How Many Hours of Wedding Photography Coverage Do You Need?
After the date and the venue, one of the most common questions couples ask us is how many hours of photography they really need. The answer depends less on the size of your wedding and more on its shape: where you are getting ready, whether you plan a first look, how far apart your locations are and how long you want us to stay on the dance floor. Here is how we help couples decide.
What Six Hours Covers
Our starting package includes up to six hours of coverage, which comfortably captures the heart of most weddings: the final moments of getting ready, portraits, the ceremony, family photos and the key moments of the reception, from your grand entrance and first dance to the toasts.
A six-hour day might look something like this:
- 2:30 pm Final touches, details and getting ready
- 3:30 pm First look and couple portraits
- 4:30 pm Wedding party and family photos
- 5:30 pm Ceremony
- 6:00 pm Cocktail hour and remaining family photos
- 7:00 pm Grand entrance, first dance and toasts
- 8:30 pm Open dancing, until coverage ends
Why Most Couples Choose Eight Hours
Most of our couples add two hours, for eight in total. Those extra hours make room for the moments that often become favorites: the quiet anticipation while you get ready, the details laid out in the morning light and more of the celebration once the dance floor fills up. Eight hours also leaves breathing room in the schedule, so nothing feels rushed.
With eight hours, a day that begins with getting ready at a hotel, continues to a first look and ends with an evening of dancing can be told from beginning to end.
When Ten to Twelve Hours Makes Sense
Coverage can be extended up to twelve hours for full-day celebrations. Longer coverage is ideal when you are getting ready in one place and marrying in another, when your day includes traditions that span the morning and evening, or when you would love portraits around the city between the ceremony and the reception.
Do You Need a Second Photographer?
Hours tell only part of the story. For weddings with more than 100 guests, we highly recommend adding a second photographer. It allows us to be with both of you as you get ready, capture the ceremony from more than one angle and preserve more of the candid moments with your guests, especially once the celebration is in full swing.
How to Make Every Hour Count
- Consider a first look. Seeing each other before the ceremony lets us complete most portraits early, so you can enjoy your cocktail hour. We share more in three reasons to consider a first look.
- Plan around golden hour. Setting aside ten or fifteen minutes near sunset gives you some of the most beautiful light of the day.
- Keep locations close. Every minute spent traveling is a minute not being photographed, so nearby getting-ready and ceremony locations stretch your coverage further.
- Build in a buffer. Hair and makeup, family photos and transportation often run a little long. A few spare minutes keep the day relaxed.
- Save the best for the dance floor. If your friends and family love to celebrate, extra evening coverage is often worth it.
Still Deciding?
Every wedding is different, and we are always happy to help you map out your day before you decide. You can find more details about coverage, second photographers and pricing in our FAQs, or tell us about your plans and we will help you choose the coverage that fits your celebration.
