I often get asked about how to create a photo timeline and so I would like to share with you a "go-to" guide to help you get the most out of your professional wedding photography.
What do you want?
Firstly, before you book your photographer it is a good idea to determine what you want out of your wedding photos. Do you love photography and want every single portion of the day captured? Do you only care about capturing the ceremony and family portraits? Or are you more of a couple session lover? Once you determine the answer, you can better assess how long you need your photographer for.
Plan everything around your Nuptials
While this might sound odd, it is the best and most logical place to begin the planning of your wedding day. WHERE and WHO will be marrying you and your partner determines the TIME in which you will become officially married! For example, the timing might be chosen for you if it is customary by your religion to follow certain timing protocols. Catholic and Orthodox churches often prefer an afternoon church ceremony, where a Jewish ceremony traditionally occurs at sunset. If it is non-denominational, then likely the timing is between you, the venue and the person guiding you through your "I do's."
Wedding Photo Timeline
Once you have determined the time your ceremony will start and end, you can then count how many hours you will need until the last important portion of the day occurs. If you want all the speeches photographed, the "first dances" and the cake cutting for example, then you will need to keep the photographer until those are complete. Now you have determined most of the time you will need the photographer for to document the day. You now have the "before" the ceremony portion to extend your coverage into. This likely will be the "getting ready" shots and perhaps the "first look." Once you have counted backwards, you add the two parts of the day together and get the total coverage time you will need. (I will make a more concise example below shortly.)
Time Allocations we Recommend
As wedding specialists, we have of course "ideals" for wedding photography. This however, is not often feasible due to restrictions like ceremony times, dinner set times or wedding traditions that couple's do not want to break. In an ideal photo world, this would be our recommendation for time allocations for each portion of the day:
Getting Ready photos for each partner: 1-2hrs
First Look: 10min
Family Photos: 30min
Couple Session: 1-1.5hrs
Bridal Party Session: 30min-1hr
Ceremony: more than 10 min
Reception: We would like to document your day until the group dancing begins ideally and no more than 30 minutes of dancing coverage. This is especially nice to have if you plan on getting an album made so that we can tell the full story.
A typical wedding photography timeline
In order to help you structure your timeline, I will give you two examples of typical wedding day timelines (with two photographers) that allocates sufficient time to get ample wedding coverage in all aspects of the day. I will then explain how sometimes traditions, venues and expectations of others (or yourselves) can hinder this. Lastly, I will explain how you can deal with these obstacles.
A: Traditional Afternoon Church Timeline Example
Getting Ready: Bride @11:30-12:30pm
Getting Ready: Groom @11:30-12:30pm
drive to church @12:30- 12:45pm
Church Ceremony @ 1pm-2pm
Family Photos at Church @ 2pm-2:30pm
drive to photo location @ 2:30-3:00pm
Bridal Party Photos @ 3pm-3:30pm
Couple Photos @ 3:30pm - 4:30pm
drive to reception venue @ 4:30 - 4:45pm
Cocktail Hour/Venue Details @ 5-6pm
Dinner/Dances/Speeches @6-9pm
Dance Floor Opens @9pm-9:30pm
TOTAL: 10 hours of Coverage
B: Non-denominational outdoor sunset wedding timeline example
Getting Ready: Bride @2-3pm
Getting Ready: Groom @2-3pm
getting ready on-site
First Look: @3pm
Couple Photos @3:00-4:30pm
Bridal Party Photos @4:30-5pm
Freshen up + hide before guests arrive: @5pm-5:30pm
Ceremony: @5:30pm-5:45pm
Family Photos: @6pm-6:30pm
Cocktail Hour/Venue Details @6pm-7pm
Dinner/Dances/Speeches @7-8:30pm
Dance Floor Opens @8:30pm-9pm
TOTAL: 7 hours of Coverage
The Obstacles...
Above I have written fairly typical wedding timelines that are geared towards sufficient time for photos. These packages would cover everything a couple would need; from beginning to end. HOWEVER....
