WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY FAQs

 Answering your main wedding photography and videography questions

Whether you're just starting to think about wedding photography or you're deep in the planning rabbit hole, chances are - you have questions. I’ve pulled together answers to those I get asked most often, everything from general questions such as what to budget and what to look for in a photographer, to how it all works on the day with me! Have a read through, and if you don't find what you're looking for, just get in touch and i’ll be able to help.

How much is a wedding photographer?

Short answer? It depends what you’re looking for. Wedding photography in the UK typically ranges from around £1,000 to £3,500+. But it’s what you get for that money that matters. Think of it less as a cost and more as the one investment from your wedding day that lasts forever. The flowers will wilt, but the photos won't. The practical questions affecting price are things like, how many hours of coverage, in what format will I receive my images etc. But most important are the more intangible elements, such as does their work really grab me? If photography is important to you and you value the skills and experience taken to be able to make amazing images in any situation (weddings can often be very technically challenging in terms of photography), then you should be willing to pay what you are able for those images. It might be worth looking at the question from another perspective: how much am I willing to pay so that my wedding experience isn’t ruined by poor images! :-0

My full day coverage starts at £1,800, with a shorter coverage option from £1,499. Every package comes backed by hundreds of weddings worth of experience and a perfect five-star Google review score.

How to choose a wedding photographer?

Beyond loving their portfolio, you want someone you'd actually enjoy spending time with, because you will be! Check their style is consistent (not just their best twelve shots), have a proper chat before booking and read reviews. If you feel relaxed by their approach and the way they interact with you, that's a good sign. Hundreds of weddings in, I’m very confident in my abilities and that translates to being a relaxed presence to be around on the actual wedding day. This is more important than you may think when it comes to getting the best out of people!

what Questions should i ask a wedding photographer?

The big ones: Are you available on our date? Can we see a full wedding gallery (not just highlights)? What's your backup plan if you're ill? How many images will we receive, and when? Do you have liability insurance? And perhaps most importantly, what will it be like to work with you? A great photographer who stresses you out isn't worth it. I'm happy to answer all of the above and with great feedback from every couple I've worked with, most of those boxes are already ticked before you've even asked.

What is included in a wedding photography package?

Coverage from the bridal preparations to the first few dances (shorter coverage available if required) .

All your professionally edited images via download.

My sometimes questionable chat is included for free!

Optional Highlight Film add-on.

Optional second photographer add-on.

Optional album/products can be purchased after the wedding if desired.

How to find a wedding photographer?

Instagram and Google are a good start, but also personal recommendations from friends or your venue can also be of value. Have a look at local directories and wedding blogs too and don't just go by follower count. The best wedding photographer for you is the one whose work makes you feel, not just the one with the biggest following. Jazzy reels and tiktoks are one thing, but try to look past the razzmatazz to the substance and style of the photographs themselves. If you've landed here, you've already done the hard part, the next step is to drop me a message and we can chat :-)

What EXACTLY is alternative/ reportage/ documentary wedding photography?

I try not to get too bogged down by labels in general. Again, the best way to know if you like the ‘style’ of a photographer is to look at as much of their work as you can get your hands on. If you like it? Excellent. That is the kind of thing they will be trying to create for you. If it doesn’t tickle you just right? Keep looking.

However, these descriptors of photography styles are thrown around a lot by magazines and blogs and photographers themselves, so by way of a quick explainer to help you decide what they’re referencing…here goes :-)

Traditional Wedding Photography - think of your grandparents wedding album; lots of formal group line-ups, lots of looking directly into the camera and smiling, lots of posing. From the days of film photography when options were more limited and the ‘safe shot’ ruled the day.

Documentary / reportage photography - strictly speaking, this means no involvement by the photographer in staging the photographs. The event happens while they react to it, without becoming part of it. A ‘fly-on-the-wall’ approach if you will.

