How much do wedding photographers really cost in the UK

Let us talk money. It is not the most glamorous part of wedding planning, but it is one of the questions couples ask first and probably the thing that causes the most raised eyebrows. You start looking around and suddenly realise there are photographers charging anything from a couple of hundred quid to prices that make you wonder whether they arrive by helicopter and shoot on cameras made of solid gold. So where does the real answer sit, and what should you genuinely expect to budget for wedding photography in the UK?

Here is the honest version. For an experienced photographer with solid work, strong reviews and a consistent portfolio, most UK couples spend somewhere between £1,500 and £3,500 for full day wedding photography. The exact number depends on experience, style, demand, location and what is included. Some charge less, some charge more, and like anything in life you will get a wide spectrum. The key is understanding what sits behind the price, because the number is only part of the story.

When you book a wedding photographer, you are not just paying for someone to turn up with a camera and press a button. You are paying for someone who knows how to work calmly under pressure, adapt to unpredictable weather, manage timelines without taking over, make camera shy people feel comfortable, wrangle family when needed, read light like a scientist and catch moments you did not even realise were happening. Then there is the part most couples never see. The hours of editing. Backup systems. Cameras and lenses that cost more than your first car. Insurance. Software. Training. The years of practice it takes to make a wedding look effortless.

So what does that mean in real terms? Well, for context, my Full Day package starts at £1,500, and if you only want ceremony coverage you can book a focused option from £800. You can also add a second photographer for £300 if you want additional coverage, more angles and more of those candid in between moments. I am not the cheapest photographer in the world, and I am certainly not the most expensive. I sit in the space where you get professional, relaxed story driven photography with real depth to it, without needing to sell a kidney to afford it.

The truth is, the right budget is the one that gets you a photographer you trust and genuinely like. Someone whose work you connect with, but also someone you can imagine spending one of the biggest days of your life with. You do not just want nice photos. You want someone who will blend in with your family, help guide you without bossing you around, make you feel like yourselves and create an experience that feels comfortable, not stiff or staged.

Yes, you will see cheaper photographers and some of them may be at the start of their journey which is absolutely fine if that suits you. Just always look for full real weddings, not only styled shoots or posed content with models, because real wedding conditions are different and you want to know they can handle every lighting situation and every family dynamic you throw at them. On the flip side, you will see photographers who charge far more and again, some will be worth every penny if their style and presence are exactly what you want.

The most important thing is to choose with your heart and your head. You are not buying images for Instagram. You are investing in memories you will look back on for the rest of your life. The moments you miss in real time but get to relive after. The little glances, the happy tears, the chaos on the dance floor when your mate decides he is a professional DJ after three pints. That is what wedding photography is. Not a price tag. A feeling.

So if you want relaxed wedding photography that feels like you, not a magazine version of you, and you like the idea of having a photographer who keeps you calm, keeps things fun and never forces cheese on you under any circumstance, then let us chat. No pressure. No hard sell. Just a conversation to see if we are the right fit.