1. Buffer Time
There are a few obstacles that can easily interfere with these "ideal" timelines. Timeline A, is a tight timeline. There is plenty of time for photographing all elements in the case that the day runs ON TIME. However, this is often not the case for weddings in general.
I generally advise my clients to plan on being at least 30 minutes late for all or at some point of the day. If you have a planner, this should be diverted and time should be regained if it is lost but if you do not have a planner, time can just disappear! The best way to avoid time from evaporating is to hide buffer time into each category. My above example does not have buffer time. When you add this buffer, your hours of coverage will likely jump for 10hour to 12hours. This might hinder your pockets but if you prepare for it ahead of time, you can likely save on spending overtime hours!
2. Travel Time
In addition to buffer time, you should bank on paying your photographer for travel time. Your package is consecutive hours, so the more driving from A to B and maybe C and D you do, the more time you are paying your photographer to drive and not shoot. If you eliminate this, do it! Find photo locations that are close to either your ceremony locale or your reception locale. Choose a church if you can close to your getting ready location too. All of these factors add up!
3. Family Expectations
While weddings are all about you saying "I do" to your honey, don't forget that weddings are all about family too! lol. That can be good or bad depending on the families I guess! hahaha.
If you know that your family is likely to have demands like needing you to get ready at your parents house that is an hour away from the church, then you might want to prepare yourself for this conversation. What is important to you? What expectations of family are you ready to fulfill or not? Does your budget meet these demands?
Family expectations come in all forms when it comes to the topic of weddings, so prepare with your partner about what you are willing to bend for before you ask your family for input.
4. Your own expectations
You might not have even considered that your own expectations might be different from your partners. In fact, maybe your own expectations will interfere with the ideal timeline more than you thought too. Sometimes it takes your actual engagement before you realize that you don't really want to do a first look. It's funny how things can change when it is you in the hot seat! Many brides are conflicted with doing a "first look" vs "seeing one another down the aisle for the first time." In the case of example wedding B, the "first look" saves the entire photography timeline. If the couple wants to wait for the aisle as the first moment to see one another, then they will have a very limited time in daylight and before dinner to get everything shot. So....what do you really want? What is most important?
In Conclusion
All in all, you must follow your heart when it comes to your wedding desires. Stick to your guns when it counts, and compromise or sacrifice when it doesn't make sense to fight against the wind. What I mean is, weddings are a union of two people in love but also a union of their families'. Enjoy the process and make people happy where and when you can. Most of all, do it within the limits you and your partner set for yourselves! Whatever you decide, enjoy in the moments with a full commitment. Be present, be yourself and let your photographers capture your authentic joy. A year or more of planning is only captured once but will keep you reliving all the moments forever.
I often get asked about how to create a photo timeline and so I would like to share with you a “go-to” guide to help you get the most out of your professional wedding photography.
What do you want?
Firstly, before you book your photographer it is a good idea to determine what you want out of your wedding photos. Do you love photography and want every single portion of the day captured? Do you only care about capturing the ceremony and family portraits? Or are you more of a couple session lover? Once you determine the answer, you can better assess how long you need your photographer for.
Plan everything around your Nuptials
While this might sound odd, it is the best and most logical place to begin the planning of your wedding day. WHERE and WHO will be marrying you and your partner determines the TIME in which you will become officially married! For example, the timing might be chosen for you if it is customary by your religion to follow certain timing protocols. Catholic and Orthodox churches often prefer an afternoon church ceremony, where a Jewish ceremony traditionally occurs at sunset. If it is non-denominational, then likely the timing is between you, the venue and the person guiding you through your “I do’s.”
Counting the hours
Once you have determined the time your ceremony will start and end, you can then count how many hours you will need until the last important portion of the day occurs. If you want all the speeches photographed, the “first dances” and the cake cutting for example, then you will need to keep the photographer until those are complete. Now you have determined most of the time you will need the photographer for to document the day. You now have the “before” the ceremony portion to extend your coverage into. This likely will be the “getting ready” shots and perhaps the “first look.” Once you have counted backwards, you add the two parts of the day together and get the total coverage time you will need. (I will make a more concise example below shortly.)
