Do wedding photographers give all photos? Spoiler: Nope

Q: Can I post the photos online?

Absolutely! They're your memories. All I ask is that you credit me (@emeraldphoto or link to my site) if you're sharing on social media—especially because I love seeing which ones you pick! 💚

(And that’s a good thing!)

do wedding photographers give all photos to the clients even the not perfect ones

Hey there, lovebirds!

If you’re deep into wedding planning mode, you’ve probably wondered at some point, “Do wedding photographers give all photos?” It’s a question that always pops up, and you might be surprised at the answer! But don’t worry—by the end of this blog, you’ll know exactly why wedding photographers don’t deliver every click, and you’ll be thankful for it. You’ll also feel confident chatting to your photographer about your expectations, ensuring you get the memories you want. Remember, understanding is key to a smoother experience. 💖

Let’s dive right in!

3 Honest Reasons Wedding Photographers Won’t Give You Every Single Photo

(And why you’ll love them for it)

When it comes to wedding photography, couples often think: “The more, the merrier!” But, honestly, delivering every shot taken isn’t just unrealistic—it’s actually not what you’d really want. Here’s why photographers are selective (trust me, it’s in your best interest):

➊ Quality Beats Quantity (Every. Single. Time.)

Let’s be real: your wedding photographer might take thousands (literally thousands!) of photos on your wedding day. But that doesn’t mean each snap is gold. Think blinking eyes, accidental photobombs, and Uncle Bob mid-sneeze. Yikes. 🙈

Instead of overwhelming you with every photo, we carefully pick the ones that genuinely tell your story. Think about it this way:

Would you rather scroll through all the raw 1500-2000 (or even more) photos, many looking nearly identical, or have 400-800 beautifully curated, edited images?
Quality images let you relive real emotions, not awkward bloopers!

bride is getting ready with beautiful lights at Folly Farm perfectly shows quality over quantity

➋ The Editing (Edited vs Unedited Photos)

Editing is the secret sauce that makes good photos great. When people ask “Do wedding photographers edit all photos?”—the simple answer is yes, every photo you receive is professionally edited. But we don’t edit every single image snapped during your day. Why?

Editing takes a lot of time—hours of meticulous care go into adjusting colour, brightness, removing distractions, and perfecting skin tones.
Raw, unedited photography lacks the warmth, mood, and style you fell in love with in your photographer’s portfolio.
Believe me, seeing an edited vs unedited photos comparison will blow your mind. It’s like day and night! 🌞🌜

➌ Storytelling That Actually Makes Sense

You want your wedding photos to feel like a beautifully narrated story, right? Good photographers tell stories by selecting images carefully:

No repetition, just your story unfolding moment by moment.
Photos flow seamlessly, creating a memorable viewing experience.
It helps you emotionally connect with each moment.

Instead of 20 nearly identical photos of your first kiss, you’ll get 2-3 breathtaking shots. Simple yet powerful storytelling is key!

wedding photos to feel like a beautifully narrated story of your wedding day

wedding photography with an american and mexican wedding couple on a destination wedding in the UK

How Getting Fewer Photos Means Better Memories

(Seriously!)

When you’re wondering, “how many photos should you get from a wedding photographer?” or even “how many photos do you get from a wedding photographer?”, here’s what’s realistic and helpful:

Typically, photographers deliver around 400-800 photos for a full-day wedding coverage (think: roughly 6-10 hours).
The exact number depends on how long your photographer stays, the number of guests, and your wedding’s structure. Smaller weddings might yield fewer photos, larger events more.
Trust the process—more photos doesn’t necessarily mean better memories.

What Actually Happens to All Those Unseen Wedding Photos?

This is the biggie: those thousands of unused, unedited photos—what happens to them, and how long do wedding photographers keep photos?

Well, usually photographers archive your unedited photos for a certain period (typically about a year, sometimes more). After that, they’re often deleted to free up storage space.

Photographers keep these as backups in case you have special requests, or something unexpected happens to your delivered images.
After a reasonable period, photographers remove these unedited photos—because trust me, nobody needs that shot of Aunt Marge yawning mid-ceremony!

💡 Pro tip: How long do wedding photographers keep photos?

Always ask your photographer about their specific policy if this concerns you. Transparency is everything!

💡 Can you ask photographer for unedited photos?

Short answer: You can ask, but expect them to politely decline. The reason? Unedited photos simply aren’t finished products—they don’t represent their artistic style or your memories properly.

beautifully edited bridal wedding portrait with an artistic atwist

#1: The Awkward Outtakes (You’re Welcome!)

