How many hours do you need your wedding photographer for?
When I consult with anyone who is inquiring about hiring me as their wedding photographer, these are some of the important questions I ask to ensure you are booking me with adequate time to meet all of your needs.
I am prefacing this blog post with the statement that I am very transparent with all of my clients - if I genuinely feel you do not need me for an extended time, I will reassure you of that! I want the day to be a smooth for the bride and groom, as it is for me.
what are the locations?
When gauging how much time you’ll need me, the best place to start is considering where and when you will be doing several things on your big day. Are you getting ready at the same location as the ceremony and reception? Are you getting ready at a hotel and then traveling to a new location for the ceremony? In these instances, it is so important to factor in travel time which would increase the amount of time you need me.
how big is the bridal party?
This question is so important because some people have a massive bridal party, while others opt for a very small or sometimes even no bridal party at all. Taking photos of a group of twenty is way more time consuming than a group of six or less.
ARE YOU DOING A FIRST LOOK?
The answer to this question will bring you more clarity to not only how long you need me, but how the time before and after the ceremony will be spent.
If you opt for a first look, I will use that time to capture the first glance of you and your lover on your special day - but I also use this time to capture all of the bridal portraits. This means that the newly weds get to enjoy the full cocktail hour with their friends and family!
skipping the first look?
If you decide to skip the first look, I will use the time before your ceremony to capture all of the photos I can that do not require the bride and groom to see one another.
This includes the bride and bridesmaids, the groom and groomsmen and any individual shots of the newly weds.
Keep in mind, this means that the bridal portraits and full bridal party photos will take place during the cocktail hour.
are you on a budget?
This is a very important question. While hiring your photographer for the entire day can be costly - some people might be working within a smaller budget. Ideally, in situations like these, the couple will prioritize the important moments they want captured.
For example, as a couple you might decide that getting ready is not as important as cutting the cake, or vice versa. That way, if the photographer does not have to be on-site for the entire day, they don’t have to be.
On average, most weddings that I shoot require me to be there for about 10 hours. This covers the time from getting ready, all the way to the cake cutting. However, the intention for this blog is to bring more understanding and awareness to all of the factors that determine how long you will need me - not every wedding is the same!