Time Allocations we Recommend
As wedding specialists, we have of course “ideals” for wedding photography. This however, is not often feasible due to restrictions like ceremony times, dinner set times or wedding traditions that couple’s do not want to break. In an ideal photo world, this would be our recommendation for time allocations for each portion of the day:
Getting Ready photos for each partner: 1-2hrs
First Look: 10min
Family Photos: 30min
Couple Session: 1-1.5hrs
Bridal Party Session: 30min-1hr
Ceremony: more than 10 min
Reception: We would like to document your day until the group dancing begins ideally and no more than 30 minutes of dancing coverage. This is especially nice to have if you plan on getting an album made so that we can tell the full story.
A typical wedding photography timeline
In order to help you structure your timeline, I will give you two examples of typical wedding day timelines (with two photographers) that allocates sufficient time to get ample wedding coverage in all aspects of the day. I will then explain how sometimes traditions, venues and expectations of others (or yourselves) can hinder this. Lastly, I will explain how you can deal with these obstacles.
Above I have written fairly typical wedding timelines that are geared towards sufficient time for photos. These packages would cover everything a couple would need; from beginning to end. HOWEVER….
1. Buffer Time
There are a few obstacles that can easily interfere with these “ideal” timelines. Timeline A, is a tight timeline. There is plenty of time for photographing all elements in the case that the day runs ON TIME. However, this is often not the case for weddings in general.
I generally advise my clients to plan on being at least 30 minutes late for all or at some point of the day. If you have a planner, this should be diverted and time should be regained if it is lost but if you do not have a planner, time can just disappear! The best way to avoid time from evaporating is to hide buffer time into each category. My above example does not have buffer time. When you add this buffer, your hours of coverage will likely jump from 10hour to 12hours. This might hinder your pockets but if you prepare for it ahead of time, you can likely save on spending overtime hours!
Do not forget, some timing elements are out of your control, like the lateness of others, the ceremony starting late etc. The best thing to do with important wedding members is to tell them to be somewhere at least 30 minutes prior to the actual desired time. 😉
2. Travel Time
In addition to buffer time, you should bank on paying your photographer for travel time. Your package is consecutive hours, so the more driving from A to B and maybe C and D you do, the more time you are paying your photographer to drive and not shoot. If you can eliminate this, do it! Find photo locations that are close to either your ceremony locale or your reception locale. Get ready close to your church too. All of these factors add up! Please also remember that your photographer needs to find parking and walk to your location, where you are likely being dropped off. This can delay schedules if your chosen locale is packed. Most photographers want to drive their own cars to each location, so don’t assume that they are riding with you.
In our wedding history the least reliable wedding vendors’ are limo companies. Be very choosy about the company you hire. These guys are often late, break down or drive like it’s their first day on the road. Sometimes opting for an uberx, rental van/bus company can be a more reliable option.
3. Family Expectations
While weddings are all about you saying “I do” to your honey, don’t forget that weddings are all about family too! lol. That can be good or bad depending on the families I guess! hahaha.
If you know that your family is likely to have demands like needing you to get ready at your parents house that is an hour away from the church, then you might want to prepare yourself for this conversation ahead of time. What is important to you? What expectations of family are you ready to fulfill or not? Does your budget meet these demands?
In many cases, the add on of extra traditional ceremonies or traditions is expected by family members too. A Chinese Tea Ceremony is a good example of this. Family will assume it is happening and whether you have planned for it or not, they will make it happen. Be prepared. Ask your family members ahead of time about these expectations. Be sure to fit it into the schedule and organize yourself by preparing the family ahead of time too. Being organized is what will save your timeline on the big day!
Family expectations come in all forms when it comes to the topic of weddings, so prepare with your partner about what you are willing to bend for before you ask your family for input.
