One of our most frequently asked questions is: How long should I hire my wedding photographer for? This is a great question, and we are here to help you find the answer.
What do you want covered?
First, you need to decide what important details you want to cover. Do you want lots of getting ready photos before the ceremony? Do you want us to stay for the entire reception? These details will affect how long you will need us there. If you want us to stay until you leave your reception and want lots of candid, set-up shots, you’ll need full-day coverage. If you just want a few prep shots, that will take up your time. If you would like us to stay only during the main events at the reception and not until the last guest leaves, this will also shorten the day. When deciding on a start and/or end time, this is the first step in booking your package.
Duration of the ceremony
Next, you need to think about the duration of the ceremony. For a Catholic wedding, the ceremonies tend to be longer, so you’ll need to allocate more time for that. If you would like us to cover the preparations, ceremony and reception, I suggest 10 hours for Catholic weddings. If you have a shorter ceremony, you won’t need to take as much time out of your schedule.
Location transfer
Now let’s talk about the location. If you have a shorter ceremony and your reception is at the same location as the ceremony, then you won’t need as much time because you can save travel time. I’d say something like this would be good for six or eight hours, depending on the formal photos.
On the same note, if your reception is at a different location, you’ll need to factor travel time into your schedule. Also incorporate the amount of time it takes to pack all your things to bring them to the reception. If you’re taking photos on the way to the reception, you’ll need to add more time for that, too.
Formal photo requirements
For formal photos, you should consider how many people are in your bridal party and how many people will be in your family photos. If you have a small bridal party and a small number of family members take photos (and you’re in the same place the entire time), then six hours will be enough. If you have a larger family or bridal party, you will need more than eight hours.
Special departure
If you are doing a special sortie from the front desk, such as a flare sortie, you will need to have full day cover.
Some weddings can be covered in just four hours. If you are having a backyard wedding or a courthouse wedding where the reception is short (e.g. no dancing, etc.) and maybe just a restaurant dinner, then this could all be covered in four hours .
As a wedding photographer, I have various plans to cover your event depending on the time you need. Please contact me with your request and I can immediately help you plan the wedding of your dreams.