Trust me, as your photographer, it’s my job to spare you:

Half-closed eyes
Funny mid-conversation faces
That one relative dancing like no one’s watching (and maybe no one should 🤣)

I promise—your wedding memories are better without them!

#2: Less Really is More—Why Quality Beats Quantity Every Time

Less overwhelm, more genuine memories:

Easier to select favourites for prints and albums.
You’ll cherish each delivered photo more.
Quality photos will beautifully fill your wedding photo album and wall frames—no filler shots required!

wedding portraits on the top of the mountain at blue hour with a beautiful afghan bride

#3: Trusting Your Photographer’s Eye (It’s Why You Hired Them!)

You chose your photographer because you love their style. Remember:

Trust their expertise in curating and editing images.
You’ll get photographs that perfectly match the portfolio style you initially chose.
Trust = amazing results. Simple as that!

winter wedding with beautiful candid moments changing between the couple at Folly Farm, Bristol

Quick Recap & Takeaways
do wedding photographers give all photos

Alright, friend, let’s quickly sum up what we’ve learned today:

Wedding photographers don’t typically give every single photo (and it’s truly a good thing!)
Expect around 400-800 carefully edited, curated images for a full wedding day.
You don’t really want unedited photos (edited vs unedited photos are worlds apart!)
It’s normal—and preferable—to trust your photographer’s professional judgment.

FAQs: All the Things You’re Dying to Know

(But maybe felt awkward asking)

Nope—and I promise, that’s actually a blessing in disguise! While I do take hundreds or even thousands of photos on your wedding day, not every image makes the final cut. Why? Because you don’t need 47 versions of the same group photo or that one where everyone’s blinking in sync. I carefully choose the best, edit them to match the vibe and emotion of your day, and deliver a story you’ll actually want to relive.

Great question! For a full-day wedding (think 6–10 hours), you can typically expect 400 to 800 edited images. Every wedding is unique, so it might be a bit more or a bit less depending on what’s happening throughout the day (and how wild the dance floor gets 🎉).

I totally get the curiosity—but generally, the answer is no. Unedited photos (also called RAW files) are like half-baked cookies: they’re not quite ready to be served. They lack the color, emotion, and sparkle you see in my final galleries. Also, they don’t reflect my style or storytelling approach. So while you can ask, most professional photographers (including me!) don’t share unedited photography.

Yes! All the photos you receive go through a careful editing process—colour correction, lighting, cropping, and a little extra magic to make them shine. I don’t edit every photo taken on the day (because, again, you don’t want the ones where someone’s mid-chew), but I absolutely do edit every photo I deliver to you.

Policies vary, but I typically keep your edited gallery online for a full year. I also store the unedited files (just in case!) for a few months after your wedding. After that, I clear up space. So make sure you download and back up your gallery once you get it—it’s your treasure trove!

Think of edited photos as the polished final version of your story—clear, beautiful, emotional. Unedited photos can look flat, dark, overly bright, or just not quite you. That’s why unedited photos rarely leave my hard drive. The editing process brings out the heart of each moment—that’s where the magic happens.

This varies by photographer and package, but industry standard is anywhere from 300 to 800 images. For my 6-hour coverage, it’s usually 250-300, all fully edited and ready to make you smile, cry, and want to do it all over again.

I get it—you want to make sure nothing is missed! But trust me, choosing from thousands of raw, unedited shots is not as fun as it sounds. Part of my job is curating the very best for you so you’re not overwhelmed. It’s like a chef cooking the perfect meal—you wouldn’t ask them for the raw ingredients, right? 😉

If there’s something specific you’re wondering about (like “Hey, was there a group shot with my uni mates?”), always feel free to ask. If it exists and it’s in good shape, I’ll happily include it. But I won’t share everything, especially the unedited shots or ones that didn’t make the cut for a good reason.

Absolutely! They’re your memories. All I ask is that you credit me (@emeraldphoto or link to my site) if you’re sharing on social media—especially because I love seeing which ones you pick! 💚

A romantic outdoor wedding captured in black and white, with a couple surrounded by blurred guests.

READY TO

Get wedding photos you’ll fall madly in Love with?

If this all sounds like exactly what you want—photos filled with genuine moments, beautifully edited and selected just for you—I’d love to connect!

Let’s have a relaxed, no-pressure chat about your wedding photography needs. Simply hit the contact button, send me a message, and we’ll set up a coffee date!

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Still exploring? No worries! 💕

If you’re not quite ready to jump in yet, that’s totally fine! Why not join me on Instagram or Facebook to see more beautiful weddings, behind-the-scenes fun, and some cheeky outtakes too? Let’s connect, and you can reach out whenever you feel ready!