4. Your own expectations
You might not have even considered that your own expectations might be different from your partners. In fact, maybe your own expectations will interfere with the ideal timeline more than you thought too. Sometimes it takes your actual engagement before you realize that you don’t really want to do a first look for example. It’s funny how things can change when it is you in the hot seat! Many brides are conflicted with doing a “first look” vs “seeing one another down the aisle for the first time.” In the case of example wedding B, the “first look” saves the entire photography timeline. If the couple wants to wait for the aisle as the first moment to see one another, then they will have a very limited time in daylight and before dinner to get everything shot. So….what do you really want? What is most important?
In Conclusion
All in all, you must follow your heart when it comes to your wedding desires. Stick to your guns when it counts, and compromise or sacrifice when it doesn’t make sense to fight against the wind. What I mean is, weddings are a union of two people in love but also a union of their families’. Enjoy the process and make people happy where and when you can. Most of all, do it within the limits you and your partner set for yourselves! Whatever you decide, enjoy in the moments with a full commitment. Be present, be yourself and let your photographers capture your authentic joy. A year or more of planning is only captured once but will keep you reliving all the moments forever.
Olive Studio is a documentary based photography studio, specializing in unique, intimate and off-the-beaten track weddings. Our candid shooting style allows for couples to...
I often get asked about how to create a photo timeline and so I would like to share with you a “go-to” guide to help you get the most out of your professional wedding photography.
What do you want?
Firstly, before you book your photographer it is a good idea to determine what you want out of your wedding photos. Do you love photography and want every single portion of the day captured? Do you only care about capturing the ceremony and family portraits? Or are you more of a couple session lover? Once you determine the answer, you can better assess how long you need your photographer for.
Plan everything around your Nuptials
While this might sound odd, it is the best and most logical place to begin the planning of your wedding day. WHERE and WHO will be marrying you and your partner determines the TIME in which you will become officially married! For example, the timing might be chosen for you if it is customary by your religion to follow certain timing protocols. Catholic and Orthodox churches often prefer an afternoon church ceremony, where a Jewish ceremony traditionally occurs at sunset. If it is non-denominational, then likely the timing is between you, the venue and the person guiding you through your “I do’s.”
Wedding Photo Timeline
Once you have determined the time your ceremony will start and end, you can then count how many hours you will need until the last important portion of the day occurs. If you want all the speeches photographed, the “first dances” and the cake cutting for example, then you will need to keep the photographer until those are complete. Now you have determined most of the time you will need the photographer for to document the day. You now have the “before” the ceremony portion to extend your coverage into. This likely will be the “getting ready” shots and perhaps the “first look.” Once you have counted backwards, you add the two parts of the day together and get the total coverage time you will need. (I will make a more concise example below shortly.)
Time Allocations we Recommend
As wedding specialists, we have of course “ideals” for wedding photography. This however, is not often feasible due to restrictions like ceremony times, dinner set times or wedding traditions that couple’s do not want to break. In an ideal photo world, this would be our recommendation for time allocations for each portion of the day:
Getting Ready photos for each partner: 1-2hrs
First Look: 10min
Family Photos: 30min
Couple Session: 1-1.5hrs
Bridal Party Session: 30min-1hr
Ceremony: more than 10 min
Reception: We would like to document your day until the group dancing begins ideally and no more than 30 minutes of dancing coverage. This is especially nice to have if you plan on getting an album made so that we can tell the full story.
A typical wedding photography timeline
In order to help you structure your timeline, I will give you two examples of typical wedding day timelines (with two photographers) that allocates sufficient time to get ample wedding coverage in all aspects of the day. I will then explain how sometimes traditions, venues and expectations of others (or yourselves) can hinder this. Lastly, I will explain how you can deal with these obstacles.
