How Many Hours of Wedding Photography Do You Need?

Your wedding day is a big deal. It’s not every day you get to say, “I do,” to your soulmate, the one who completes you. It’s a day filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments you’ll cherish forever with the most important people in your life.

Let’s be honest for a second, though. Planning a wedding can be stressful, and figuring out how many hours of photography coverage you’ll need is just another thing to add to your already long To-Do list. Of course, you’ll want to ensure your photographer will capture the details you’ve painstakingly chosen, as well as the tender emotions of your special day. But how many wedding photography hours do you really need?

To manage determining how much time is enough, with so many options available, let us help you by exploring some unique factors that can influence the number of hours of wedding photography coverage, and ensure no time is wasted, while still making sure your collection of impactful photographs is one to cherish for years to come!

We’ll now go over a guideline of standard packages of a typical western-style American wedding. Keep in mind that these are just keeping, “the basics,”  without any special add-on events/formalities. Naturally, YMMV, especially if you’re including any special culturally-significant items on your wedding day! 

Standard Wedding Photography Packages 

The most common wedding photography package options are 8, 10, and 12 hours of coverage- 

8 Hours of Wedding Day Photography Coverage

For an average-sized wedding with about 80-120 people, an 8-hour photography package may be the right option. This package provides just enough time for your photographer to capture the crucial moments of your day, from wedding preparation essentials to cake-cutting. 8 hours isn’t all-encompassing, but provides coverage for the bare minimum and is great for the cost-conscious.

Eight hours of photography typically cover the essentials of the wedding day, including –

• Basic Pre-wedding preparations, including the bride and groom getting ready and capturing the details of the dress, shoes, jewelry, invitation, and accessories, as well as a few candids of you and your wedding party/immediate family getting makeup/hair done, etc
• Ceremony coverage
• Formal portraits including posed photos of the couple, the wedding party, and family members. 
• Cocktail Hour
• The reception, including entrances, speeches, the first dance, parent dances, a bit of guest dancing, and the cake cutting. 

10 Hours of Wedding Day Photography Coverage

A ten-hour wedding photography package is the perfect choice for couples who want to ensure that every detail of their big day will be captured stunningly. From pre-ceremony preparation to the reception and beyond, a ten-hour wedding photography package allows plenty of time to capture all the important moments. 

Ten hours of photography package typically includes formal portraits, candid shots, location shoots, and details and decor photos. Moreover, the extra time allows for more flexibility and creativity, as photographers can take advantage of different lighting conditions and capture a more spontaneous moment. 

Ten hours of photography is personally our most popular selected amount, and it’s for a good reason. This middle ground allows for much more breathing room, as well as some buffer for problems that can (and often do) occur without breaking the bank. It includes enough time for –

• Most pre-wedding preparations, including bride and groom getting ready, as well as all the details of the dress, shoes, jewelry, invitation, and accessories, as well as extra candids of you and your wedding party/immediate family getting makeup/hair done, including some more fun items, like robe shots!
• Ceremony/Mass coverage
• More time for formal portraits, including posed photos of the couple, the wedding party, and family members. 
• Cocktail Hour
• Reception, including entrances, speeches, the first dance, parent dances, more guest dancing, and cake cutting, plus a few night shots!

12 Hours of Wedding Day Photography Coverage 

If you’re planning a wedding with a larger bridal party or guest count of over 250, a 12-hour wedding photography package may be the best option. With 12 hours of coverage, you’ll have nothing to worry about, and more than enough time to capture all the details of the day, including pre-ceremony preparations, formal portraits, ceremony coverage, and reception festivities. This package is beneficial for couples with a large wedding party of 12 or more, as it allows for more time to photograph pretty much the entire day.

This “kitchen sink” selection includes enough time for –

• All pre-wedding preparations, including the bride and groom getting ready, as well as all the details of the dress, shoes, jewelry, invitation, and accessories, as well as extra candids of you and your wedding party/immediate family getting makeup/hair done, robe shots, perhaps some extended family shots, and perhaps a champagne toast (or two or three)! 
• Ceremony/Mass coverage
• Ample time for formal portraits, including posed photos of the couple, the wedding party, and family members. 
• Cocktail Hour
• Reception, including entrances, speeches, the first dance, parent dances, more guest dancing, and cake cutting, night shots, and perhaps a sparkler exit or afterparty! 

