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The Whole Works
By David
Updated January 2026 – When it comes to planning and budgeting for your wedding there are many things to consider and in most areas the sky is the limit.
Whatever your wedding budget you’ll need to make trade-offs. There is only 1 pot of money and it will need to cover everything: wedding venue, photography, flowers, catering, cake, invites, decorations, gifts, oh and of course the dress.
It’s useful to have some benchmarks for how much each of these items might cost.
Over the last 12 months over 1,100 couples booked a wedding photographer through wedissimo, and we’re sharing the real pricing data here from actual bookings. The average cost for wedding photography in the UK over the last 12 months is £800, but it varies significantly by package type and location, with London being the most expensive region.
The average cost of a full day package in the UK is £1,112.
As digital cameras become better and cheaper, the industry is becoming more competitive. There are lots of new photographers on the scene offering cheaper packages so they can build their portfolio, and many cost saving brides will look to take up these offers.
Half day wedding packages (typically 4 hours) are £642 on average. You can even just have the ceremony covered. The average price for a ceremony only package in the UK is £393, which typically comes with 2 hours of coverage.
Here is the average cost of a full day wedding photography package broken down by UK region.
| UK Region | Wedding Photography - Full Day Package - Average Prices |
|---|---|
| London | £1,205 |
| East of England | £1,190 |
| South East | £1,185 |
| South West | £1,154 |
| Wales | £1,135 |
| East Midlands | £1,078 |
| West Midlands | £1,050 |
| North East | £1,021 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £982 |
| North West | £977 |
| Scotland | £964 |
| UK average | £1,112 |
Understanding the cost of hiring a wedding photographer in London helps you budget effectively while ensuring you find the right person to document your big day.
Hiring a wedding photographer in London will cost between £900 and £4,000+ for full-day coverage with an average of £1,205, based on our 2026 wedding photography data.
We’ve analysed hundreds of wedding photography bookings across London to provide you with the most accurate pricing information. Here’s what you can expect to pay on average across London:
Of course wedding photographer prices in London vary. Packages differ in price. The cost of a luxury wedding photographer can start anywhere between £1,500 and £2,000, with some costing more than £4,000.
Couples frequently ask whether wedding photography is worth such a significant investment when actually on the big day itself, there is nothing to show for it. Only you can decide that, but what we can do is give you an insight into what you get from a professional photographer and, what package inclusions drives the price up or down.
You’ve probably heard it before but with wedding photography you really do get what you pay for. If, when you prioritise the items on your wedding shopping list, photography is in your top three, you will need to be prepared to put aside 10-15% of your budget for it. Bear in mind that photography isn’t something you use and throw away. Photography is a story that you will treasure for life. The cake gets eaten, the flowers will die, but the wedding photos will last forever.
Most photographers offer a scale of wedding photography packages starting from the most basic, which involves one photographer and a set number of hours, to a comprehensive solution where you have two photographers shadowing you from the moment you wake until you wave goodbye, and hundreds of expertly edited photos in a beautiful presented photos that shall bring back many emotions as you relive the day go through it.
More is not always better with photography. It is better to have a basic package from a photographer you love than a large album from someone whose style doesn’t match your own, or you hired because they were ‘cheap’. If you need more convincing read our interview with a bride who really regretted her decision not to have a professional photograph her wedding.
Some of you maybe reading this and asking the question ‘Why is photographer so expensive?‘. It is important to understand what you get, and what you miss out on if you don’t hire a professional.
If your budget is stretched and your perfect wedding photographer is slightly out of you price range then here are 5 Tips on how to Save Money on a Wedding Photographer which may just make a little yet large difference for you.
The major factors that impact the price of wedding photography are the experience of the photographer, what’s included in the package, the location of the wedding and whether it’s on a peak day.
You might be wondering what’s so difficult about wedding photography. Can’t you just ask your Uncle Steve with his snazzy camera to cover your big day? Not unless you want an album full of photos you may never want to look at.
You are paying for time, but anyone can pick up a camera. It takes a skilled professional to deliver the standard of pictures you’ll love looking at and sharing. So in fact you are paying for experience: paying for someone that knows exactly what to do, someone that has done this for years, someone that you can trust, someone you know will produce a photo album and story of your day that will bring a tear to your eye.
New photographers to the industry tend to charge less to help build up their portfolio, while experienced photographers will have hundreds of weddings captured and a huge portfolio you can browse through. They know what they are doing; when to be where, how to get that perfect shot of you walking down the aisle, where to look for that moment when your Mum sheds a tear watching on.
Many photographers invest heavily in learning and training. Some are degree educated in photography, others attend workshops and photography training to improve their photographic skills.
If a photographer has a specialism in a particular area, then they command a higher price. Fine art and editorial wedding photography is particularly expensive.
There are many package inclusions that impact the price of wedding photography. We’ve included the key ones below. This should give you a feel for whether you are likely to want a package close to the average price, or higher or lower.
