Best Wedding Photographers in Wellington
We assessed 47 wedding photographers in Wellington and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 841 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 30 August 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
No licence or register covers photographers in New Zealand and accreditation with the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography is voluntary, so the contract does the work: get hours of coverage, edited-image count, delivery date, and deposit and cancellation terms in writing. Under the Copyright Act 1994 the couple who commissions and pays for the photographs owns the copyright by default unless the contract says otherwise, so read that clause before signing rather than assuming the photographer holds it. A 5.0 rating is common in this category, so weigh review count and how recent the reviews are, and ask to see two or three complete wedding galleries rather than a highlights page.
Top 5 Wedding Photographers in Wellington
The top 5 wedding photographers in Wellington are #1 Angela Vidal Photography, #2 Jo Moore Photographer, #3 Patina, #4 Billie Brook Photography, and #5 Tabitha Arthur Photography, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.
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1
Angela Vidal Photography
↑ 2★ 5.0 182 reviews Top5 Score 1685★ 179 4★ 2 3★ 1Angela Vidal Photography draws clients returning for maternity shoots, newborn sessions, and family portraits, with Angela known for mapping out poses and colour themes in advance so sessions run smoothly from the first moment. She helps clients prepare well before arrival, including outfit coordination and makeup artist recommendations, so people who describe themselves as awkward in front of a camera come away with shots they love.
location_on Redwood Avenue, Tawa, Wellington
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2
Jo Moore Photographer
↑ 3★ 5.0 99 reviews Top5 Score 1605★ 99Jo Moore Photographer covers weddings from pre-wedding test shoots through to ceremony and candid reception moments, with couples noting she blends into the crowd during dinner to capture guests naturally. She takes time before the big day to understand exactly what a couple wants, then works the light and location on the day to get the most out of both.
location_on 127 Mairangi Road, Wilton, Wellington
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3
Patina Photo + Video // Wellington Wedding Photographer
↑ 3★ 5.0 96 reviews Top5 Score 1595★ 96Patina coordinates the full wedding day picture, from scouting locations and refining run-sheets months out, to shooting ceremony, couple portraits, and candid reception moments on the day itself. Michelle and Hemi are known for drawing out genuinely relaxed expressions from couples who describe themselves as camera-shy, with multiple reviewers noting their guests kept asking if the photographers were personal friends.
location_on 21 Eruera Love Lane, Waterloo, Wellington
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4
Billie Brook Photography
↑ 3★ 5.0 77 reviews Top5 Score 1575★ 77Billie Brook Photography gets couples through full wedding days, capturing stolen glances, candid guest moments, and formal portraits without people noticing the camera is there. Billie is known for stepping in practically when needed, from guiding the day's flow to fixing a veil mid-shoot, while keeping the atmosphere relaxed enough that guests routinely ask how to book her themselves.
location_on Little White Studio 98 Karori Road, Karori, Wellington
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5
Tabitha Arthur Photography
↑ 3★ 5.0 76 reviews Top5 Score 1565★ 75 4★ 1Tabitha Arthur Photography works best for people who dread being photographed, turning headshots, personal branding sessions, and portraiture into experiences clients describe as genuinely fun rather than uncomfortable. A structured onboarding process means clients arrive knowing exactly what to expect, and a viewing session afterward lets them choose from galleries large enough that narrowing down becomes the hardest part.
location_on 33 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Before you book a wedding photographer in Wellington
Drawn from 811 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does a wedding photographer typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more
Full-day wedding photography in New Zealand runs from $2,500 to $5,500 NZD for 8 to 10 hours of coverage, with most mid-range photographers sitting between $3,000 and $4,000. Hourly bookings, where offered, cost roughly $250 to $450 per hour, which suits elopements or short ceremonies but rarely covers a full reception.
Adding a second shooter costs an extra $500 to $1,200, and a printed album is quoted separately at $500 to $1,500 depending on size and finish. A deposit of 20 to 50 percent is standard to lock in your date, with the balance due before or on the day, so budget for that upfront commitment well ahead of the wedding.
Who owns my wedding photos, and what protects me if the photographer does not deliver? expand_more
Under section 21(3) of the Copyright Act 1994, you own the copyright to your wedding photos by default because you commissioned and paid for them, but many photographers include a clause in their contracts to override this and retain copyright for themselves, which is legally permissible. Read any contract before you sign to confirm who holds copyright and whether you are free to print and share images without paying extra.
Wedding photography is unregulated in New Zealand: there is no licensing body and no mandatory register, and membership of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography is voluntary, so a contract is your main protection. The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 requires the photographer to deliver work with reasonable care and skill, and the Fair Trading Act 1986 requires that cancellation and refund terms be clearly stated before you sign; if a photographer fails to deliver, the Disputes Tribunal can hear claims up to $60,000.
