How many hours of wedding photography do you really need?
"How many hours do we need?" is one of the most common questions we get. The answer depends less on the size of the wedding and more on what you want to remember.
A typical wedding day
For most weddings, 8 to 10 hours covers the whole story: getting ready, the ceremony, family photos, couple portraits and the first part of the celebration with the first dance and the cake.
When fewer hours are enough
For a smaller wedding, a civil ceremony or an intimate dinner, 4 to 6 hours is often enough. You will usually skip either the getting ready or the late party, and focus on the ceremony and portraits.
Moments people forget to count
- Travel between locations. Home, ceremony, portraits, venue. Every drive takes time.
- Family photos. Plan 20 to 30 minutes and prepare a short list of groups in advance.
- Couple portraits. At least 30 to 45 minutes, ideally close to golden hour.
- Buffer time. Weddings almost never run exactly on schedule, and that is fine.
Our advice
Write down your day hour by hour, mark the moments you would be sad to miss, and count from the first to the last. Send it to us and we will help you find the right coverage without paying for hours you do not need.
