When it comes to big events, photography is king. But once you’ve had your fair share of fails and blurry event pictures, you’ll know that finding a great event photographer isn’t as easy as looking at a couple of sample photos.
Booking a photographer means finding a professional who actually gets you. It’s someone who knows how to work a room and deliver results that will simply blow you away.
After meeting eye-to-eye with countless photographers in London and interviewing clients, we finally have a list you can’t miss. Here are the only experts you need to hire for your event!
How much does it cost to hire a photographer in London?
The cost of hiring a photographer in London ranges from £1,900 to £2,100 for a full-day shoot. Hourly rates can range anywhere from £25 to £500, depending on the type of event, scale of the event, and number of photographers.
How we chose
- Portfolio and Specialisation: To assess technical skills, creativity, and quality consistency, we looked into each photographer’s portfolio. We also considered what each specialised in, such as weddings, commercial shots, or portraits.
- Pricing: We selected photographers who offer a transparent pricing structure, whether per hour or per package. Discounts are appreciated as well as favourable costs for additional editing and prints.
- Turnaround Times: Our team compared how long it typically took to receive the final images. We considered a quick turnaround that still maintains quality.
- Experience and Professionalism: We evaluated how long each photographer had been in the industry. But beyond years of work, we also looked into their attitude and problem-solving skills in high-pressure situations.
1. Karolina Heller Photography
Location: 81 King’s Rd
Contact: +44 7522 011306
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Except Friday)
Website
One of Karolina Photography’s strengths lies in her ability to customise each project. In fact, clients shared with us that she was able to meet all their demands and vision, despite booking specific packages.
Speaking of booking, our team agrees that their process is among the fastest and easiest we’ve encountered. Her availability is clear, and since she’s easy to reach on all channels (phone, email, website), it’s hassle-free to verify dates.
Another major benefit is her pricing and packages. In general, she can accommodate individuals, small groups, and large-scale commercial clients.
There are packages, but since rates are personalised, clients only have to pay based on the project details, something that many budget-conscious customers love.
Receiving photos can feel like a hit or miss, though, with a few reports of receiving the outputs late. Fortunately, considering every other turnaround, it is still a minor case.
Highly recommended
“I went to Karolina’s very spacious and relaxing studio in Chelsea. Her prices are very reasonable and my corporate photos came out better than I could’ve expected. The quick turnaround time for the photos was also much appreciated. Would highly recommend.”
Sean Spence | Google Reviews
Perfect and natural
“Working with Karolina was an ease and a delight. Her organizational skills, friendly and responsive communication and highly professional studio / shoot day experience made everything run so smoothly. The images delivered were perfect and natural. I recommend her without hesitation.”
Julie McCane | Google Reviews
2. Scalens Studio
Contact: +44 7835 025841
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Website
Scalens Studio stood out to us with their specialised packages that we simply couldn’t find anywhere else. For example, they have a luxury flying dress photoshoot, which puts the client in stunning flowing dresses across various landmarks in the city.
What surprised us is that they even offer photoshoots for online dating apps, complete with a prep Zoom call. Just these additions make them more compelling than the rest, which only offers what’s standard and expected.
Like most studios, they do offer a wide range of services from corporate packages to weddings. What makes them more impressive though is their fast response time, averaging between 30 minutes to an hour only.
However, a few clients have mixed reactions to the quality of photos, feeling disappointed with factors like lighting and framing. We advise relaying your preferences to the photographer to ensure you get the shots you really want.
Super friendly
“London is one of my favorite places in the world so I really wanted some professional photos taken on my most recent visit. I was not dissapointed. Domi is super friendly and fun to shoot with, me and my friend laughed a lot during our 2-hour shoot. Would highly recommend booking a shoot with her business.”
Tomas | Google Reviews
Wonderful and amazing service
“Wow. Wow. You have a rare gift. You’re able to see and do magic with your eye in photography. You gave us a wonderful adventure that we will be able to pass on to our families for generations to come. Till we meet again and have you do your magic. Your amazing.”
