One of the most common questions I get from couples is:

"How much time should we set aside for photos?"

The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer.

Your timeline depends on your guest count, the number of locations, whether you're planning a first look, and most importantly, what you want your wedding day to feel like.

My goal is never to fit your wedding into a standard timeline. It's to build a timeline around your day so you have beautiful photographs and plenty of time to actually enjoy the people you've invited to celebrate with you.

More Time Doesn't Mean More Photos

One of the biggest misconceptions about wedding photography is that more hours automatically equals more photos.

Not necessarily.

What extra time really gives you is breathing room.

Instead of rushing from one part of the day to the next, you have time to relax, soak everything in, and enjoy the moments in between. It also gives us flexibility if the day runs a little behind (and let's be honest, wedding days almost always do!).

So... How Much Coverage Do You Need?

Six Hours

Six hours is usually a great fit for intimate weddings, smaller guest lists, or couples planning a shorter celebration. If you're not having a large evening reception or you're keeping things simple, six hours often covers everything that matters most.

Eight Hours

Eight hours is my most popular amount of coverage because it gives your day room to breathe. It typically covers getting ready, your ceremony, portraits, family photos, and a good portion of your reception without feeling rushed.

Ten Hours

If you're planning a larger celebration, multiple locations, or simply want every part of your day documented from beginning to end, ten hours gives us the flexibility to capture it all. It also leaves plenty of room for sunset portraits, which are almost always worth stepping away for.

Every Wedding Is Different

One couple may need six hours.

Another may need ten.

Neither is right or wrong.

One of my favorite parts of the planning process is helping my couples build a timeline that fits their wedding day instead of trying to squeeze their day into a timeline that wasn't designed for them.

Because at the end of the day, I don't just want you to love your photographs.

I want you to remember how your wedding felt.

For Those of You Who Love the Details...

If you're the type of person who likes seeing actual numbers, here's how I typically build a wedding day timeline.

Family Photos

15–30 minutes

The amount of time depends on the size of your families. Before your wedding, I'll send you my recommended family photo list, and you'll simply add any additional groupings that are important to you. Having a plan ahead of time keeps this part of the day running smoothly and allows everyone to get back to celebrating sooner.

Wedding Party Photos

Around 30 minutes

This gives us plenty of time for the full wedding party, individual portraits, and a few fun moments without anyone feeling rushed.

Couples Portraits

About 1 hour

Do we spend an entire hour taking your portraits?

Usually not.

I intentionally build extra breathing room into your timeline because wedding days rarely run exactly on schedule. Maybe hair and makeup takes a little longer than expected, or family photos run over by a few minutes.

By planning for a little more time than we think we'll need, we're not scrambling if the day gets behind. And if everything runs right on schedule?

Wonderful.

I'll happily give that time back so you can spend it enjoying cocktail hour, visiting with your guests, or simply taking a quiet moment together.

I'd much rather hand you extra time than leave you wishing we had more.