The wedding day
Wedding photography: how many hours of coverage do you need?
Preparations, ceremony, evening… Starting from what matters to you allows you to choose the right presence, without filling up every minute.
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Save some time to walk together, in the middle of a busy day.
In this article
In a few words
The coverage you need depends on the moments you want photographed and how your wedding day is planned. Note the times, locations and travel, then compare your schedule with the collections. The same number of hours does not cover the same moments for every couple.
- Your priority moments before the number of hours.
- Travel and waiting times during the process.
- A start and end time specified together.
Start with the moments you want to remember.
Choosing your wedding photography coverage can feel abstract before the day has taken shape. You may be getting ready somewhere different from the ceremony. Dinner may start early or run late. You may not yet know when the speeches will happen.
I suggest you start with a question: what moments would you like to find in the photographs? Your loved ones during the preparations, arriving at the ceremony, drinks with guests, the first dances? We can then work out how much time we need to capture those moments.
It varies from couple to couple. Some care deeply about the preparations. Others mainly want to remember the ceremony and time with their guests. Your photography can be built around those priorities.
Look at how your day is planned.
An initial schedule, even a provisional one, helps more than choosing a number of hours in isolation. Include the locations, times you already know and travel arrangements. Add the moments you definitely want photographed, even if their exact timing is still undecided.
Coverage runs continuously from the agreed start to the end of the reportage. Travel between venues and waiting time are included in that period. If you are getting ready at the same time in separate locations, we will also discuss what one photographer can realistically cover.
A starting procedure, to be adapted
- Before the ceremonyPreparations, loved ones present, details and first discussions.
- The ceremonyThe arrival, the looks, the gestures and the exit.
- Time with your guestsCocktail, a few group portraits and a moment for two.
- The meal and the eveningSpeeches, surprises and dances, according to your program.
This list is used to prepare our exchange. It does not impose any order or time to organize on you.
How much coverage fits your plans?
In the collections presented on the site, The Essential includes up to 8 hours of coverage. It can suit a compact day or a selection of key moments. What it covers depends on your schedule: eight hours alone does not guarantee every preparation and the whole evening.
The Signature, with up to 12 hours, gives us more room for a longer programme. We check the start and finish together to see which moments fit within the coverage.
The Complete covers the full day according to the agreed schedule. We clarify the timings and scope in our conversations and in the proposal. You will find prices and inclusions on the wedding photo stories page.
Leave some breathing room to enjoy the day.
A very tight schedule can make small delays difficult to absorb. For group photographs, a short list of the groups you want and help from someone who knows the guests can make things easier.
For your couples portraits, we can plan a realistic time, a nearby location and an alternative if the weather changes. I want this part to fit naturally into your day. We will also talk about the light and how much time you would like to give it.
The photographs continue during the unplanned moments: a conversation, a hand on a shoulder, a guest greeting someone they love. Leaving some space in the schedule helps you enjoy those moments too.
What helps me advise you.
- The date and location of the wedding, with planned travel.
- The ceremony schedule and the first points of the program.
- The moments you absolutely want to keep in pictures.
- The approximate number of guests and any organizational constraints.
- Your planned budget, if you have already defined it.
You can send me these items even if some details are still undecided. Together, we will look at the coverage that fits, what it includes and the choices still open to you. It is a good time to ask your questions.
Practical questions
How to choose the duration of a wedding photo story?
Start with the moments you want to remember: getting ready, the ceremony, drinks, dinner or the evening celebrations. Put them into a schedule with the locations and travel time. We can then agree how much coverage you need, including the start and finish.
Does travel count towards the length of the photo story?
Yes. The agreed coverage runs from the start to the end of the reportage. Travel between locations and waiting time are included, so they need to be allowed for in your schedule.