Wedding Photography: How Many Hours Do I Need?

Last week I began to scratch the surface of a topic that, as I was writing about it, I realized was way too much information to pack into one single post. The more I contemplated wedding day timelines, the flow of a wedding day, and how to plan out the day effectively (especially as a bride who probably has no experience in wedding planning), I knew I wanted to continue writing about this topic. So, here I am!

Last Thursday, I wrote all about wedding day timelines. I created 2 sample timelines to use as a guide for planning out your wedding day and then shared some key things to think about that play into what your wedding day looks like. So, if you haven’t read that post, I highly recommend you hopping back over & catching up – today’s post will definitely be building on that post’s foundation!

So today, let’s talk very specifically about your wedding photography.
How many hours do you need to hire your wedding photographer for?

Most wedding photographers build their packages on a foundation of time. It is quite average to see a 6-hour package, an 8-hour package, and a 10-hour package offered (those are the base hours I offer, by the way). Of course, every photographer is different so sometimes you’ll see a little variation, but 6, 8, and 10 are the most common.

It doesn’t matter if you are planning your wedding 12-weeks, 6 months, or 2 years out, it can be extremely challenging to “see” the day & know how many hours you want your photographer there for. And yet, after your venue is secured, booking a photographer is typically the next item on your “Wedding To-Do List”.

It’s difficult! You’re not a wedding planner, you’ve likely only attended a few weddings in your life, and been a part of even fewer. You don’t know what the inner workings of a wedding day entail, let alone know what time your ceremony & reception will be held. And then a photographer is presenting you with this set of “hours” that you need to make a decision on. It’s tough!

So, that’s why I wanted to write a post outlining what a typical wedding day looks like. It’s helpful, isn’t it?

From there – I wanted to talk about those 6, 8, and 10-hour wedding packages most photographers offer & describe what kind of wedding day each is best suited for.

6 HOURS of time is perfect for smaller, more intimate weddings (think 50 guests or less). They take place entirely at the same venue. They are quiet and laid back. They typically don’t have all the “frills” that a traditional wedding does (sometimes there is no DJ and minimal dancing, sometimes there is no bridal party, etc.). If that describes your dream wedding, 6 hours is probably the perfect amount of time for me to cover you getting ready, the ceremony, portraits, and the beginning of the fun of your reception.

8 HOURS of time is perfect for the “average” wedding day (think around 100-150 guests). These weddings may take place entirely at the same venue, but 8 hours allows for some travel time if the ceremony & reception locations are on 2 different properties. These wedding days are more traditional (no First Look, 6-8 members of a bridal party, a DJ & dancing at the reception). 8 hours typically gives me a comfortable amount of time to capture all of your details (your dress, shoes, jewelry, etc.), you getting ready, the ceremony, portraits, and most of the fun at your reception.

10 HOURS of time is perfect when you foresee your wedding being more of an all-day event (and are planning on hosting more than 150 guests). Whether it’s because there will be multiple moments of travel, you want to do a First Look, if you’re planning a longer ceremony, or simply want to party late into the night, 10 hours might sound like a long time, but I promise, on a wedding day it will fly by. These weddings tend to have larger bridal parties (10+ members), are full to the brim with beautiful decor & details, have a full reception with all the traditions (bouquet & garter toss, multiple special dances, a dollar dance, anniversary dance, cake cutting, etc.) and end with a special exit (sparklers, glow sticks, or fireworks). 10 hours typically gives me an easy-going amount of time to capture all of your details (your dress, shoes, jewelry, etc.), you getting ready, pre-ceremony portraits, the ceremony, post-ceremony portraits, and all of the fun at your reception.

FULL DISCLAIMER:

Every wedding day is completely unique and different. There are so many pieces and parts and traditions that make a wedding day special to you (how boring it would be if every wedding was the same)! What I described above is just my experience as a wedding photographer over the last 9 years. I totally understand that sometimes a certain budget is set for photography and hiring your dream photographer might mean that you take a cut in the number of hours you want/need.

Just know that your photographer isn’t a magician – she cannot create time on your wedding day. The last thing you want to do is squish all of your main events into a space that is too small (think Cinderella’s step-sisters trying to squeeze the glass-slipper onto their too-large feet!) Doing so just creates stress and frustration – two things that should never be part of a wedding day!

My promise to all of my brides & grooms is to do my very best to capture everything I possibly can on your wedding day. It’s just another reason that I create specific timelines for each of my wedding couples weeks in advance of their big day. I promise, if I honestly suggest that we add an extra hour or two of coverage, I am not trying to make more money. I just know that key moments will be missed if we are trying to squeeze your wedding day into a timeline that is too small. Open & honest communication is always the key to success if we are trying to figure out if an extra hour of added coverage might make the day perfect.