Many engaged couples looking to hire a wedding photographer often wonder – is booking the photographer for 6 hours enough to fully capture their special day? This is an important consideration when planning a wedding and hiring vendors. The number of hours needed can vary greatly depending on factors like the type of wedding, number of events, size of the venue and wedding party, and the couple’s photography goals.
What does a typical wedding day timeline look like?
To determine if 6 hours is sufficient time for wedding photography, it’s helpful to break down a general wedding day timeline. While each couple’s schedule will be slightly different, below is an approximate timeline to account for:
Getting Ready: 1-2 hours
The wedding day usually starts with the bride and groom getting ready, which takes 1-2 hours. The photographer will want to arrive early to capture the excitement as the wedding party dresses and prepares for the big day. Important moments to photograph include the bride having her hair and makeup done, the bride and bridesmaids getting into their dresses, and candid moments like the father of the bride seeing her dressed up for the first time.
First Look: 30 minutes
Many couples opt for a “first look” session before the ceremony, where the groom sees the bride in her dress for the first time. This is a sweet, intimate moment for portraits of just the couple. Most first looks last around 30 minutes.
Wedding Party Photos: 30 minutes
Once fully dressed, the bride and groom will take formal portraits with their wedding party. Bridal party photos take around 30 minutes if you have 3-5 bridesmaids and groomsmen. Larger wedding parties can take longer.
Ceremony: 30-60 minutes
The wedding ceremony itself usually ranges from 30-60 minutes. The photographer will photograph the processional, ceremony details like the exchange of vows and rings, and the newly married couple walking back down the aisle.
Family Photos: 30 minutes
After the ceremony, the photographer shoots formal family portraits of the newlyweds with immediate family. Large family groups take coordination, so this often takes 30 minutes.
Reception: 3-5 hours
The reception accounts for the bulk of the wedding photography timeline. Over 3-5 hours, the photographer will capture candid moments like cocktail hour, meal service, toasts, first dances, cake cutting, and open dancing. The end of the reception is when the photographer can pack up their gear.
Is 6 hours of coverage enough?
Looking at the typical wedding timeline above, it’s clear 6 continuous hours of wedding photography is on the shorter side for full wedding coverage. Here are some factors to consider:
Getting ready photos
With only 6 hours of coverage, there likely won’t be time for the photographer to capture the bride and groom getting ready before the ceremony. For many couples, these pre-ceremony photos are a high priority. Opting for 8-10 hours of coverage instead gives flexibility to shoot the morning preparations.
Gaps in coverage
Six hours may involve the photographer starting later in the day, after preparations are done. That means potentially missing those special moments like the first look and bridal party portraits. There could also be a gap between the ceremony and reception coverage. With a shorter window, moments may be missed moving between locations.
Earlier timeline
If the reception ends earlier in the evening, 6 continuous hours risks having the photographer leave while guests are still on the dance floor. It’s ideal to have the photographer stay through open dancing and farewell sparkler exits.
Venue restrictions
Some ceremonies like churches do not allow photographers throughout the service. Having a longer timeframe gives flexibility in case the photographer cannot shoot parts of the day.
Post-processing needs
The photographer will need ample time after the wedding to edit, filter and retouch all of the photos. Condensing so much into 6 hours could result in a very rushed editing and delivery process.
When can 6 hours work?
While generally on the shorter side, 6 hours of wedding photography can work well in certain scenarios:
Elopements
For elopements or micro weddings with under 50 guests, a 6 hour timeline is often plenty to capture the intimate event fully. Elopements have fewer individual portraits and details to photograph.
Courthouse weddings
Similarly, courthouse weddings have brief ceremonies and faster timelines. Six hours can capture short pre-ceremony prep, the ceremony itself, and a post-ceremony meal or reception.
Reception only
Couples who only want reception coverage could have the photographer arrive an hour before guests and stay through the end of the reception, which takes around 6 hours in the evening.
Photo booths or videography
Having a photo booth or videographer can take pressure off the photographer to document every single moment. That makes a shorter 6 hour window more doable.
