How long do we need to allow for photography?

I often get asked by couples ‘how much time do we need to allow for photography?’. You want to great pictures but also you want to spend time with your guests. Right? So how long do you need to allow for photography? You need a wedding day photography timeline.

Well, every wedding, couple and photographer are different. In short, you will need to discuss your picture requirements with your photographer and make a plan. But here are some general guidelines that should help you get started with your wedding day photography timeline.

Getting Group Photographs Organized

Family group photographs are the most time-consuming. A lot will depend on the size of your family and when these groups are done. I often do them just after the ceremony when everyone is still all in one place. If you are having a church service and the photos can be done there they tend to be even quicker. Families tend to naturally wait for photos outside the church and everyone is available as soon as it’s their turn. If you are already at your reception venue people do tend to wander off, especially if there’s a bar!

The usual family groups that I include are the bride and groom with the bride’s parents, same again but with the bride’s siblings then add in any extended family. Then repeat for the groom’s side. This takes about 20 minutes but probably only 15 if outside the church. If there are a few other smaller groups such as both sets of parents, siblings with partners, etc I allow another 5 minutes. After that, you need to allow 5 minutes each for every big group shot of more than 10 people. If you have lots of groups of friends, or lots of extended families this can get time-consuming. It’s totally up to you but just make sure it’s in your schedule.

Bridal party photos with your maids and ushers tend to take about 10-20 minutes depending on the size of your party and what you are after. Maids and ushers are usually quite good at being organized and are willing to have fun with it. I will sometimes do these in two sections so 5 minutes of more formal shots at the same time as family groups then some more fun stuff later on after the wedding breakfast, time, and weather permitting.

Wedding Day Portraits

As for wedding portraits again it greatly depends on what you are after. Personally, I allow 20 minutes and again I often split this into two sessions before and after the meal to make the best use of the light. A couple of things to bear in mind. Some photographs will take longer to set up than others depending on the style you want. Again, talk to your photographer.
I love natural-looking images that don’t take that long to set up but if you want something more posed then it will take more time. Also, don’t forget to include walking time! You won’t be running anywhere in that dress and heels and if you’re set on photos at the other end of the lake then allow yourself time to get there.

The rest of the day I tend to shoot in a documentary style and so you shouldn’t need to allocate a particular time for photos. The only other part of the day when time can get tight is making sure you are ready in time to have photos taken before the ceremony. Not usually a problem unless you are running late.

So, to sum up I start with a rough guide of three 20 minute sessions and adjust that according to each couple and venue. I encourage couples to keep big groups to a minimum as they take away from partying time and I just make sure that we have gone through the timeline in advance of the wedding so we can adjust things if necessary.

I hope that is helpful and gives you some idea of timings. Talk to your photographer and coordinator about it and I’m sure your day will run seamlessly.

You also might like this post on whether or not to have a receiving line.

For more ideas and help with timelines check out these posts from Junebug Weddings:

8 ways to make more time for yourselves in your wedding day timeline

How to create a wedding day timeline

Happy planning x