Factors to Consider When Deciding on Hours of Wedding Photography

Size and Complexity of the Wedding

Obviously, the size and complexity of a wedding can significantly impact the hours of photography required. A smaller, intimate wedding or elopement may only require a few hours of coverage, while a larger wedding with multiple events (or days) may require more extensive coverage. Additionally, weddings with unique and complex elements, such as cultural traditions or multiple venues, may require additional time for the photographer to capture all the important moments.

The Number of Locations Involved

We all know how traffic can be in New York or New Jersey. Travel time can be a huge factor in the amount of hours added to your wedding day, depending on the location. Of course, the number of locations involved also play an integral part as well. Travel time is greatly shortened when the wedding ceremony and reception are held at the same location. However, If you’re planning on getting ready at a childhood home, then traveling to a garden/park 20 minutes away, then a church another 15 minutes away, and finally, the reception venue another 30 minutes away, this all adds up, especially if you’re in Manhattan or the other 4 boroughs of NYC. In this case, It would be wise to add more time as a buffer so you don’t have to stress about making it here or there by a certain time. There’s enough on your plate as it is!

Consider a “First Look”

• If you are open to a “First Look” where you and your beloved share your first moment alone together instead of at the ceremony, this can definitely save you some time as well, rather than pull you out of cocktail hour! Some say the cocktail hour is one of the best parts of the wedding, as it’s the perfect time to relax and take time to informally greet your guests and enjoy the venue’s amazing selection of hors d’oeuvres. Usually, the first look itself takes about 15 minutes to set up and photograph, then we would move into 30-45 minutes of couples portraits, and then the wedding party for another 25 minutes, and concluding with family photos for 30 minutes.

Budget

It goes without saying, but budget is usually the number one consideration when deciding on the hours of wedding photography. While it may be tempting to cut costs by reducing the number of hours, it is essential to remember that your wedding photography is an investment in preserving the memories of your day. Work with your photographer to discuss how to balance your desired coverage with your intended budget. Keep in mind that tangible items like albums or prints can always be purchased at a later point, but you can’t go back in time to recapture unanticipated moments when you wish your photographer was there! Stress less, and strive for no FOMO.

Tips for Maximizing Your Wedding Photography Coverage

• Plan your wedding day timeline carefully. PROTIP- Work backward from the ceremony time to determine how much getting the ready time you’d like. We always suggest at least 1.5 hours before you put your dress on. This is typically when your hair is already done and makeup is getting applied, allowing us to get the best variety of shots! 

• Having someone (preferably with a Type-A personality) to organize and queue up groups assembly line-style can be tremendously efficient and significantly decrease the time it takes to do these shots as well! Also, if you’re having photos taken after the ceremony, please make sure those guests know who they are and let them know to stay put (having your officiant make a reminder announcement is super-helpful). The last thing you want is to waste time waiting for Auntie Sofie to return from the bathroom or need to chase down Uncle Jim, who was really “thirsty” and left early for the open bar! 

• Communicate any special requests or essential details to your photographer. Especially if it’s a surprise.

Conclusion

Deciding on the hours of wedding photography can certainly be a bit annoying, as there are many factors to consider when deciding how many hours of wedding photography you want. That doesn’t change its importance, though. The length of the day’s itinerary, the size of your wedding, and the number of locations you want all play a role in determining how much time you’ll need to allocate. Ultimately, each wedding is different, and we always recommend working with your wedding photographer to balance your desired coverage with your budget. 

At Hendrick Moy Photography, we quite obviously understand the importance of wedding photography and want to help you make the best decision for your big day. Whether you need just a few hours or a full day of photography, we’re here to help capture all your wedding day’s  breathtaking moments photojournalistically and in an artful way. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have!  

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If you find Hendrick’s articles helpful, we invite you to LIKE our photography Facebook page. Hendrick Moy is a NY wedding photographer based in the Hudson Valley. Specializing in modern and contemporary boutique fine art wedding photography with a documentary and photojournalistic approach, He seeks to capture beautiful imagery stealthily and with a low-profile.  His dedication to his craft is paralleled only by his desire to make sure his couples are comfortable and well-taken-care-of.   He frequently shoots in the NY, NYC, NJ, and CT regions, and is available to travel for destination weddings worldwide.  For a little more info on Hendrick’s wedding photography work, visit our FAQ page or click CONTACT above!