How Much Does A Wedding Photographer Cost in Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire?
How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost in Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire?
Planning a wedding involves making a lot of decisions, and sooner or later most couples arrive at the same question:
How much should we actually spend on our wedding photographer?
The slightly frustrating answer is that there isn’t one single price that is right for every wedding.
Wedding photography prices can vary considerably depending on the photographer’s experience, how long they are with you, what is included, whether you want extras such as an engagement session or album, and the type of photography experience you are looking for.
If you are planning a wedding in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire or the surrounding areas, this guide will help you understand what you are actually paying for and what to look for when comparing wedding photography packages.
Updated for couples planning weddings in 2027.
How Much Should You Budget for a Wedding Photographer?
There is no magic figure that every couple should spend.
You will find photographers offering very short coverage for relatively small amounts and others offering extensive collections costing several thousand pounds.
The important thing is to compare what you are actually receiving rather than simply comparing the final price.
Two photographers might both describe something as “full-day wedding photography”, while one could mean eight hours and another could mean twelve.
One package might include an engagement session, album, second photographer or evening coverage while another includes photography alone.
My advice is to start by thinking about the parts of your wedding day you want photographed.
Do you want the story to begin with the excitement and nerves of getting ready?
Would you like photographs of your guests arriving?
Do you want the photographer to stay through the speeches?
First dance?
Evening celebrations?
Once you know the story you want captured, comparing packages becomes much easier.
What Are You Actually Paying a Wedding Photographer For?
It is easy to look at wedding photography and think:
“The photographer is only there for eight or ten hours.”
In reality, photographing the wedding itself is just one part of the job.
Planning Before Your Wedding
A good photographer should start working with you well before the wedding day.
That may include conversations about your plans, understanding the venue, discussing timings, preparing family group photographs and learning which people and moments are especially important to you.
I want to know enough about your wedding that when the day arrives, you don't have to spend your time worrying about the photography.
You should be enjoying your wedding.
Photographing the Wedding Day
This is the part you actually see.
I work primarily in a relaxed documentary style, capturing what is happening naturally rather than constantly stopping the day and turning it into a photoshoot.
That includes the obvious moments such as the ceremony, first kiss and first dance, but also the little things happening around you.
A parent's reaction.
A child doing something hilarious during the ceremony.
Friends laughing together.
A nervous glance before walking down the aisle.
The moment your grandparents hit the dance floor.
Often these unscripted moments become some of the photographs couples value most.
Editing Your Wedding Photographs
The work doesn't finish when I put the cameras away.
Your photographs then need to be backed up, reviewed, selected and individually edited before your completed wedding gallery is created.
A wedding can produce thousands of photographs.
Part of professional wedding photography is deciding which frames best tell the story and then carefully editing those photographs so the finished gallery feels consistent from the preparations through to the evening celebrations.
Professional Equipment and Backups
Weddings don't have a rewind button.
Professional photographers invest heavily in cameras, lenses, lighting, memory cards, computer equipment, storage and backup systems.
I also photograph weddings with professional equipment and backup options because if something unexpected happens to a camera or piece of equipment, the wedding still needs to be photographed.
This is one of those parts of professional photography you hopefully never have to think about on your wedding day — because your photographer already has.
What Do My Wedding Photography Collections Cost?
My full-day wedding photography collections currently start from £1,295.
There are three main options depending on how much coverage and what extras you would like.
Simplicity Collection — From £1,295
This is designed for couples who want the important story of their wedding professionally photographed while keeping things straightforward.
It includes up to eight hours of coverage, natural documentary-style photography, couple portraits, family photographs, candid guest moments, professionally edited high-resolution photographs and your own private online wedding gallery.
For many couples, eight hours can cover the journey from preparations through the ceremony, reception and into some of the evening celebrations.
Bride looking at her self in mirror Guest laughing Sunset wedding portrait sunset cuddles first dance wedding kiss
Classic Collection — From £1,595
The Classic Collection adds additional coverage into the evening along with an engagement session and additional focus on details, venue styling and guest reactions.
An engagement session isn't simply an opportunity to get some nice photographs before the wedding.
It can also be really useful if you're nervous about being photographed.
We get to spend some time together without the pressure of the wedding day and you quickly discover that you don't need to know how to pose.
That's my job.
Your job is simply to be yourselves.
Heirloom Collection — From £1,995
The Heirloom Collection is designed for couples wanting a more complete photography experience and something physical to keep afterwards.
Alongside the photography coverage, it includes additional planning, a keepsake option, luxury album design consultation, a handcrafted wedding album, priority editing where possible, a live gallery during the reception and a ceremony film.
Your wedding gallery is wonderful for viewing and sharing your photographs, but there is still something special about holding a properly made wedding album and looking through it years later.
For the most up-to-date package details, always check my Wedding Photography Investment page.
Why Do Wedding Photographer Prices Vary So Much?
Wedding photography isn't a product manufactured identically by every supplier.
You are partly choosing a service, but you're also choosing a person and their experience, approach and style.
Several things can influence the price.
Experience
An experienced wedding photographer has usually dealt with a huge range of situations.
Rain.
Dark churches.
Bright sunshine.
Late-running ceremonies.
Changes to the schedule.
Nervous couples.
Huge family groups.
Very enthusiastic people on the dance floor.
Experience doesn't mean nothing unexpected will happen.
It means your photographer is much more likely to know what to do when it does.
Hours of Coverage
More hours naturally mean more photography and more images to edit afterwards.
Think about when you genuinely want your photographic story to start and finish rather than automatically choosing the package with the most hours.
A Second Photographer
A second photographer can be useful for larger weddings, weddings taking place across several locations or when both partners would like their preparations photographed simultaneously.
