Summary
- Full-day wedding photography costs $2,500–6,000 (US) or £1,400–3,500 (UK).
- Editing takes two to three hours per hour shot and is inside the fee.
- Off-season and weekday dates can cut 15–30% off the same photographer.
- Albums, extra hours and travel are the most common add-ons.
- Review two complete galleries, not just highlight reels, before booking.
Quick answer
A full day of wedding photography costs $2,500–6,000 in the US and £1,400–3,500 in the UK with an experienced photographer. Half-day coverage starts around $1,200 or £700, and highly in-demand photographers in major cities run well above $8,000 or £5,000.
Typical packages in 2026
| Package | US | UK | Usually includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elopement / 2–3 hours | $700–1,600 | £400–900 | Ceremony and portraits, 100–200 edited images |
| Half day, 4–6 hours | $1,200–3,000 | £700–1,700 | Preparation to first dances, 300–500 images |
| Full day, 8–12 hours | $2,500–6,000 | £1,400–3,500 | Full coverage, 500–800 images, online gallery |
| Two photographers, full day | $4,000–9,000 | £2,200–5,000 | Two angles, faster group shots |
| Premium / destination | $8,000+ | £5,000+ | Multi-day, travel, album included |
Common extras
What drives the price
Questions to ask before booking
How to get the best value
Summary
Full-day wedding photography realistically costs $2,500–6,000 or £1,400–3,500 in 2026. The fee reflects shooting hours plus two to three times that in editing, so treat unusually cheap quotes as a signal to check the delivery timeline and the contract.
Frequently asked questions
wedding photographer
photography
wedding budget
photography packages