Wedding photography timeline - Ideal times for your photography
There are ideal time frames you should consider when planning your wedding day. Some of these times may seem long on paper but keep in mind that 1) your day will fly by, 2) most weddings run slightly behind schedule, and 3) we’ll make these photo sessions fun, so it won’t seem like a long time.
DRESS, RINGS, SHOES, AND OTHER DETAILS
Ideal Time Allotment – 15-20 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite
Having at least 15-20 minutes for details provides us with a great opportunity to capture your pretty details such as your dress, rings, shoes, bouquets, and the other details of the day.
There are times when a hotel room is too crowded or simply unappealing; we have to take the dress all the way down to the lobby or even outside. This can take some time, but as you can see from the results, it’s well worth the additional work.
PREPARATION
Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite
Advice – Having 30 mins of preparation is ideal for our style. During this time, we are getting close ups of the makeup and hair being applied as well as the candid moments and the bridesmaids and groomsmen get ready for the day.
The lead shooter will be with the bride while the second shooter will be with the groom. We realize it doesn’t take the guys 30 mins to get dressed, there are a lot still of moments during this time between the groom and his family and friends
FIRST LOOK AND DAYTIME COUPLE SESSION
Ideal Time Allotment – 30-45 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location – Venue Garden, Empty Venue Hallway (shaded areas with natural light)
Advice – The first look should be around 30-45 minutes. During this time, the bride and groom enjoy seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day. While the actual first look might only be 5-10 minutes, the rest of the time is spent on a few portraits of the bride and groom.
Ideally, we are saving the bulk of the couple’s session for later (see the “couples session” section below). However, if there is no other time in the day, it is best to allocate another 30-45 minutes here so that we make sure we have enough photos of just you two.
INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS
Ideal Time Allotment – 20 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite, Hotel Suite, Venue Lobby, or Venue Garden
Advice – Right after prep is the best time for individual portraits of the bride and groom (separately). The window lighting in most hotel rooms creates an amazing look that can’t be duplicated in any environment throughout the rest of the day.
WEDDING PARTY PHOTOS
Ideal Time Allotment – 20-30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Afternoon
Ideal Location — Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location
Advice – Wedding Party Photos should be around 20-30 minutes. During this time, we get a variation of photos. We usually start off with the basic classic photos.
Then we move into a set of fun and creative shots. Finally, we know how much your wedding party means to you, so we are sure to get pictures with you and each one of your bridesmaids or groomsmen individually.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY
Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Afternoon
Ideal Location - Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location
Advice – Immediate Family Photos should take another 30 minutes. It’s important to have additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings beyond the basic formal (mentioned in the section below).
Plan on 3-4 minutes per group on average. For example, if you have 10 groups, schedule in a 30-40 minute time slot.
CEREMONY DETAILS AND VENUE
Advice – Please allow 10-15 minutes for the second shooter to take pictures of the ceremony site, completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area.
Ideal Time Allotment – 10-15 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Afternoon
Ideal Location -Ceremony Site
FORMALS (EXTENDED FAMILY, IMMEDIATE FAMILY, FAMILY AND FRIENDS)
Ideal Time Allotment – 30-40 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Afternoon (Post Ceremony)
Ideal Location – Ceremony Site
Advice – Formals should take around 30 minutes to 40 minutes depending on the size of your family and the number of guests.
Plan on 3-4 minutes per group on average. For example, if you have 10 groups, schedule in a 30-40 minute time slot.
Some couples have decided that they want a picture with all guests while others have decided that they only want pictures with select VIPs to save time. We recommend something in between.
We also recommend being very organized, with a list of groups and helpers from each side of the family to help round people up.
COUPLE SESSION
Ideal Time Allotment – 20-30 Minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Late Afternoon (Sunset)
Ideal Location – Venue, Hotel Lobby, Rooftop
Advice – Couple session should be around 20-30 mins and should take place ideally 30 minutes before sunset. The is the best time in terms of lighting.
It also allows us to capture the stunning scenic shots with colorful skies. If your wedding is in downtown or in an area with tall buildings, it’s not as important for us to have this specific time frame (although it still helps).
However, if you booked your venue because of the spectacular view of the ocean or the gorgeous vines in the winery, it’s essential to follow this advice in your timeline.
RECEPTION DETAILS AND VENUE
Ideal Time Allotment – 20 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Early Evening
Ideal Location – Reception Site
Advice – Please allow 20 minutes for the second shooter to take pictures of the reception room, completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area.
Similar to the ceremony details, this is the only opportunity we get to capture the reception room prior to guest arrival.
RECEPTION FIRST LOOK
Ideal Time Allotment – 10-15 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – At the end of Cocktail Hour before doors open for guests
Ideal Location – Reception Site
Advice – This is when the reception space is revealed to the couple for the first time. It’s a great opportunity to capture a genuine reaction, as well as a moment alone with the dance floor to practice your first dance, which also makes a great photo!
COUPLE SESSION - RECEPTION SNEAK OUT
Ideal Time Allotment – 20-30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Dusk to Night Time
Ideal Location – Areas with interesting lights, fountains, city scapes and mirrors
Advice – During the reception, please plan on sneaking out for a couple of night shots. We only need 15-20 minutes, as we understand the importance of being a good host.
However, this time is important if you appreciate the night photography that we deliver. The ideal time for this is right after you grab a bite to eat or during the open floor dancing after you’ve danced a few songs and would like a break. Another suggestion would be to get these shots at the very end of the night once all the guests have departed. Check out our Wedding Reception Timeline post for more tips on how to layout a great wedding reception.
ADDITIONAL WEDDING DAY DETAILS
Table Shots – Table shots are when you go around visiting tables. There are two options for photography during this time. (1) You can take formal pictures with each of these tables or (2) we can simply focus on photojournalism, capturing the smiles and hugs as you mingle with each table. If you’re planning on doing formal table shots, please keep in mind that these will take about 3-5 minutes per table. For example 20 tables would require 60-100 minutes of time.