It can also give you another perspective during important parts of the day.
It isn't essential for every wedding, however.
I would rather advise you based on your actual plans than tell every couple they need one.
Albums and Printed Products
Some packages include digital photographs only while others include albums, prints or keepsake boxes.
Make sure you know what is included when comparing prices.
Photography and Videography
Photography and video are different ways of remembering the same day.
Some couples only want photographs. Others love the idea of hearing their vows, speeches and laughter again as well as seeing them in photographs.
I offer wedding videography options alongside photography for couples who would like both.
Is a Cheaper Wedding Photographer Always a Bad Choice?
No.
Everyone starts somewhere, and there are talented photographers building their experience who may charge less.
Likewise, a higher price alone doesn't automatically mean a particular photographer is the right person for you.
The important thing is understanding why somebody costs what they do.
Look at complete wedding galleries rather than just a handful of favourite photographs on Instagram.
Can they photograph indoors?
Can they photograph in poor weather?
Can they handle dark evening receptions?
Do skin tones and colours look consistent?
Do the people in the photographs look comfortable?
Most importantly:
Do you actually like how the photographs make you feel?
Don't Choose Your Photographer Based Only on the Number of Images
One photographer might promise 400 photographs and another might promise 800.
That doesn't automatically make 800 better.
I would much rather give you a carefully selected gallery that tells the complete story of the day than dozens of almost identical photographs simply to increase a number.
Think quality, consistency and storytelling rather than purely quantity.
Your final gallery should take you back through your wedding and remind you not only what everything looked like, but how the day felt.
What Should Be Included in a Wedding Photography Package?
Before booking, I would recommend checking whether the photographer includes:
Hours of coverage
Make sure you know when the photographer is expected to arrive and leave.
Professionally edited photographs
Check whether your final images are individually edited and approximately how they will be delivered.
Online gallery
Private online galleries make it easy to view and share your wedding photographs with family and friends.
High-resolution files
Check whether you receive high-resolution photographs suitable for your own printing and personal use.
Pre-wedding planning
Your photographer should understand the schedule and important people before arriving on the day.
Travel
Check whether travelling to your venue is included or charged separately.
My collections currently include travel within 50 miles of South Normanton, with any additional travel discussed in advance.
Backup equipment
Ask what happens if a camera fails.
It's a perfectly reasonable question.
Insurance
Professional wedding suppliers should have appropriate insurance in place.
Are Engagement Sessions Worth Paying For?
For couples who feel uncomfortable in front of a camera, I think they can be particularly useful.
An engagement session gives us time to get used to working together without a wedding-day timetable ticking away in the background.
You discover how little posing is actually involved in my approach.
By the time the wedding arrives, seeing me with the camera already feels familiar.
And of course, you also get a lovely set of photographs of the two of you without wedding outfits involved.
Do You Need to Spend Thousands on Wedding Photography?
Not necessarily.
You need to spend an amount you're comfortable with on a photographer whose work and approach you trust.
I'd always encourage couples to consider what matters most to them.
Flowers eventually fade.
The cake gets eaten.
The decorations come down.
But your wedding photographs are one of the few things that become more important as time passes.
They aren't simply photographs for social media the week after the wedding.
They become photographs of parents, grandparents, siblings and friends.
They become part of your family's history.
That is why choosing the right photographer matters more than simply finding the lowest number on a price list.
How Can You Compare Wedding Photographers Fairly?
When you're looking at different photographers, compare:
Their photography style
Full galleries rather than highlights alone
How many hours of coverage are included
Their experience
Reviews from previous couples
What is included in the package
Whether albums or engagement sessions are included
Additional costs
Their backup equipment and processes
How comfortable you feel talking to them
That final point is important.
Your photographer is going to be around you during some emotional, personal and occasionally chaotic parts of your wedding.
You should actually like having them there.
My Approach to Wedding Photography
I photograph weddings in a relaxed, documentary style.
For most of your day, I want you to forget about me and enjoy yourselves.
I'm watching for real moments, reactions and interactions rather than constantly asking people to perform for the camera.
When some direction is useful — particularly for your couple photographs and family groups — I'll provide it.
You won't be abandoned in front of the camera wondering what to do with your hands.
But equally, I don't want your wedding to turn into an all-day photoshoot.
Your wedding is there to be enjoyed.
My job is to make sure you have photographs that allow you to experience it all over again afterwards.
Wedding Photography Prices: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Ian Petrie Photography cost?
My full-day wedding photography collections currently start from £1,295, with additional collections and optional extras available depending on the coverage you'd like.
For current prices and inclusions, please visit my Wedding Photography Investment page.
Do you photograph weddings outside Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire?
Yes.
I'm based in South Normanton and regularly photograph weddings across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the surrounding areas, such as East Midlands and South Yorkshire, and I'm happy to travel further for weddings too.
How much deposit is required to book?
A £250 booking payment secures your wedding date.
Once your date is secured, we can start planning everything together.
Can we spread the cost?
Yes.
Flexible payment options are available so you can spread the cost of your wedding photography in the run-up to the wedding.
Do you offer shorter wedding photography coverage?
If you're planning a smaller or more intimate wedding, get in touch and tell me what you have planned.
Not every wedding needs the same amount of photography coverage, so we can discuss what would work best.
Do you offer photography and videography?
Yes.
Videography options are available alongside my wedding photography collections for couples who would like both photographs and film from their day.
Ready to Talk About Your Wedding?
If you're planning your wedding in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire or further afield and you're looking for natural, relaxed photography without spending your wedding day posing for the camera, I'd love to hear what you're planning.
Tell me your wedding date, venue and a little about the day you're creating, and I'll personally check my availability.
Or take a look through my current wedding photography collections:
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