If you are recently engaged, you’re probably asking yourself how many hours of wedding photography coverage you really need for your special day. All the choices and options in different wedding photographers can be overwhelming. I get it! But picking your collection coverage doesn’t have to be a complicated choice. There are a few things to consider that will help make your decision a slice of cake!
Before I get into what each coverage typically spans, it’s important to remember one thing about wedding photography. Wedding photography is typically “continuous coverage”. What does this mean exactly? With an eight hour collection, for example, this means that your collection coverage starts when the photographer arrives and ends eight hours later. There is no stopping and starting or gaps in your coverage. This ensures that we capture every important moment of the day!
Another important thing to consider is if you will be doing a first look or not. The choice is always up to you and your future spouse. Interested in learning more about first looks? Check out my blog post here to help you decide if it’s right for you!
Okay, so now that we’ve got the basics in place, let’s talk about the different hours of coverage!
Eight Hours of Wedding Photography Coverage
This is the most popular starter amount of hours for wedding photography. It allows the photographer to capture the majority of your wedding day – from hair & makeup touchups all the way to the exit (depending on your reception length of time).
- One or Two Locations (depending on the travel distance)
- Finishing Touches of Hair & Makeup Coverage
- Up to Two and a Half Hours of Reception Coverage on Average
Nine Hours of Wedding Photography Coverage
I always stress that nine hours is the minimum if you’re having a Catholic Church ceremony. Otherwise we are very rushed throughout the day or you end up having a shorter reception time. Catholic weddings can typically last an hour on average, with typically 15 minutes allotted for portraits afterwards inside the church. Add in the travel time from the getting ready location and then back to your reception space and you’ve blocked off at least 2 hours of time. Nine hours of coverage typically allows for about a 3 hour reception on most occasions.
- Up to Two Locations (depending on the travel distance)
- Perfect for Catholic or Longer Church Ceremonies
- Two and a Half to Three Hours of Reception Coverage on average
Ten Hours of Wedding Photography Coverage
Ten hours is typically considered full day coverage. The really nice thing about having ten hours of coverage is the included buffer time. You won’t feel rushed throughout the day because we can space all the events out for you. So even if things are running late, it’s never a problem with this many hours! This is another great option for Catholic weddings, as it adds in even more time for travel, multiple locations, and details.
- Great for Multiple Locations or Full Day Coverage in One Location
- Everything Covered! – From Hair and Makeup to the Exit
- Buffer Time throughout the day for breaks or touchups
- Multiple Bride & Groom Portraits Sessions (First Look, Sunset, or Night Portraits)
- Multiple First Looks (Bride & Groom, Dad, Bridesmaid, etc)
Hopefully this guide will help you decided how many hours of coverage is right for you. As a bonus for working with me, I help all of my couples with timeline planning! There is never any need to stress over how to schedule the day. Once you’re booked, sample timelines can be sent your way!
Ready to reserve your date and get the luxury wedding photography experience? Inquire with me here and let’s see if we’re a match! I’d love the chance to serve you on your special day!
And follow along on my Instagram to see all the latest work!
