Islington Town Hall Wedding Photographer from £350
A register office ceremony takes twenty to forty minutes, so I price it by the hour. Every frame edited, and your gallery online within 24 hours.
Islington Town Hall is the register office on Upper Street, in the middle of Islington. I've photographed more than ten weddings at Islington Town Hall.
A listed 1920s building with a stone front, a marble staircase and seven ceremony rooms, from a council chamber for eighty-five down to a suite for the two of you and two witnesses. Most of the rooms are small. That's why I price by the hour.
Flavia and Olivier
A small ceremony at the Town Hall for family and friends, then champagne at Le Café du Marché by Charterhouse Square.
It rained on and off all day. Between the showers I took the two of them round Smithfield Market for portraits, and they went back for dinner. That's a very Islington sort of wedding: a short ceremony, a short journey, and a long evening somewhere good.
The full story is on the blog: Flavia and Olivier's wedding at Islington Town Hall.
BarrieSeven rooms, four main sizes
Rooms are booked through the Islington and City of London Register Office, not through me. The numbers below are the register office's own maximums. One professional photographer doesn't count towards them in these four rooms.
The Council Chamber
The largest room, at the top of the marble staircase. Vaulted ceiling, stained glass and horseshoe seating, so nobody is far from you. 85 guests at weekends, 50 on weekdays.
The Richmond Suite
Oak panelling, a high ceiling and a proper aisle. Saturdays only, and not on the second Saturday of the month.
Room 99
The register office's most popular room. Parquet floor, chandeliers and big windows, so there's plenty of daylight to work with.
The Mayor's Parlour
Stained glass, red leather and a carved fireplace you say your vows in front of. Fridays and Saturdays only.
The Canonbury Suite and the Angel Suite take the two of you and two adult witnesses only. If you want a photographer there, the photographer has to be one of your two witnesses. The Statutory Room is the short legal ceremony for Islington and City of London residents.
How I photograph an Islington wedding
Documentary, for the most part. I don't direct the ceremony, move guests around or stop anything to fix the light. In a room for twenty, a photographer who takes charge becomes the event, so I stay out of the way and watch.
A simple ceremony here lasts about twenty minutes, and a fully personalised one up to forty. The registrar, the vows, the rings, the signing, then out to the front steps. None of it can be repeated, so I photograph it as it happens rather than asking you to do anything twice.
Then fifteen or twenty minutes of portraits, somewhere close, and you're back with your guests. That part is more editorial. It's short, and it's the part couples tend to frame.
Where to take portraits near the Town Hall
You don't need a car for good portraits in Islington. Most of it is within walking distance.
- Upper StreetRight outside the door. Shopfronts, buses and the bustle of a London high street, if you like a bit of city in your pictures.
- Canonbury squaresQuiet Georgian squares and terraces a short walk away, for something calmer and greener.
- Highbury FieldsOpen grass and big trees to the north. Worth it on a bright day if you've booked longer.
- Regent's CanalTowpaths, bridges and narrowboats to the south. Good for a relaxed walk with time to spare.
With one hour, I'd keep to the steps and Upper Street. With two or three, there's time to walk further. Flavia and Olivier went the other way, to Smithfield in the rain, and the picture here is from that evening.
Islington Town Hall wedding photography prices
Booked by the hour, which is what a register office wedding needs. One hour covers the ceremony and the steps. Two or three give you time for portraits and the start of your celebration.
The ceremony, the signing and the front steps.
- For elopements and small ceremonies
- Arrivals and the ceremony
- Signing the register
- Family and friends on the steps
- A few portraits outside
The ceremony plus a walk for portraits.
- Time to leave the Town Hall
- Everything in one hour
- Family groups kept short
- Portraits on Upper Street
- Or a walk to Canonbury
Arrival through to the start of your party.
- Room for a second location
- Everything in two hours
- Highbury Fields or the canal
- Drinks or lunch afterwards
- The first toast
Full-day London collections
If the ceremony is the start of a whole day, with a lunch, a dinner or a party, these are the same collections I offer for every London wedding.
Ceremony through to the speeches.
