How many hours of Wedding Photography Coverage Do Need?

One of the biggest struggles couples often run into when it comes to wedding photography is figuring out how many hours of wedding photography they need. The one factor, and probably the biggest, is figuring out What you really value most from wedding photography.

Are you looking for a photographer who’ll invest in your story, get to know your relationship, and focus on the moments that mean the most? Or do you just need someone to show up, grab a few snaps, and move on? Let’s take a look at the different factors in deciding how many hours of wedding photography coverage you will need.

Full day coverage

Let’s talk about full day wedding photography coverage. I’ve always thought saying “Full Day” was a pretty vague statement as this can mean several different things depending on the photographer. Full day coverage can start from 8 hours up to unlimited hours. For me, I consider a full day wedding coverage to be a true full day. That means from the moment the bride starts to have their hair and makeup with their bridesmaids until the grand exit at your wedding reception.

So, what can you expect from full day coverage? Here’s a breakdown:

Morning Prep

Your wedding photographer will be there to catch all the behind-the-scenes magic as you and your bridal party get ready. Think candid shots of hair and makeup moments, a little champagne sipping, and those hyped-up, pre-ceremony vibes that set the tone for the day.

First look

Not every couple chooses to do a first look. This is the moment when you and your partner see each other for the first time on your wedding day. It’s an emotional and intimate moment you both get to share. I do highly recommend one as its not only one of the only times you two will spend time actually together on your wedding day, but it frees up the stress before the ceremony as well. You also get to enjoy your cocktail hour with your fam and guests as you won’t be using that time to take photos.

Ceremony

The ceremony is the main event, the heartbeat of your wedding day. From your first step down the aisle to the tear-filled vows declaring your love in front of your favorite people, it’s pure, unforgettable magic.

Portraits

After the ceremony, if you did not have a first look, you’ll want to take some formal portraits with your bridal party and family. This is a great time for your photographer to get some epic group shots and some romantic ones of just you and your partner.

Tip: If you have your ceremony and reception at different locations, then you may need to plan for the extra time that will take away from having these photos taken right after the ceremony due to traveling to the reception.

Cocktail Hour

Cocktail hour is the perfect time for your guests to mingle, sip on signature drinks, and soak in the vibes. It’s the calm before the party, filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and candid moments you’ll love looking back on. This is also the time in which if you did not have a first look, that you will have to do your family photos, bridal party photos, and your couples photos.

Reception

The reception is where the party kicks off and your personalities shine! From heartfelt toasts to that packed dance floor, it’s all about celebrating your story with your favorite people in the best way possible.

Full day Wedding Photography coverage is great if:

• Your ceremony and reception are in different locations
• You want to do a first look
• You want both getting ready photos and a lot of dancing photos
• You have a large guest list ( 100 – 200+ )
• You’re looking for more creative portrait time
• You want the full story of your wedding day from start to finish

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Wedding photography is an investment. Only you can decide what about it you value. If you still need help to decide how much you should invest in your wedding photography, take at this article I wrote about how you should approach investing in your wedding photography. 

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Half day coverage

Depending on your wedding photographer, this could be between 4 and 8 hours. It’s a great option if you just want a few key moments captured, having an elopement or smaller wedding.

So, what can you expect from 1/2 day coverage? Here’s a quick rundown:

Getting Ready

You might not have enough time for your photographer to capture the whole morning prep process, but they should be able to capture photos of you and your bridal party getting last minute touches done.

Ceremony

Your photographer will definitely be there to photograph all of those moments.

Portraits

You might have time for a few formal portraits with your bridal party and family, but it’s likely you won’t have as much time as you would with full day coverage.

Reception

Depending on how long your reception is, you might be able to have some photos of the first dances, speeches, and cake cutting. Usually there might not be time to capture open dance or any grand exits.

Half day Wedding Photography coverage is great if:

• Your venue and reception are at the same location
• Your not interested in any getting ready photos
• Your not having any special entrances / exits,
• Your not looking for a ton of dancing photos
• You have a smaller wedding or elopement

Elopements

If you’re having an elopement, the time needed to photograph it will differ per couple. Elopement’s now a days can be a quick few hours or all the way up to 8+ if its an adventure elopement. However that can sometimes jump you into a destination wedding. 4 hours of wedding photography coverage might be just what you need for most elopements. Elopements are intimate and often more relaxed than traditional weddings, so you might not need as much coverage.