How do I tell wedding photographers apart when so many of them carry a 5.0 rating? expand_more
A 5.0 rating is almost universal in this category because couples rarely review their own wedding negatively, so the score alone tells you nothing useful. What separates photographers is review volume, how recent those reviews are, and whether reviewers describe receiving a full delivered gallery from a complete wedding day rather than a short portrait session. Ask to see two or three complete wedding galleries, meaning every image delivered from one wedding, not a curated highlights page, and make sure they were shot at a similar venue and in similar light to yours.
What are the warning signs of a wedding photographer you should not book? expand_more
- –A portfolio that shows only a highlights page with no full wedding gallery available to view on request.
- –No written contract before the deposit is paid, or copyright and printing fees introduced after delivery that were never mentioned upfront.
- –Vague or verbal promises about edited image counts and delivery dates, with nothing confirmed in writing.
- –A different photographer arriving on the day than the one you met and agreed to book.
- –A deposit kept in full after cancellation on terms that were never clearly set out in the contract before you signed.
- –A pattern of going quiet after the wedding, with the gallery arriving months late or not at all.
What should you ask before booking a wedding photographer? expand_more
- –Ask exactly how many hours the package covers, which parts of the day are included, and what overtime costs beyond that.
- –Confirm who will shoot the day and what their backup plan is if they are ill or unable to attend.
- –Get the edited image count and the full gallery delivery date in writing before signing anything.
- –Ask what the contract says about copyright: under the Copyright Act 1994 you own copyright by default, but a contract clause can transfer it to the photographer, so find out whether printing and sharing are restricted.
- –Clarify the deposit amount, when the balance is due, and what is refundable if either side cancels.
- –Ask how many weddings they shot last season and check that reviews are recent and describe full wedding days rather than short portrait sessions.
Also recommended wedding photographers in Wellington
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Milestone Photography
↑ 3★ 5.0 74 reviews Top5 Score 1565★ 74Milestone Photography draws clients back across maternity shoots, newborn sessions, and family portraits, with Maddie known for putting camera-shy and anxious clients so at ease that they describe handing over full creative control without hesitation. She travels to clients at home when that helps, keeps communication prompt from the first enquiry, and turns around galleries large enough that choosing favourites becomes the main challenge.
location_on 13 Hibiscus Grove, Maungaraki, Lower Hutt
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7
Yvonne Liew Photography
↑ 3★ 5.0 70 reviews Top5 Score 1555★ 70Yvonne Liew Photography works across full wedding days, engagement shoots, and multi-day celebrations, with Yvonne known for disappearing into the background so completely that couples report having no memory of her being nearby when key moments were captured. She also steps into day-of logistics, helping with timelines, liaising with MCs, and even producing a sewing kit when things go sideways.
location_on Versailles Street, Karori, Wellington
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8
Benjamin and Elise Photography
★ 5.0 54 reviews Top5 Score 1525★ 54Benjamin and Elise Photography covers weddings, elopements, and ceremonies across New Zealand, with Benjamin known for a candid approach that captures genuine moments without couples feeling posed or directed. He consults virtually before the day to understand exactly what couples want, then adapts on the day, including stepping in at four hours' notice when another photographer fell through.
location_on Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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9
Stacey Lake Photography
★ 4.9 59 reviews Top5 Score 1515★ 57 4★ 1 3★ 1Stacey Lake Photography draws families back for maternity, newborn, and milestone sessions, with Stacey known for keeping unsettled babies and uncooperative toddlers calm enough to capture genuinely beautiful shots. Clients who arrive anxious about whether their child will cooperate leave with photos they describe as treasures, often booking again for the next milestone.
location_on Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt
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10
KK PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
★ 4.9 54 reviews Top5 Score 1505★ 52 4★ 1 1★ 1KK Productions pairs wedding photography with cinematic videography, including highlight reels, so couples walk away with a full visual story of their day rather than stills alone. Karan and the team are known for working patiently through revisions until the final cuts match exactly what couples had in mind, and for pricing that multiple reviewers describe as genuinely reasonable for Wellington.
location_on 2/33 Godley Street, Waterloo, Lower Hutt
About this ranking
What the 10 wedding photographers listed above hold, at the 30 August 2026 check.
We first assessed wedding photographers in Wellington in August 2026. Across the 11 locations we assess wedding photographers in, the 99 businesses listed have a median rating of 5.0, and one-star reviews are 0.1% of their total.
How are the top wedding photographers in Wellington chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for wedding photographers in Wellington. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for wedding photographers in Wellington. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.