Budget constraints
For couples on a tighter budget, 6 hours balances capturing some key moments while keeping costs down compared to a full 8-10 hour package.
Tips for making 6 hours work
If booking a photographer for just 6 hours, here are some tips to maximize coverage:
– Schedule the photographer strategically during the most important events, like the ceremony and speeches.
– Take some formal family portraits right after the ceremony when everyone is still dressed up and ready.
– See if the photographer can start a half hour before the ceremony to capture some getting ready moments.
– Limit formal portraits to essential combinations only, like bride/groom, parents, and wedding party.
– Opt for a first look session to allow the photographer to shoot the couple before the ceremony.
– Consider adding a second shooter to make sure different simultaneous events are covered.
– Ask the photographer to stay a little past 6 hours if needed to fully document endings like the sparkler exit.
– Have guests take photos during any gaps in coverage to share with the couple.
How to budget and plan time with your photographer
When hiring your wedding photographer, how do you determine what’s the right amount of time? Here are some tips:
Define your photography priorities
Have a discussion with your partner about your must-have shots like a first look or grand exit. Decide if you’re OK with potential gaps in coverage.
Review timelines with your photographer
Provide the photographer a draft of your wedding day schedule. Get their expert opinion on how much time they recommend to fully capture your day.
Account for travel time
Factor in the photographer’s travel time between getting ready locations, the ceremony site, and reception venue. Transit can add 30-60 minutes between events.
Discuss options to extend time
Ask your photographer if they can stay later for an hourly rate if the reception is going strong. Or arrive early for just the getting ready photos.
Consider a photo booth
Adding a photo booth takes pressure off the photographer to document every single reception moment. This can make 6 hours work more smoothly.
Prioritize shots if on a budget
If budget is a factor, decide which portions of the day are most important to photograph, like the ceremony and family photos over getting ready photos.
Inquire about packages
Many photographers offer different package tiers based on number of hours. See what’s included in each so you can customize.
Average wedding photography costs
Wedding photography packages are typically priced based on the number of photographers, hours of coverage, and amounts of edited photos provided. Here are some average costs:
Packages by hours:
- 6 hours: $1,500 – $3,500
- 8 hours: $2,500 – $5,000
- 10+ hours: $3,500 – $7,000+
Having a second photographer typically costs around $50+/hour in addition to these base packages.
Many photographers offer discounted rates for elopements and weekday weddings. High-end photographers can charge $10,000+ for full wedding coverage.
Packages by number of photos:
- 100-200 edited photos: $1,000 – $2,000
- 300-500 photos: $1,500 – $3,500
- 600+ photos: $2,500 – $5,000+
Albums, printing rights, and extensive editing usually cost extra beyond these amounts.
How to find the right wedding photographer
Ready to search for your wedding photographer? Here are some tips:
- Look at photographer’s portfolio to ensure you like their style and skill level.
- Read reviews from past clients about their experience.
- Make sure they have shot at your wedding venue before, if possible.
- Ask about their specialized training and equipment.
- Get a detailed quote outlining exactly what’s included.
- Make sure your personalities mesh well.
- Check availability for your wedding date early.
- Ask about additional add-ons like photo booths, albums, and videography.
- Compare rates of a few top contenders to your budget.
Choosing an experienced wedding photographer you connect with artistically and personally is key to capturing lasting memories on your special day. Discussing the optimal number of photography hours needed is an important part of the planning process.
Conclusion
Determining if 6 hours of wedding photography is sufficient comes down to your priorities, the type of wedding, and your overall budget. For more intimate weddings like elopements, 6 continuous hours can work well. But for traditional weddings, most couples prefer 8-10+ hours to fully document the day without gaps.
Talk with potential photographers about tailoring options like adding extra time for just getting ready photos or staying late into open dancing. With careful planning and scheduling, 6 hours could potentially capture the most important wedding moments – but hiring your photographer for a full day tends to give the flexibility and completeness couples are looking for when photographing their unique wedding celebrations.