Sierra Nevada | Google Reviews
3. Events Photographer London
Location: 58 Fitzroy St
Contact: +44 20 3951 7175
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Website
With over 10 years of experience, this company has earned many clients for dependable photography services. They offer a wide range of options, from corporate photography to wedding photography.
What impressed us the most was the speed of the photo turnaround – for example, fully edited headshots can be delivered in as fast as 2 hours. For larger events like weddings or corporate parties, some clients noted that their full albums arrived the next day.
Pricing is also another strong suit here, with certain services costing far less than what competitors charge for. Plus, everything is customisable and flexible, so clients have a lot of freedom on their hands for their vision.
Just note that, like most studios with limited manpower, availability can be tough during peak seasons (e.g., June for weddings). You’ll likely have to book months in advance just to secure a date, which may limit options early on.
Absolutely amazing
“Absolutely amazing service. First time working with Nick and the team but will definitely work with them in the future. Great communication before the event. Captured the moment beautifully and delivered images less than 3 hours after the event.”
Alexandra Fuidge | Google Reviews
Great shots
“Nick photographed our conference this week. He took some great photos of our attendees networking (always hard to make crowded places with food and drink look good), great action shots of our speakers and some lovely photos of people together. Delivery of the photos were quick, we’re very happy!”
Varuni Fernando | Google Reviews
4. Serena Bolton Photography
Location: 144 Iffley Rd
Contact: +44 7415 792499
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Website
Serenea offers a wide range of photography services. From family portraits to weddings, booking this option makes it easy for clients to access multiple specialisations.
But what makes them better than others, in our opinion, is their comprehensive process. Theirs start with an initial consultation that really gets into the details – something that we find important to avoid unmet expectations.
Out of the many studios we’ve reviewed, they’re also the only ones with a fairly consistent workmanship. The quality of shots can be seen across their prints, with clients stating that all their requests have been met.
While the work is impressive, it’s crucial to note that their services are relatively pricier. We find that the results justify the prices, but we can also see how this can be a dealbreaker for most.
Smooth and stress-free
“I am really delighted with Serena’s professional photos as part of her Studio Headshot Photoshoot. The entire process was smooth and stress-free, she sets the perfect atmosphere and is clearly very skilled at her job. The photos look great and definitely provide the professional look we were going for. I couldn’t recommend Serena highly enough!”
Neruban Kumaran | Google Reviews
A pleasure to work with
“Serena was an absolute pleasure to work with during our corporate photoshoot. She created such a relaxed atmosphere that everyone felt completely at ease, which really showed in the photos. Her attention to detail and ability to capture the best moments made the experience truly enjoyable. We couldn’t be happier with the results and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented and professional photographer!”
Elisha London | Google Reviews
5. The Photo Team
Location: 3rd Floor, 207 Regent St.
Contact: +44 20 7859 4626
Website
We liked that The Photo Team offers different types of photography services, with a full team of trained photographers and videographers. Unlike other competitors, they don’t rely on freelancers, ensuring consistent quality at every job.
Because they have multiple professionals on board, they have better availability compared to others. Additionally, booking their services is fast and easy, with customer service representatives available for prompt responses.
When we timed their turnaround, we were impressed to find that they could deliver photos within 24 hours. The quality of the photos is also good, with options available in both colour and black-and-white (both or either).
The only downside is that their services are relatively expensive, though they’re not the priciest on this list. But if you’re willing to splurge a bit for quality and speed, they’re definitely a great choice.
Great to work with
“The Photo Team & Desmond were great to work with. They were really responsive in their communication and the photos for our company anniversary event turned out amazing. Our photographer Desmond was very professional and did a great job in capturing our event and delivering our photos really quickly. Would definitely work them again.”
Madeleine Foronda | Google Reviews
Fantastic and professional service
“The Photo Team were at my graduation at Westminster on 10th June. They were fantastic and made having my photograph taken fun! They took the time to make sure my gown would look perfect in the photographs too! Very professional service and I would 100% recommend them. Thank you for making my graduation even more great!”
Jen | Google Reviews
