Why Do Wedding Photographers Seem So Expensive? (Some really are not!)

1 Aug

At first glance, wedding photography might appear to be just a day's work — someone turning up, taking photos, and heading home. But the truth is very different. Wedding photography is a highly skilled profession that requires significant investment in time, training, and equipment. It’s not a quick side hustle or a weekend hobby — it’s a serious career path.

Mastering the craft takes years. In fact, I have been shooting weddings for 33 years. That’s no coincidence — it takes time to hone the skill, develop an artistic eye, and build the experience to consistently deliver under pressure. And here’s the part that’s rarely talked about: wedding photography is physically and mentally demanding. It’s not a job most people can do.. It’s intense, it’s fast-paced, and it takes a toll — which is why experienced photographers can charge a premium.

On top of that, weddings are seasonal. In the UK, most weddings happen on Saturdays between May and September. If you specialise in weddings, your prime earning window is essentially six months long. That’s a tight timeframe to build a year’s worth of income.

Let’s break down where the costs — and value — really come from.

What You’re Actually Paying For

Behind every wedding gallery is a huge amount of invisible work. On average, one wedding client takes around 40 hours from initial enquiry to final image delivery. Here's what that typically looks like:

2 hour – Initial consultation via video call
3 hours – Prepping for the big day (charging gear, cleaning lenses, formatting cards, etc.)
10 hours – Coverage on the wedding day itself
2 hours – Travel to and from the venue
20 hours – Editing and post-production
3 hours – Admin (emails, invoicing, contracts, scheduling)

That’s 40 hours for an average wedding — meaning a £900 wedding breaks down to £22.50/hour, or about £18/hour after tax.

Wedding photographers also have these main considerations to contend with:

1. From consultation to image delivery averages 40 hours – it’s much more work than just one day.

2. You only get one shot at it, so you have to be good.

3. Experience takes time, effort and money

4. Equipment is expensive, one camera can cost £5000.

And that doesn’t include:

Writing blog posts and maintaining a website
Posting to social media
Maintaining and upgrading equipment
Ongoing education (courses, workshops, mentoring)
Insurance (public liability, professional indemnity, and gear cover)
Travel and fuel costs
Initial consultations that don’t lead to bookings
Marketing and advertising expenses
Accountancy and business admin
Membership of Societies

The Reality

Cameras and lenses are expensive — one professional body alone can cost over £5,000. Add backups, lighting, memory cards, computers, editing software, accessories, storage systems… the list is long. And then there’s the car, the fuel, the insurance, the ongoing training — because in this industry, standing still means falling behind.

Wedding photography is not just about pressing a shutter. It’s about anticipating moments, working in difficult light, managing high-stress situations, and telling a couple’s story in a way that feels timeless. There’s no room for error. You only get one chance to capture a once-in-a-lifetime event.

It’s a career driven by passion — but also one that demands serious effort, experience, and commitment. It’s not a fast track to riches, and it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted. But for those of us who love it, who live and breathe photography, and who are privileged to be chosen to capture such meaningful days — it’s worth every hour.

So, why not check out my Packages and think to yourself ‘Wow, that is amazing value’