HOW MUCH?!
How much is a wedding photographer?
Alex takes you through the costs of your big day, why they are what they are – and advises couples to choose value over price.
YOU WANT it all to be perfect. To have a venue that is, well, ‘you’, a meal that is memorable and flowers that are fragrant. It’s only natural you would. I know I certainly did for my wedding, and I was willing to allocate a good part of my budget to making sure I got all those things right for me.
Maybe there is just one difference between you and me, though. As a wedding photographer, when it came to making all the parts work, I knew the huge importance of getting the images of the day that I could treasure for the rest of my life. That meant being able to trust someone as well as accepting that I would also need to allocate a decent part of my budget to what can be an under-estimated component of a wedding - but one that would be worth it.
The majority of couples planning their big day probably start with no real knowledge of the cost of wedding suppliers. When it comes to the photography, and they are given a quote, the reaction can be “HOW MUCH?!”
What is the average cost of a wedding photographer in the UK?
That’s because the average cost of wedding photography in the United Kingdom is £1,500 for a full-day package. Yes, it does sound a lot, even if it that amount has remained stable for the past three years. That’s not to say it has to cost you that much, as packages can be tailored to budget. I do that myself.
What I’d like to do here is give you an idea of why wedding photography should be value, irrespective of the price, be that for full or part packages, and why I think it should be at the forefront of planning rather than lower in the consideration of all the components.
First, why is there such variation in pricing? Why might someone charge £500 for a full day, and another photographer £2,000 and more?
Well, if you look around you, let’s take supermarkets… We all have our favourite and for some of us, that will mean lowest price. For others, though, it will be worth paying more for certain foods and quality. Especially if we are having, say, a huge party and want to make sure everyone’s going to enjoy and remember it.
It’s a question when you start of deciding what you want. The more expensive photographers are usually experienced and with a hard-won reputation for producing great pictures. The cheaper ones are often still establishing themselves and finding their style.
Now, you can get lucky and find someone starting out who is cheap and talented. My advice though is to look through the portfolio and examples of work and see the style you like in them – ‘Do I want those spontaneous, intimate moments captured, or prefer formal shots? Do I want both?’ In my own case, I like to think that a big strength is that I am versatile and can adapt, as my work on this website shows.
Another factor is that the more you pay, the more you can guarantee exclusivity. One reason some photographers are cheaper is that they simply get more bookings, but it can mean they have to book in more than one wedding a day. You might be happy with only having them for part of the whole day, but there is the possibility that they become inundated with volumes of pictures that then need to be edited, sometimes to the frustration of couples left waiting a long time to see them. Care needs to be taken over editing. Exclusivity ensures that.
What is included in wedding photography packages?
OK, let’s talk specifics to try and explain why costs are what they are…
Photographing a wedding is a lot of work, if it’s done conscientiously and well. And I like to do it conscientiously and well.
It’s not just the day itself. Preparation needs to be taken into account. I personally like to get to know the couples I work with – perhaps even do an engagement shoot with them - to hear about their hopes and ambitions and aspirations. That way, I can establish a rapport and better capture them, their relationship and their chemistry.
I saw one photographer list this process:
Correspondence and planning: 2 hours
Engagement session: 2-3 hours
Editing of engagement session: 2 hours
Meeting to finalise details: 2 hours
Location scouting: 2-3 hours
Wedding day: 10-12 hours shooting
Travel to and from wedding: 1-4 hours
Editing of wedding photos 15-20 hours
USB/Prints?Album: 1-2 hours
Packaging and delivery 1-2 hours
That’s roughly around 50 hours for a wedding, which is at least week’s work for most people. And so the average cost of some £1,500 – always negotiable, let me repeat – works out at about £30 an hour. Not a bad wage, for sure, but don’t forget the costs, particularly of equipment, in updating and maintaining cameras and computers, along with things like insurance and advertising. I also like to attend wedding fairs to meet people face to face and those are full days at weekends.
My approach to wedding photography
This is not some sob story. I LOVE photographing weddings, meeting couples and their families and doing the best job I can for them. Seeing their faces when I show them some great shot I’ve captured is so rewarding.
But like the people who are spending their hard-earned money on a day to remember, I need to make a living too, one that is fair – both to me and my client.
I can assure you, I don’t say ‘kerching’ when I hear the word wedding! Instead, I have ideas about how we can all end up having the best experience possible.
For that to happen, I believe you need a photographer with experience. You can’t reshoot moments, after all. Experience means hiring a photographer who can work with difficult lighting and weather conditions, with all sorts of people and restrictions at venues. You want someone who has been through all that before and who you can rely on.
In the end, remember that when all the fizz is finished, the food eaten and the flowers faded, it is the photos that will remain with you, so you need to be confident about them. I’ve seen so many newly-weds writing blogs or contributing to Facebook groups having been let down by a no-show or being sent photos – if they were sent them at all – that just haven’t matched their expectations. They say they regret that they didn’t spend more on a proper, competent and empathetic photographer they had built a relationship with.
I and other photographers can be flexible on price but please remember that the old saying about getting what you pay for has been around so long for a good reason. Check out websites, meet photographers. And when it comes to making your decision, for your own peace of mind do base it on value – the whole package of qualities that an experienced photographer with a track record can bring – and not simply price.