Wedding Day Photography Timeline | When and Where?
Every wedding of ours has so many difference and cultural aspects which need to be considered when planning a timeline. There is no perfect timeline to fit every wedding, but, there are time frames that work well. Some of these time frames may seem long but keep in mind 1) the 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.
"THE" DETAILS
* Approx. Time Required – 30 minutes
* Best Time of the Day – Morning
* Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite
* Tip – Plan at least 30 minutes for us to capture the perfect photo of the 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.
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PREPARATION
* Approx. Time Required – 60 minutes
* Best Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
* Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite
* Tip – Having an hour 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. Keep in mind that these are some of the most emotional and fun times of the day, so you don’t want to cut it short.
The lead shooter will be with the bride while the second shooter will be with the groom. While it doesn’t take guys an hour to get dressed, there are still tons of great moments during this time between the groom and his family and friends.
PORTRAITS
* Approx. Time Required – 30 minutes
* Best Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
* Location – Bridal Suite, Hotel Suite, Venue Lobby, or Venue Garden
* Tip – Right after prep is the best time for individual portraits of the bride and groom (separately). Besides makeup and hair being completely fresh, the day hasn’t gotten hectic yet so we can take our time and get those perfect portraits.
Also, keep in mind that the window lighting in most hotel rooms creates a unique look that can’t be duplicated in any environment throughout the rest of the day.
FIRST LOOK AND CREATIVE SESSION
* Approx. Time Required – 45-60 minutes
* Best Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
* Location – Venue Garden, Empty Venue Hallway (shaded areas with natural light)
* Tip – The first look should be around 45-60 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 basic portraits of the bride and groom.
Ideally we are saving the bulk of the couples 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 45 minutes to an hour here so that we make sure we have enough photos of just you two.
WEDDING PARTY PHOTOS
* Approx. Time Required – 45-60 minutes
* Best Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
* Location – Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location
* Tip – Wedding Party Photos should be around 45 minutes to 1 hour. During this time, we get a variety of shots in a variety of poses. We start off with the basic, classic photos focused on great expressions and lighting.
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
* Approx. Time Required – 30-45 minutes
* Best Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
* Location – Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location
* Tip – Immediate Family Photos should take another 45 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 minutes per group on average. For example, if you have 10 groups, schedule in a 30 minute time slot.
We all know how much weddings mean to the immediate family, and we want to make sure we’re capturing enough pictures with them.