Alternative Wedding Photography - a more recent term with a somewhat ambiguous meaning. Essentially it means ‘different to other wedding photography’, contrasting itself against the more traditional styles of wedding photography. Alternative wedding photographers are often pursuing a more artistic interpretation of the day, the compositions may be more ‘unusual’. the focal point of the photograph may be more unexpected, the shots may have a more abstract feel. The alternative photographer stylist is usually trying to tell the story of the wedding day by their own interpretation, giving a more atmosphere-driven feel, and a more thoughtful consideration of the maybe less obvious aspects of the wedding day. Pushing the boundaries of creativity in order to achieve something unique for the client.

Editorial Wedding Photography - think Vogue. High fashion. If you like being a model, this may be the style for you. Much more time is taken with the couple themselves, creating dynamic-looking poses and more considered positions. Looking for a more ‘chic’ aesthetic, the photographer takes a leading role in directing the couple on how to stand to fit the style they are looking for.

In reality, it’s rare for photographers to stick rigidly to one ‘style’ of photography, and most photographers will combine two or more of the different categories to achieve the desired results.

If you wanted me to pin down MY style of wedding photography?…I guess I would be a blend of CREATIVE/ DOCUMENTARY/ ALTERNATIVE styles. Unobtrusively documentary and relaxed in essence, with an alternative style and strong creative drive. And if that sounds like gobbledygook - just have a look through all my blog posts and portfolio - that will describe my style better than I ever could in words! :-)

How long do wedding photos take to get back?

Official answer? Up to about 12 weeks. Realistically it tends to be much quicker than that, but I won’t know how busy I’m going to be until close to the wedding so I’d rather not over-promise, but tell you a longer timeframe, then you bring a nice surprise if it’s earlier! I’ll always have a few sneak peeks for you to show off a day or two after the wedding then I will probably tease you with the odd photo or comedy out-take as I work on your edit - just to build the anticipation! ;-D

How to create a QR code for wedding photos?

Once your photographer delivers your gallery via an online link, you can generate a free QR code using any QR code tool (try QR Code Generator or Adobe Express). Pop it on a card at your reception so guests can access the gallery from their phones, handy if you want everyone to see the candid shots of Uncle Jim’s moves on the dancefloor. I deliver your images via an easy online gallery, so you'll have a shareable link ready to go as soon as your photos land.

How to BEST display wedding photos?

A quality wedding album is in my opinion still the classic, something physical you'll actually take out and look at. Beyond that, a large framed print of your favourite shot is hard to beat for the wall. Digital frames, canvas wraps, and gallery walls of smaller prints are all popular too. The main thing is not to leave them sitting in a folder on your laptop forever.

VIDEOGRAPHY QUESTIONS

How much is a wedding videographer?

Wedding videography in the UK generally runs from around £1,200 to £3,000+, with combined photography and videography packages often offering better value. Prices vary with experience, coverage length, and the style of edit. A short cinematic highlight film takes more skill (and time in the edit suite) than a raw recording of the ceremony. I offer my wedding highlights film package as an add-on to photography, a straightforward way to get both covered by one person who already knows your day inside out.

How to find a wedding videographer

Much like finding a photographer - Google, Instagram, venue recommendations, and word of mouth are your friends. Watch actual full films, not just trailers, to get a feel for style and pace. And if you're booking both a photographer and videographer, make sure they've worked together before or are comfortable doing so, a smooth team makes a big difference on the day. With me, that particular headache disappears entirely - I handle both myself, so there's no coordination needed and no risk of two strangers getting in each other's way.

What does a wedding videographer do?

A wedding videographer captures your day on film, from the quiet moments before the ceremony to speeches, first dances, and everything in between. They'll edit it into a polished film, usually a short highlight reel and sometimes a longer cut. Where photos freeze a moment, video catches the laughter, the vows, and the bit where your dad definitely cried. I bring the same creative eye to my filmmaking as my photography - so your highlight film will feel like a proper cinematic keepsake, not just a recording of the day.