How to nail your photo schedule
What is the best timeline for wedding photography? To be truthful, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. Each wedding has such diversity that it would be practically impossible to copy and paste a template for you.
However, when it comes to photography, we find there are ideal amounts of time we like to allot so we can document what is important to you. The keyword here is “ideal”. Don’t get us wrong, if we have to, we’ll capture reception rooms with 4 minutes to spare before your guests come barging in or get all your family photos completed in 13 minutes because there was unexpected traffic your family didn’t know about. But let’s stick with the ideal plan for now.
Whatever may arise, under pressure is when we shine and get’r done. A lot of these time frames below might seem like too much time, but they are rather calculated and based on years of experience seeing unforeseen things happen and learning from them.
At the end of the day, we are there to document history for you, and, more importantly, help give you the gift of not worrying about these things and instead, being present through the whole experience. Here’s how it breaks down:
Bride & Groom Details - 30 Minutes
A few days prior to your wedding day we will be reminding you to consolidate all your details. This would typically include your dress, jewelry, shoes, invitations, and any other accessories that help tell the story. You’ve put a lot of effort into curating your look for the day and it would be a disservice not to give them some well-deserved love. Of course, the same goes for the groom and our second shooter will be doing the same thing with them.
TIP - We find it’s best to have the bride have all the rings you want to be photographed together.
Getting Ready - 60 Minutes
Hugging, giggling, tearing up, toasting/shot-gunning (whatever your preference) are all welcome at this point. Once you are on the tail-end of getting done up, we'll start taking photos of the finishing touches since you probably are not too interested in a half-done look. While the groom probably won’t need a full hour to get ready, there are so many great moments that happen between him and his friends and family at this time.
TIP - Keeping the room tidy and uncluttered will do wonders for your photos. If it doesn’t serve a purpose in the room, tuck it away.
Getting Dressed - 15 Minutes
Designate someone special (and responsible) to help get you in your dress. This is a super special moment to capture and usually has a tear or two involved.
TIP - Picking a tidy, naturally well-lit room will result in some magical photos. We find a big window gives beautifully flattering lighting to our couples.
Individual Portraits - 15 Minutes
Before the rollercoaster begins, it’s nice to get some individual portraits of each of you while you are at your freshest.
First Look - 15 Minutes
This is one of our favourite parts of the day because there are so many emotions running wild. Although we don’t necessarily need the whole 15 minutes, you wouldn't want to cut this moment short because we were running a little late. Let the emotions run free and enjoy the ride!
Couples Portraits - 60 Minutes
Once you have checked each other out from head to toe, we like to steal you away from everyone so you two can be fully present with each other and we can capture those genuine emotions and portraits. This would also be a good time for your bridal party to start getting ready to meet us for their session shortly after.
Bridal Party - 60 Minutes
Let the party begin! This is when the whole gang gets together and celebrates the two of you. During this time, we will get photos of both sides of the bridal party together and separately. The timing of this is dependent on the size of your bridal party.
TIP - Don’t forget to remind your bridal party to bring their bouquets and have all the groomsmen wear their boutonnieres to the session.
Immediate Family - 60 Minutes
We find that less is more. Of course, we want to make sure everyone is captured, but starting to dissect the photo combinations into micro permutations can drag this session longer than it needs to be and most likely won’t make it into the album.
TIP - If your family is known to be notoriously late, tell them to come 10 minutes earlier so we aren’t waiting on them for photos.
Extended Family - 30-45 Minutes
We find by this point you might be a little photo’d out, so we suggest doing fewer larger groupings rather than many smaller combinations. Your cheeks will thank us later.
Ceremony Details - 15 Minutes
While our lead photographer is documenting the portrait session, our 2nd shooter will need the ceremony room completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area so we can capture the beautiful setup you dreamed up.
Ceremony - 30-45 Minutes
The "meat and potatoes" of why we are all here. At this point, sit back and enjoy the moment. Don’t worry about anything, let your team of vendors do what they do best.
TIP - Have a chat with your officiant before the wedding day to discuss any restrictions they might have in terms of photography so a solution can be made beforehand and not 5 minutes before you walk down the aisle.
Cocktails - 30 Minutes
Cocktails usually last an hour but that doesn’t necessarily mean we will be documenting the whole hour since a lot of those photos would end up being redundant. We like to take part of that time to get the photos of your beautifully decorated room.
Reception/Venue Details - 30 Minutes
Similar to the ceremony details, we would love the room completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area so we can capture every detail without any distractions, like your guests’ jackets/purses on chairs or any people in the background.
Sneak Out Session - 15 Minutes
If you mention the words "golden hour" to any photographer, they would probably start foaming from the mouth and they are fully justified in doing so. It is hands down the most beautiful natural light of the whole day and we would love to take you out for a mini session with that newlywed glow to match.
Think of this as a “choose-your-own-adventure”
Not everything on this page is applicable or probably even wanted for your wedding day and that’s totally fine. DO YOU!
If you have any other specific questions about your timeline, please don’t hesitate to reach out so we can hash things out together.