How Much Wedding Photography Coverage Do I Need?

Planning my wedding was SO easy!

….said no one ever.

There are so many details to pore over, so many decisions to make, so many checks to write. Finding the perfect wedding photographer, and then trying to determine what you need them there for, can be tricky.

Sorting through wedding photographers and wedding photography packages? Trying (and failing) to understand what each package includes? Wondering how long you need a photographer in attendance on your wedding day?

The answer is it depends.

There are several factors to consider when you’re booking a wedding photographer and deciding how long you’ll need them for, and it comes down to what you want captured, the size of your wedding party and the size of your guest list.

Factor #1: What Moments and Details Do You Want Captured?

Maybe you want full day wedding photography coverage, maybe you want intimate wedding photography coverage, or maybe you have no idea what you need. Regardless of what you’re looking for, the amount of coverage you should get lies primarily in what moments you want captured on your special day.

You might not care if you have photos of you and your bridal party dressing and putting on makeup. On the other hand, you might want every single moment captured of you getting ready, from the moment your bridesmaids arrive with your Starbucks oat milk latte that says “Bride” on the cup to the moment your mother sheds a tear as she zips you into your dress.

Think about which moments are most important to you and which moments you want to remember most. Do you want to have every detail captured, or are you fine skipping professional photography coverage at the very beginning of the day or the end?

It can be helpful to make a list of shots you definitely want before you meet with potential photographers. From the moment you arrive at your venue to get ready to the moment you say goodbye to your guests, think about what you want photographed. And it might not just be you and your wedding party. It could be smaller details too, like the decorations on your tables, the guest book, the food, guests on the dancefloor, and so on.

You may decide that the random photos your friends and family take during the reception are sufficient and you don’t want professional photos during that part of the day. Or, you simply may not care to have photos of you getting your hair and makeup done. That’s completely fine.

Either way, it’s a good idea to have an inkling of what you’re looking for as you go into the first meeting with your photographer. That way you can make sure they’ll be able to cover what you need them to.

Factor #2: The Size of Your Wedding and Wedding Party

A large wedding is going to need more wedding coverage than an intimate wedding, just as a couple with a large wedding party or big family will need more wedding coverage.

If you’re hosting a large wedding, there are a lot of details to capture and a lot more people to wrangle for photographs. Chances are, the wedding party will be getting ready together, then there will be group photos, followed by the ceremony, a cocktail hour, a dinner, and a dance. There are a lot of big moments – and small details in-between – to photograph.

Weddings are a great time to have family pictures taken. It could be the one time during the year your entire extended family gathers, so the photographic evidence is a beautiful keepsake to have. Large wedding parties and large families accumulate a lot of photos and it can be time consuming to get all the combinations in.

On the other hand, a more intimate wedding may not even include a wedding party or a dance. There may simply be a brief ceremony followed by a small dinner. It’ll obviously take a lot less time to photograph a wedding party of four versus a wedding party of 12. Intimate weddings often don’t last the entire day, either.

Factor #3: Location(s)

Some couples have their ceremony and reception in one place, but other couples have it in different locations. For instance, some couples may choose to get married in a church and then host the dinner and dance at an event space. Ideally, these two locations are fairly close together, but sometimes they aren’t. It all depends on what the couple chooses. The farther apart the two locations are, the more wedding photography coverage you’ll need.

Some couples also want photos taken at different locations scattered about town. If you’re going from one location to another, add travel time to your budget.

You may need to start your day earlier to allow ample time to travel to each destination and capture all the photos on the shot list.

Choose the Wedding Coverage that Works for You

Planning a wedding is a complex and intricate process that requires careful consideration of various factors. One crucial aspect is choosing a wedding photographer and determining the duration of their coverage. The decision on how long you'll need a photographer depends on three main factors: what moments you want captured, the size of your wedding party and wedding, and the location(s) of your wedding events.

First, consider what moments you want to be captured throughout the day, whether it's the entire day's events or specific highlights.

Second, take into account the size of your wedding party and guest list. Larger weddings with more people involved typically require more extensive coverage to capture all the details and moments.

Last, the location(s) of your wedding events can impact the duration of photography coverage. If your ceremony and reception take place in different venues or if you have additional photo locations around town, factor in travel time and allocate enough time in your schedule for capturing photos at each location.

By considering these factors, you can make informed decisions when meeting with potential photographers, ensuring that their coverage aligns with your specific needs and desires. Remember that each wedding is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to wedding photography. Ultimately, finding the right balance between the moments you want captured, the size of your wedding party, and the logistics of your event will help you create beautiful memories of your special day.

When you work with me, you get to choose from three different wedding packages – each of which is designed specifically for couples with differing needs on their big day. Whether you’re having a small private ceremony or you’re doing it big and need a photographer there to capture every moment, I have a package for you to choose from.