- For smaller weddings and daytime receptions
- The ceremony at the Town Hall
- Drinks and portraits
- Family groups kept short
- Dinner details and speeches
Preparations through to the first dance.
- The standard full London wedding day
- Getting ready
- Ceremony, drinks and portraits
- Dinner and speeches
- The first dance
Preparations through to the last dance.
- For big celebrations where nothing gets missed
- Everything in Classic
- Portraits at dusk
- The evening party
- An unhurried pace all day
A second photographer is £1,250 and albums are quoted separately. The full breakdown is on my London wedding photography prices page. Marrying at another register office? See Chelsea Old Town Hall and Old Marylebone Town Hall, see all my London register office weddings, or browse all the venues I photograph. Just the two of you? See elopement photography or micro weddings.
What couples say
A few words from couples I've photographed in London and beyond.
We had Barrie come by and photograph our civil ceremony / wedding registration at Old Marylebone Town Hall. We wanted it shot in an elopement style as it was just one of the many pre- weddings events …
Barrie was fab! He knew Old Marylebone Town Hall really well (even the registrars knew him). He made us feel comfortable and took us to really cute places to get some special shots. Would highly recom…
Barrie was the photographer for our civil wedding ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall and he was great! Professional, friendly and creative throughout the day. The photos are amazing, stylish and ple…
Barrie is incredible! He is a total pro and the best in the business! We love our photos so much. We got married at trading boundaries and he was the perfect photographer. So special. Thank you Barrie
Barrie was such a great photographer for our wedding from start to finish. He was so friendly and make us feel so calm and relaxed on our big day. The photos he took were amazing and we loved all of t…
Islington Town Hall questions
How many weddings have you photographed at Islington Town Hall?
More than ten. The Town Hall has seven ceremony rooms, from the Council Chamber for up to 85 guests down to suites for the two of you and two witnesses. Coverage starts from £350 for the ceremony hour, and your gallery is online within 24 hours. One of those weddings is on the blog: Flavia and Olivier, who went on to Le Café du Marché in Clerkenwell.
How much does an Islington Town Hall wedding photographer cost?
One hour is £350, two hours £550 and three hours £750. Every booking includes all images edited, an online gallery within 24 hours, high-resolution downloads and a shareable link. For a full day, my London collections are £1,350 for five hours, £1,800 for eight and £2,200 for eleven.
Which ceremony rooms are there?
Seven. The Council Chamber holds up to 85 guests at weekends and 50 on weekdays, the Richmond Suite 60, Room 99 takes 20 and the Mayor's Parlour 4. The Canonbury Suite and the Angel Suite take the couple and two adult witnesses only, and the Statutory Room is for Islington and City of London residents. Rooms are booked through the register office.
Can you photograph a ceremony in the Canonbury or Angel Suite?
Yes, but those two rooms only allow the couple and two adult witnesses, so the photographer has to count as one of your witnesses. In the Council Chamber, Richmond Suite, Room 99 and Mayor's Parlour, one professional photographer doesn't count towards the guest numbers.
How long is the ceremony?
About twenty minutes for a simple ceremony and up to forty for a fully personalised one with readings and music. One hour of photography covers the ceremony, the signing and the front steps comfortably.
Where are the best places for photos nearby?
The front steps first, then Upper Street right outside. Canonbury's squares and terraces are a short walk away, Highbury Fields is to the north, and Regent's Canal is to the south if you've booked two or three hours.
How quickly do the photos arrive?
Within 24 hours for weddings of up to five hours, which covers every hourly booking, and within a week for a full day. Everything comes in a private online gallery with high-resolution downloads.
How far ahead should I book?
Book your room with the register office first, then me. The register office is currently taking bookings to the end of 2027, and has said availability between January and March 2027 is limited because of building works. Send me your date as soon as the room is confirmed.
Getting married at Islington Town Hall?
Tell me your date and I'll let you know straight away whether I'm free. I read every enquiry myself.
Rather use the longer form? Head to the contact page
Barrie was the photographer for our late November wedding at the Old Marylebone Town Hall and we are absolutely delighted with the photographs. He was able to capture all the crucial moments before, d…