How Many Hours of Wedding Photography Coverage Do You Need?

Oct 10

As wedding planners, we frequently assist couples with planning their wedding day timeline. One of the most crucial things to consider is booking the right amount of wedding photography coverage! Too little, and your photographer won’t be there to capture the showstopping sparkler exit you have planned. Too much, and you risk overpaying for a service you don’t need (and miss out on using that portion of your budget elsewhere). In this post, we’ll cover how to determine your perfect amount of photography coverage. We’ll also share sample timelines you can reference as you plan!

How Many Hours of Wedding Photography Coverage Do You Really Need?

Every wedding is different, but you’ll likely need somewhere in the range of 8-10 hours of coverage. Most New Jersey wedding photographer packages fall within this range. Some photographers use the word “unlimited,” but it’s best to gauge how long you’ll need them regardless.

Whether you’ll need eight or ten hours of coverage depends primarily on whether you’re doing a first look and if your ceremony and reception will be in the same or different locations. Ten hours is usually best for couples doing a first look since this will occur relatively early in the day. Conversely, eight hours is best if you’re getting ready and hosting all your events in one location. It’s okay if that applies to you and you’re doing a first look as long as you don’t care too much about capturing reception footage beyond the speeches.

Sage green Celtic knot wedding invitation

What Coverage is Most Important to You?

If you’re still unsure whether you need eight or ten hours of coverage, consider which parts of the day are most important to you. For example, if you both prioritize getting ready with your VIPs, it’s best to ask your primary photographer to bring a second shooter. That way, they can capture your groups simultaneously (instead of your primary photographer hopping back and forth between you for an entire morning). Or, maybe you’re planning a private last dance or staged exit for the end of your reception that you’d like to document. In that case, you need to ensure you’ve booked enough coverage for your photographer to be present when that happens.

Ultimately, our best advice is to consult your wedding planner’s expertise and work with them to craft a timeline that suits you, your VIPs, and your photographer. Be realistic in your expectations, and err on the side of booking more coverage than less. No one was ever upset that they had too many wedding photos! Below, you’ll find example timelines for eight-hour coverage and ten-hour coverage. These should give you an idea of the right choice so you can feel better prepared to discuss it with your planner!

Spring wedding bouquet with white peonies and anemones

10-Hour Wedding Photography Timeline

This example timeline assumes getting ready off-site and/or an off-site ceremony, factoring in additional time necessary for travel.

Start of coverage: 12:30 P.M.
Details/getting ready
First look with wedding party and/or family members, if applicable
First look with couple
Portraits
Ceremony
Cocktail hour
Reception (up to cake cutting, one hour before reception ends)
End of coverage: 10:30 P.M.

8-Hour Wedding Photography Timeline

This example timeline assumes one location for all coverage, with a first look and 6:30 P.M. ceremony.

Start of coverage: 2:30 P.M.
Details/getting ready
First look with wedding party and/or family members, if applicable
First look with couple
Portraits
Ceremony
Cocktail hour
Reception (up to speeches, about halfway through)
End of coverage: 10:30 P.M.

We hope these sample timelines are helpful as you work with your planner to finalize your wedding day itinerary and determine the amount of wedding photography coverage right for you! Don’t have a wedding planner yet? Our team would love to work with you to plan your special day, no matter where you’re at in the process. We offer a range of packages, from full planning and design to customized, one-on-one “magic hour” sessions. Get in touch today to find your best fit!