Do you want your photographer there from morning preparations to late-night dances? Or just for the ceremony and portraits? Most photographers price their services based on hours of coverage, so full-day coverage is pricier than half-day or ceremony coverage. With a shorter package, not only will your photographer be there for a shorter time but there will be fewer images to edit and deliver to you.
Discuss your wedding day timeline with the photographer to determine what best suits your needs.
Having two photographers capture your day from different angles can create a more complete story of your wedding. The second shooter will help get different prep photos if you are getting ready separately, capture other angles, and moments happening in different places at the same time. A second photographer is normally an extra cost, but doesn’t double the cost. One of the photographers will usually be more experienced and take charge of the editing so it doesn’t take double the amount of time. A second photographer is especially useful for larger weddings where you want to capture multiple perspectives simultaneously.
On wedissimo, travel is included in the headline price, but if you are booking elsewhere it’s worth checking what the total price is early in the conversation to avoid surprises later. For destination weddings, travel and hotels can be significant costs.
Couples often get an engagement shoot. The photos are useful to attach to wedding invitations, the guest book, and for getting to know your photographer, so you feel more confident in front of the lens on your wedding day. Usually these are priced separately rather than included in the headline price. The average price is £350, but ranges from £250 to £750.
Most wedding photos are delivered in digital format as standard, but couples often get printed albums, either as a coffee table book or a as gift for parents. There are 2 advantages of getting your album directly from your wedding photographer; context and incentive. They know how the day unfolded and which moments are likely to be most important to you, and frankly, they want their work to appear as awesome as possible because for a wedding photographer, reputation is everything. If you decide to get an album done by someone else later by someone else they won’t have the context of the day or the same incentive to make it brilliant.
It’s increasingly popular to have videography and photography at weddings but of course, this adds to the cost. Sometimes the photographer can also capture snippets of video with the same camera, or make an image slideshow to music . While this doesn’t increase the number of hours they spend at the wedding, it does increase the time for editing.
A fair few wedding photographers also have the option of bringing a photo booth. Of course, there are lots of great standalone photo booth companies you can hire too. A photo booth could set you back £250-£650+.
Prices do vary by region with London and the South East being the most expensive. See above for more details.
High-season in the wedding industry typically starts in May and lasts until October. If you are looking to get married during this time, demand is higher, therefore your less likely to find a discounted package.
Cheaper packages that are more affordable can be found in quieter months (November to April), as well as late space offers if a photographer has a cancellation.
Weekends are more popular for obvious reasons, which means that weekday celebrations mean available suppliers. Discounts maybe available for weekday weddings but its not the case with every photographer. Busy photographers will often shoot weddings at the weekends and then use the weekdays for editing.
If you are having a destination wedding then hiring a wedding photographer and flying them out will cost more.
The package cost for the day is likely to stay around the same as if it was in the UK but you’ll have to pay for their expenses, this would include flight, transfers, and accommodation as well as the time involved for them to travel.
The additional cost depends on where you are getting married, the distance and cost of flights and the additional expenses.
As a guide, you could spend between £1900-£5000+ on a destination photographer.
Beyond the price tag, here’s what to consider when shopping for the right photographer for your day:
Every photographer brings their unique eye to a wedding. Some are documentary-focused, capturing natural moments as they unfold, while others specialise in creative shots or traditional portraits. Browse complete wedding galleries – not just highlights – to get a true feel for their style.
Even with a large budget make sure you hire a wedding photographer you feel comfortable with. It’s really important to help create natural and fun photos by making you feel at ease in front of the camera. Make sure you’ve video-called them in advance to see whether they’re a good fit. You can book a call through their wedissimo profile. The right connection leads to the most natural photos.
The most sought-after professionals often book up 12-18 months in advance for peak summer weekends.
Wedissimo makes finding and booking your photographer seamless:
No more back-and-forth emails wondering if a photographer is available. Just enter your location and wedding date in the search bar, and you’ll find all the photographers who are free on your special day.
Our price toggle lets you see exactly what each photographer charges for different coverage options, so no surprises.
Browse reviews by real couples who have worked with our photographers.
Once you’ve found a photographer whose style and pricing match your needs, you can schedule a video consultation through their wedissimo profile page. This is the perfect opportunity to discuss your vision, ask questions, and see if they’re the right fit for your day.
Then, when you’ve found the one, don’t wait! You can reserve your date through our secure booking system. Many photographers book on a first-come, first-served basis, so you’ll want to move quickly once you’ve made your decision.
When hiring a wedding photographer you would typically pay a deposit to book and reserve them for your date. On wedissimo, this is typically 10% of the overall price, as long as you are booking more than 90 days in advance. 30 days later another 12.5% is charged to your card automatically and then there’s nothing else to pay until 30 days before the wedding. Wedissimo releases the funds to the photographer 5 days after the wedding so you are protected.
As the big day approaches, stay in touch with your photographer: share your timeline, discuss must-have shots, and let them know about any special moments or details you want captured.
Anyhow, hope that was helpful and congratulations on your engagement!
Start the search for your perfect wedding photographer here.
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