A: Traditional Afternoon Church Timeline Example
Getting Ready: Bride @11:30-12:30pm
Getting Ready: Groom @11:30-12:30pm
drive to church @12:30- 12:45pm
Church Ceremony @ 1pm-2pm
Family Photos at Church @ 2pm-2:30pm
drive to photo location @ 2:30-3:00pm
Bridal Party Photos @ 3pm-3:30pm
Couple Photos @ 3:30pm – 4:30pm
drive to reception venue @ 4:30 – 4:45pm
Cocktail Hour/Venue Details @ 5-6pm
Dinner/Dances/Speeches @6-9pm
Dance Floor Opens @9pm-9:30pm
TOTAL: 10 hours of Coverage
B: Non-denominational outdoor sunset wedding timeline example
Getting Ready: Bride @2-3pm
Getting Ready: Groom @2-3pm
getting ready on-site
First Look: @3pm
Couple Photos @3:00-4:30pm
Bridal Party Photos @4:30-5pm
Freshen up + hide before guests arrive: @5pm-5:30pm
Ceremony: @5:30pm-5:45pm
Family Photos: @6pm-6:30pm
Cocktail Hour/Venue Details @6pm-7pm
Dinner/Dances/Speeches @7-8:30pm
Dance Floor Opens @8:30pm-9pm
TOTAL: 7 hours of Coverage
The Obstacles…
Above I have written fairly typical wedding timelines that are geared towards sufficient time for photos. These packages would cover everything a couple would need; from beginning to end. HOWEVER….
1. Buffer Time
There are a few obstacles that can easily interfere with these “ideal” timelines. Timeline A, is a tight timeline. There is plenty of time for photographing all elements in the case that the day runs ON TIME. However, this is often not the case for weddings in general.
I generally advise my clients to plan on being at least 30 minutes late for all or at some point of the day. If you have a planner, this should be diverted and time should be regained if it is lost but if you do not have a planner, time can just disappear! The best way to avoid time from evaporating is to hide buffer time into each category. My above example does not have buffer time. When you add this buffer, your hours of coverage will likely jump for 10hour to 12hours. This might hinder your pockets but if you prepare for it ahead of time, you can likely save on spending overtime hours!
2. Travel Time
In addition to buffer time, you should bank on paying your photographer for travel time. Your package is consecutive hours, so the more driving from A to B and maybe C and D you do, the more time you are paying your photographer to drive and not shoot. If you eliminate this, do it! Find photo locations that are close to either your ceremony locale or your reception locale. Choose a church if you can close to your getting ready location too. All of these factors add up!
3. Family Expectations
While weddings are all about you saying “I do” to your honey, don’t forget that weddings are all about family too! lol. That can be good or bad depending on the families I guess! hahaha.
If you know that your family is likely to have demands like needing you to get ready at your parents house that is an hour away from the church, then you might want to prepare yourself for this conversation. What is important to you? What expectations of family are you ready to fulfill or not? Does your budget meet these demands?
Family expectations come in all forms when it comes to the topic of weddings, so prepare with your partner about what you are willing to bend for before you ask your family for input.
4. Your own expectations
You might not have even considered that your own expectations might be different from your partners. In fact, maybe your own expectations will interfere with the ideal timeline more than you thought too. Sometimes it takes your actual engagement before you realize that you don’t really want to do a first look. It’s funny how things can change when it is you in the hot seat! Many brides are conflicted with doing a “first look” vs “seeing one another down the aisle for the first time.” In the case of example wedding B, the “first look” saves the entire photography timeline. If the couple wants to wait for the aisle as the first moment to see one another, then they will have a very limited time in daylight and before dinner to get everything shot. So….what do you really want? What is most important?
In Conclusion
All in all, you must follow your heart when it comes to your wedding desires. Stick to your guns when it counts, and compromise or sacrifice when it doesn’t make sense to fight against the wind. What I mean is, weddings are a union of two people in love but also a union of their families’. Enjoy the process and make people happy where and when you can. Most of all, do it within the limits you and your partner set for yourselves! Whatever you decide, enjoy in the moments with a full commitment. Be present, be yourself and let your photographers capture your authentic joy. A year or more of planning is only captured once but will keep you reliving all the moments forever.
