Wedding Day Photography Timeline Recommendations and Tips
Creating a wedding day timeline can be a very intimidating task. However, imagine that at the end of the day, after your self-care routine, you snuggle up with your loved ones on the sofa, reminisce about the precious moments, and rekindle the memories through the quality images captured by your professional wedding photographer and videographer. You radiate happiness.
Allocating time for your photographer is important. This popular Wedding Day Photography Timeline includes the types of photos most requested by our clients and we believe that it will help you plan for your special day too!
Details - Wedding details would usually consist of photographs of the Rings, Dresses, Shoes, Jewelry, and other meaningful wedding items.
Recommended Time: 30 minutes
Recommended Location: Bridal Suite, Airbnb, Hotel, Venue
Tips: The wedding details photographs are often overlooked on the day of the wedding, but these photos are very important to tell the story the day as they are often used to help establish scenes for the story. We like to take about 30 minutes to be sure we can take our time with these priceless items to capture them in a creative way.
Bride Prep - These photos would consist of the Bride and Bridesmaids/Bridesmen while getting ready for the wedding.
Recommended Time: 15-30 Minutes
Recommended Location: Bridal Suite, Hotel Suite
Tips: The Bride prep photos will often take place in a hotel suite or bridal suite. The best time for this to happen is right before the makeup and hair are 100% finished.
Groom Prep - These photos would consist of the Groom and Groomsmen/Groomswomen while getting ready for the wedding.
Recommended Time: 15-30 Minutes
Recommended Location: Hotel Suite, Airbnb, at the Venue
Tips: The Bride prep photos will often take place in a hotel suite or Airbnb. The best time for this is when all the groomsmen are together. This is when the pictures of the best man and others helping the groom get ready will take place.
Bride Solo - Photos of the Bride to showcase her final look after preparation is completed
Recommended Time: 15 Minutes
Recommended Location: Hotel Suite, Airbnb, at the Venue
Tips: The best time for these photographs is usually right after the Bride puts on her dress. This is when the hair and make-up are still fresh.
Groom Solo - Photos of Groom by himself after preparation is completed
Recommended Time: 15 Minutes
Recommended Location: Hotel Suite, Airbnb, at the Venue
Tips: These photos will usually take place in or in close proximity to the location where the Groom was getting ready. These photos will usually showcase the Groom's attire for the day.
Immediate Family - Photographs of the Bride/Groom with
Recommended Time: 15-20 Minutes
Recommended Location: Hotel Suite, Airbnb, at the Venue
Tips: These moments would usually consist of Bride/Groom having a "private" moment with some of the most important people in their life such as parents or other close family members.
First Look - The First time the Wedding Couple sees each other.
Recommended Time: 15 Minutes
Recommended Location: Venue, Prep Locations, Location of Couples Portraits
Tips: Traditionally Wedding Couples waited until the ceremony to see each other for the first time, but in recent times couples are now doing a first look. The first look usually takes place before the ceremony at a chosen location. This is where the wedding couple will see each other in their wedding attire for the first time. Doing a first look will not only allow the Couple to see each other for the first time in a more private setting, but it also gives them a chance to express their feelings without the distraction of a ceremony script. The first look also allows for the portrait sessions to begin before the ceremony.
Wedding Party - Photos of the entire wedding party
Recommended Time: 30-45 Minutes
Recommended Location: Venue, Park, or Beach
Tips: It is important to leave enough time for pictures with some of the most important people in your lives. It's best to get several group pictures of the entire wedding party as well as individuals. The time for Wedding Party pictures can vary, for the large group photos, it would usually take about 2 minutes on average to get everyone in position, then take a few pictures before changing to the next position. For individual pictures with each member of the wedding party plan for about 3 minutes per person.
Couples Session - Photos of the Wedding Couple together
Recommended Time: 45-60 Minutes
Recommended Location: Venue, Park, Beach, or Garden
Tips: This session is one of the most important parts of the day, so please remember to leave ample time for this. These pictures tend to be the photos that are selected for albums, wall art, and prints. Its best to time this session for the late afternoon about 1 hour before sunset, usually this fits into the timeline right after the ceremony. During this time of the day, you will be alone with the photographer to capture the photos that would really showcase your venue. If you chose your venue for any spectacular view, this is also the best time to get environmental portraits with this as your backdrop.
Ceremony Detail -
Recommended Time: 15 Minutes
Recommended Location: Ceremony Location
Tips: These photos are best taken after the ceremony site setup has been completed. It is best to let your wedding coordinators know that you want photos taken of the completed ceremony site so they can work with the photographers to make this happen before guests show up.
Formals -
Recommended Time: 30-45 Minutes
Recommended Location: Ceremony Venue, Reception Venue, Park
Tips: Wedding Formal Pictures are some of the most important photos that will be shown for generations. You will want to plan for these photos right after the ceremony. You will want to create a shot list ahead of time and have someone on both sides of the family make sure all the VIP's in these pictures stick around after the ceremony for the pictures. You will want to plan for 3-5 minutes per group for photos.
Reception Details -
Recommended Time: 15 Minutes
Recommended Location: Reception Location
Tips: Because of the pace of the wedding day, you often won't have a lot of time to soak in all the details and designs of your reception. These pictures will allow you to look back at all the details that you might have missed during the wedding day.
Nighttime Couples Session -
Recommended Time: 20-30 Minutes
Recommended Location: Reception Location
Tips: Nighttime couples portrait sessions will give you a chance to sneak out of the reception for a few minutes. These sessions will often give you a chance to obtain some truly unique photos to fill out your album and social media. The best time of the night for this is after the dance floor opens and you are looking for a quick break.