The cost of wedding photography

I am taking you through the cost of wedding photography.. With over a decade as a wedding photographer I feel I have a pretty good idea of how that looks and how it can seem pretty expensive but also why it is worth paying a little extra..

Dramatic wedding portrait at Ettingon Park Hotel

Why it is worth the money?

So you're planning a wedding and everything is fortune…. venue £8000, Flowers £1500, Hair and make up £1000, Coordinator £1000, Food £1000, Dress another £1000 and photography another £2000 and that’s without all the little extras no one tells you about gifts, sweets, chair covers, alcohol, bridesmaids dresses, suits, rings, dog sitter, possibly video if you are feeling flush. I know it racks up real quick and before you know it you have re-mortgaged your home and sold a kidney… But do me a favour use that list there and write down what you get to keep out of that. You got it… Your dress, ends up in a box in the attic, your suit might get word to a mates wedding one more time and your photography is the one thing you will keep, print, show your friends and display around your home for the rest of your life. everything else gets binned, eaten, washed off or you just have it for the day. Photography is your memory of the day, it’s the album you come back to on your anniversary to remember the amazing day you had and all the family members that where their that are gone 20 years from now. It really is the gift that keeps giving, an investment if you like.

Groupe photo taken at Milton End Barns Gloucestershire

So why is wedding photography so expensive ?

Well it’s not or it is… Let me explain, Wedding photography is only expensive if you pay less than the average and you get sub par services.. Now don’t get me wrong, photographers run deals and this is a great way to save money but I am talking about paying sort of £500 or even less.. You are basically guaranteed to be dealing with someone who has little to no experience and also has sub par equipment and skills. So what do you actually get if you pay £1000, £2000 or even £6000, Well you get a true professional, Someone who has years of experience, knows weddings inside and out, loves the job and wants to give you a great experience and product that will truly last forever. If your wedding is important to you and you want to remember it the way it happened then honestly get someone reputable with great reviews and some one you get along with.

Flat lay Image of brides accessories taken at Hide House, Stow on the Wold

Where does the cots of wedding photography come from?

Well a few places really, most people will tell you it’s the £10,000 worth of kit they need to take the images… In all honestly it’s not, It is actually the little things that rack up like the client management systems, the hours of calls, the little hand written thank you notes we send out, the years and years of practicing, the marketing, the web hosting, the image storage and to give you an incredible experience and make sure you love every moment of your experience with your photographer we can only really take on around 30 weddings a year.

Is it worth paying as much as possible for your photographer ?

I think you need to find a sweet spot in photography because that is a broad question. If your a multi millionaire thing I wouldn’t personally go spending £20k on a wedding photographer (they do exist) but If your in the UK average of around £30-£75K then I would aim to be spending around £1500- £3000. This is probably the average (from what I know) of good wedding photography in the UK, or at least it’s a great starting point, make sure you still check their reviews from actual customers and also ask your venue if they have worked with them before.. venues see a lot of photographers and so they see the good, the bad and the down right shit!

Bouquet and Ring photo taken at The Shack Revolution, Hereford

So what do you get paying that bit extra?

What you are going to get is someone who knows what you want before you do, Someone who is personable, can prevent situations arising before they do on your wedding day, has great crowed control when talking to groups, understands the use of light both natural and also using flash systems, you will get a true service and besides all that and most importantly you will get a professional contract and insurance…. DO NOT book anyone if they do not have a photography contract and insurance, these two things protect you as much as they protect the photographer, venue, guests everyone involved in your wedding day.

If you are in the market

If you are looking for a photographer and you have loved the insight into the price of photography of this blog and you want someone you can trust, have fun with and who has a great service, Click the button, drop me a message and tell me about your wedding!