So how many hours of photography coverage do you really need for your wedding?
Figuring out how many hours of photography coverage you need is an important step in hiring your wedding photographer. If you’re not sure of the difference between 6 hours, 8 hours, and 10 hours, keep reading below as I give you some info from an experienced photographer’s perspective.
6 Hours of Wedding Photography Coverage
Six hours of wedding photography is the bare minimum coverage we offer (outside of custom packages). Typically, 6 hours of wedding photography coverage is for the couple who is having a small, simple wedding. When we say small, we mean a small wedding party no greater than probably 4 bridesmaids/groomsmen each. A couple will also have a smaller family photo grouping list, and all of the events like the getting ready, ceremony, and reception are all in one location.
Here’s what’s normally included in a 6-hour wedding photography coverage:
- Ceremony
- First look
- Couple’s photos
- Bridal Party Photos
- Family Photos
- First half of reception events: entrances, toast, speeches, first dance, parent dances (maybe cake cutting if time allows)
Depending on how things are going during the day, some of the reception events may not be covered. No wedding day is alike, but most wedding days tend to get held up with makeup and hair running late. We only recommend this many hours of photography coverage if the getting-ready photos are not important to you, you’re having a smaller wedding, and you want to do all of the photos at your venue. Six hours of photography coverage is pretty tight, but could be the right choice for you!
8 Hours of Wedding Photography Coverage
Most of our clients choose 8 or 10 hours of wedding photography coverage because it gives them more of a stress-free day with some wiggle room in the timeline when things are running behind. Last thing you want to do on your wedding day is be stressed over a rigid timeline!
Here’s what’s normally included in 8-hour wedding photography coverage:
- About an hour of getting-ready photos and wedding details: flat-lay, jewelry, shoes, etc., plus travel from getting ready to ceremony and reception venue
- First look
- Ceremony
- Couple’s photos and bridal photos at the ceremony location and reception venue
- Family photos
- Bridal party photos
- Most of reception events: entrances, toasts, speeches, first dance, parent dances, cake cutting, dancing, bouquet toss–all depends on the order you do things in and how spaced you to make things
Again, you’ll feel a lot less stressed with a bit more relaxed of a schedule and some wiggle room if things run late. What is covered during 8 hours is also very dependent on your plans and expectations for the types of photos you want. For examples, 8 hours may be a good fit for you if you’d like to walk around the venue and take photos at multiple locations. Once you figure out your priorities for photography coverage, selecting which coverage is best for you will become easier.
10 Hours of Wedding Photography Coverage
Ten hours of coverage is best for the couple who wants the majority of their wedding day photographed. It’s also a great choice for couples who want to have ample time during all of the events of the timeline and have extra wiggle room if and when things run behind.
Here’s what’s normally included in 10-hour wedding photography coverage:
- 1-2 hours of getting ready photos and wedding details: flat-lay, jewelry, shoes, etc., plus travel from the getting-ready location to the ceremony and reception venues
- First look
- Ceremony
- Couples photos at ceremony, reception location, and possibly one other location
- Family photos
- Bridal party photos
- Reception events: entrances, toasts, speeches, first dance, parent dances, cake cutting, dancing, bouquet toss, AND a grand exit
A Few Extra Tips on How Many Hours of Photography Coverage You’ll Need
- We do allow couples to add in an extra hour or two after signing the contract. We do find that as it gets closer to the wedding day and the timeline is finalized, couples discover that they may need to add an extra hour or two of coverage. We also ask our couples if they’d like us to stay late and offer additional coverage at the end of day if things are running late.
- Some couples find that a more custom photography package works for them better if the 6/8/10-hour standard doesn’t fit their needs. Don’t be afraid to ask us if you have a different number of hours in mind. We’re flexible and are usually happy to accommodate you.
- Weddings have a lot of moving parts, so figuring out what your priorities are in terms of what you’d like covered is the best deciding factor when picking how many hours of coverage you need.
- Check out our pricing page for more info on the packages we offer!
