Card machines for photographers

Take payments and deposits on location or in the studio - portable, professional, and with rates that suit your business.

Common challenges

  • Chasing bank transfers and late invoice payments
  • Need to take deposits on the spot at consultations
  • Working at venues with no reliable Wi-Fi
  • Want professional payment experience for premium clients
  • Transaction fees on larger payments add up

Published:

Recommended solutions

Shift4

Pax A800

Portable/countertop Android terminal with 5.7-inch touchscreen and Payment & POS functionality. Built-in Wi-Fi & 4G connectivity, along with thermal printing. Includes merchant branding on-screen, an intuitive over-the-phone payment flow, on-board POS features, and is configurable for full POS integration.

  • 5.7-inch HD touchscreen
  • Built-in printer
  • Wi-Fi & 4G
  • Contactless, Chip & Pin, over-the-phone
  • Fast contactless transacting
  • Integrates with its provider's own POS only
  • Android POS and payments
Contract
negotiable

Why photographers choose uno

Photographers work on location — weddings, events, portrait sessions - and often need to take deposits or final payments where there’s no shop counter and no Wi-Fi. A portable card machine means you get paid on the spot.

Get paid immediately

No more chasing bank transfers or waiting for invoices to clear. Take a deposit at the booking consultation and the balance on delivery - all on card.

Works anywhere

4G-connected terminals mean you can take payments at a wedding venue, an outdoor shoot, or a client’s home without needing their Wi-Fi.

Professional experience

Taking card payment on a proper terminal looks more professional than asking clients to transfer money or pay cash. It matches the premium service you deliver.

What you get from uno

  • A portable terminal for on-location and studio payments
  • Rates compared across multiple providers
  • 4G connectivity — no Wi-Fi dependency
  • Simple setup and ongoing support

Common questions from photography owners

Can I take a card deposit when a client books a photo shoot?

Yes. Process the deposit as a standard card transaction - in person, or over the phone using the MOTO function. Session fee on booking, remaining balance on delivery of prints or digital files. No invoicing, no chasing bank transfers.

I shoot on location - can I take payment at a wedding or event?

Yes. A portable terminal with 4G fits in your camera bag. If a client wants to pay the balance on the day, or someone at an event wants to book you on the spot, you can take payment wherever you are.

Wedding packages cost £1,000–£3,000 - are rates competitive on those amounts?

On a £2,000 wedding package, the difference between 1.25% (£25) and 1.69% (£33.80) is £8.80. Over a season of weddings, that's hundreds of pounds. We find the rate that works for your typical package values.

General questions about uno
Which card machine is right for my business?

It really does depend on how your business operates - there's no one 'best solution' for all, as a Fine Dining restaurant in Covent Garden has completely different operational requirements to a Market Trader in Glasgow's bustling Barras, or a Cardiff Arms Park pub. We make the effort to truly understand how your business actually operates - before recommending the best solution from a range of providers, not just one.

How much does a card machine cost?

It varies by provider and model. With some providers, your first card machine comes with no upfront cost, no monthly rental, and no per-transaction fees - so your only cost is the processing rate on each sale you make. Additional terminals - or those from other providers - may well carry rental or per-transaction fees. The exact cost depends on your terminal type, provider, and monthly card turnover. Because uno works across multiple providers, we compare the real-world, overall costs and then find the most competitive deal for your specific situation.

How long will it take for me to receive my takings?

We know for many UK independent businesses cashflow is a daily struggle. We can offer various options, with settlement times ranging next morning, to the full three days it takes providers to actually receive your customers money. Whatever your working requirements are, we'll find the ideal solution to match those needs.

Do all uno card machines accept contactless payments?

Yes. Every payment terminal we recommend accepts contactless payments, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and standard contactless cards. Contactless is now the default way most customers pay in the UK.

Will I be able to take 'over-the-phone' payments?

For most merchant-types this will be offered as a default payment option, available on-screen along with contactless and Chip & Pin. There are a small number of exceptional businesses operational-types where this is not the case - but for most, 'over-the-phone' payments will be offered as standard.

How can we process refunds?

Any terminal uno suggests would allow you to easily identify the original transaction. If still within the same day as the sale, then the transaction could then be 'voided'(aka 'reversed'). Voids/Reverses are typically instantaneous. However, if that trading day's 'banking window' had closed (typically at Midnight) then it would technically be classed as a 'refund' - which would then be subject to the bank's standard 3-5 day processing timeframe to complete.

Will we need to do complicated PCI compliance like we do with our current provider?

The great news for you is none of the providers uno works with have complicated anything! For those that require PCI of any sort at all, it really is a simple, painless process that just takes a few minutes per year!

Am I locked into a contract?

Not with every provider. Several of the solutions we offer have no long-term contract - you can switch or cancel without penalty. We'll always be upfront about contract terms before suggesting you commit to anything.

How long does it take to get set up?

Most businesses are up and running within a few days. We handle the supply, installation, and configuration so you can focus on serving your customers. We walk you through everything on-site - so you're confident from day one.

Why go through uno instead of going direct to a provider?

Going direct means you only see a single provider's products, at a single provider's prices. Because uno works across multiple providers, we can genuinely compare options and recommend the solution that suits your business - not just the only one we happen to sell! You also get a dedicated point of contact for ongoing support.

Ready to find the right card machine?

We make the effort to understand how your business works, and only then recommend the solution that genuinely fits - not the one with the biggest commission.

Get Started 07395 451520