Oxford Wedding Photographer Suggests 5 Tips to Save Money on Your Photography Budget in 2025

Introduction: Wedding Photography as a proportion of your budget

Introduction: Wedding Photography as a proportion of your budget

Your wedding day is one of the most important events in your life, and naturally, you want every moment captured perfectly. If you choose to use the services of a professional wedding photography company, it is important to understand how their pricing structure fits your overall budget.

I market myself as an affordable (not cheap) wedding photographer in the Oxford area and have calculated my rates to reflect the following three components:

TIME – not just on the wedding day itself, but time spent researching the venue, creating a schedule for the day with the bride & groom, travel and finally editing and post producing the files (this often takes considerably longer than taking the pictures themselves)

EQUIPMENT – two of everything in case one breaks down, cameras that automatically creates duplicate back up files in case of a card failing, a wide selection of high-quality lenses to achieve the best creative outcomes, professional standard off camera flash systems and any necessary legal paperwork such as Public Liability Insurance.

EXPERIENCE – the technical knowledge of how to use the equipment and the creative vision to arrange and compose your shots to produce beautiful images that tell the story of your big day. Having shot many, many weddings a professional will know how the day runs and how to go about managing the photography in a calm and organised way.

In a recent survey BRIDEBOOK calculated the average cost of a wedding in the UK in 2024 to be £20,775. Wedding photography accounted for around 7% of this figure (although my rates are closer to 5% of the total). For a product that will be looked at many, many times and will go on to form part of the fabric of your family’s story, this seems to me a reasonable investment.

Additionally, there are several strategies to help you manage your wedding photography budget without compromising on the quality of your photos. Below, we’ll explore five practical tips that could save money on your wedding photography in 2025.

Tip 1: Choose Off-Peak Wedding Seasons

Why Timing Matters for Wedding Photography Prices

One of the most effective ways to save money on your wedding photography is by choosing an off-peak wedding date. Peak wedding season typically spans from late spring through early autumn, with June, July, and September being the busiest months.

If you're flexible with your wedding date, you can take advantage of the off-peak rates which we at Daisy Daisy Photography (and many other wedding suppliers) offer.

The Best Months to Consider for Budget-Friendly Weddings are:

• January and February:

• November and December

• March and April:

By choosing one of these months, you might not be guaranteed the weather of the peak season (although we do live jn the UK…I have shot weddings with glorious sunshine in October and pouring rain in August) but at least you can theme your celebrations accordingly without fear of disappointment.

Tip 2: Choose a Weekday for your celebrations

Weekends will always be a premium time for wedding photographers. Since there are a finite number of weekends in a year, these times will always be more expensive.

Many photographers (including daisy daisy weddings)will offer discounts on early or mid-week bookings – as will many other wedding suppliers. If you are researching dates, it’s always worth asking if your photographer has such a discount scheme

Tip 3: Design & Print Your Own Wedding Book

There are some amazing online options for turning your digital files into printed albums. My own preferred provider is WHITEWALL who offer an enormous range of sizes, materials, colours and designs. The software they provide is a simple drag and drop system which is very intuitive to use. Many couples enjoy the process of editing and building the story of their day to create their own unique document.

Tip 4: How Much Photography Time Do You Need On Your Wedding Day?

To get the most out of your photographer's time, plan your wedding day schedule carefully. Consolidate important moments like family portraits, couple shots, cake cutting, first dance, speeches and group pictures into specific time blocks. For formal shots, make sure you produce a detailed list of the groupings required beforehand and task somebody who knows the family (ideally with a loud voice – teachers, policemen and members of the armed forces to the front of the queue) to round everybody up. A clear timeline ensures that your photographer can capture all the key moments without requiring extra hours.

Tip 5: Book your photographer early

Book as soon as you possibly can. Photographers will often have a discount for advanced bookings, which you can certainly take advantage of. Additionally, waiting until you are close to the big day runs the risk of your first choices not being available. Most popular professional photographers are booking 12-18 months in advance..

Conclusion: Making Your Wedding Photography Affordable

In 2025, you don’t have to overspend on wedding photography to capture beautiful memories. By following these tips—choosing an off-peak wedding date, designing your own wedding book, booking your photographer early and structuring the time that your photographer is booked for—you can save money without compromising on quality. Remember, the most important thing is that your photos reflect the joy and love of your special day, not the price tag.