography and film together rather than separately
Before you book
Questions to ask.
- What happens if you are ill on the day?
- How many images do we get, and in what form?
- Who owns the photographs and what may we do with them?
- Do you carry insurance and backup equipment?
Common questions
How much should we budget for photography?
UK couples typically spend between £1,200 and £2,500, which is around 8–12% of a total wedding budget. Where you land inside that depends mostly on hours of coverage, and whether you need the evening.
How can we spend less on photography?
Book a midweek or off-season date, which cuts most photographers' rates. Take eight hours rather than twelve, and cover the evening with guest phones.
What should we ask before booking?
What happens if you are ill on the day? How many images do we get, and in what form?