So, what can you expect from 4 hours of coverage for your elopement? Here’s a quick rundown:

Getting Ready

You might not have enough time to capture the whole morning prep process, but your photographer should be able to get a few shots of you and your partner getting ready.

Ceremony

Your photographer will definitely be there to photograph all your ceremony moments.

Portraits

You might have time for a few formal portraits with just you and your partner, but it’s likely you won’t have as much time as you would with more coverage.

Adventure

If you’re having an adventure elopement ( like hiking to a beautiful location to exchange vows ), your photographer will be able to capture all of the breathtaking scenery and special moments along the way.

As you can see, 4 hours of wedding photography coverage for an elopement means you’ll get photos of the key moments of your special day. Just be sure to communicate with your photographer about what’s most important to you so they can make the most of the time they have.

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Adventure elopements

It’s hard to say exactly how much wedding photography coverage you’ll need for an adventure elopement, as every elopement is unique and has its own needs. However, in general, you’ll want to consider the following factors when determining your coverage:

Length Of The Adventure

How long will your adventure elopement take? Will you be hiking for a few hours, or will you be out all day? Keep in mind that the longer your adventure takes, the more photography coverage you’ll likely need.

Number Of Locations

Will you be stopping at multiple locations during your adventure elopement? If so, you’ll want to make sure you have enough coverage to capture all of the special moments at each location.

Importance Of Candid Shots

Do you want a lot of candid, documentary-style shots that capture the emotion and atmosphere of your elopement? If so, you’ll probably want to book your photographer for a longer period of time.

Overall, I would recommend booking your wedding photographer for at least 6-8 hours of coverage for an adventure elopement. This will give you enough time to capture the key moments of your adventure and allow for some flexibility in case things don’t go exactly as planned.

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Looking for a more in-depth dive into wedding photography timelines and what to expect from those parts of your wedding day? Head on over to this article i wrote that about wedding photography timelines.

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Things to consider

There are a few things that might cause you to need more than 8 hours of wedding photography coverage, including:

A Large Wedding

If you’re having a large wedding with lots of guests, you’ll likely want more wedding photography coverage to make sure you capture all of the special moments and all of the people who are important to you.

A Long Ceremony

If you’re having a traditional wedding with a full religious ceremony? You might need more than 8 hours of coverage to make sure your wedding photographer is able to capture everything you desire. Many factors such as travel might come into play.

Multiple Events

These usually won’t necessarily at hours to your wedding day, but they would probably be an add on to your existing wedding package you choose to go with.

Extra Detail Shots

If you want a lot of photos of not just your moments, but also photos of all your wedding details such as wedding decor, invitations, and other special touches, you’ll probably want more than 8 hours of coverage if its a single photographer, or opt in of a 2nd photographer added on to your package.

Extra Creative Portraits

If you are looking to spend a lot of creative time with your wedding photographer for some of those amazing and epic romantic portraits that they may specialize in, you may want to add in additional time if needed.

More Storytelling

If you want a lot of candid, documentary-style shots that capture the emotion and atmosphere of your wedding, you’ll probably want more than 8 hours of coverage to make sure your photographer is able to capture all of the moments that mean the most to you.

Tip: For me, a good rule of thumb I often recommend to my couples is to add 2hrs to what you think you might need. More time, while yes it will increase in price, is 100% priceless at the end of the day when you can say you got to LIVE your wedding day, and not treat it like a rushed check box of things to do.

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Now that you have an idea about how much wedding photography coverage you should need, allow me to introduce myself. Hello, I’m TJ. I’m a tattooed coffee connoisseur, Wookiee linguist, and stalker of light, that has a set of chops that make Wolverine cry. I’d love to have a chat and learn all about what you are cooking up for your wedding.

So if you’re looking for a wedding photographer who truly cares about your unique story and will work with you to create a customized experience, look no further. Reach out to me today for a quick chat to see if i am the photographer for you. Let’s create a wedding album filled with beautiful, meaningful, and memorable moments that you’ll treasure forever.

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