THE dreaded timeline. You might cry though it, but you can’t live without it. As much as we would love to throw caution to the wind and simply let a wedding day flow, realistically, it just isn’t the best idea if you are hoping for some stunning results. But you DON’T have to cry over the timeline! It really is pretty simple if you attack it with chunks of time in mind. I’ve been photographing weddings for close to 5 years, and by now, I can write a timeline in my sleep. So for all of you brides out there, working through your wedding photography timeline, here are the best tips I can give you.
Pick what is most important and start there.
If you are my client, I am going to tell you that the most important part of your wedding day is the 40 (YES) minutes of uninterrupted bride and groom portrait time. 40 minutes, you read that right. Do I sometimes work with just 30 minutes? You betcha. Even less. But going into a wedding, I know that 40 minutes is the goal. Since a wedding is a living event, things are bound to get delayed. So if we aim for 40 minutes and end up with just 30, that’s okay. But I would hate to aim for 25 minutes and get 10. I’m pretty sure I would have a heart attack.
Segment your events into blocks.
Generally, here are estimates for times needed for different portraits throughout the day.
Note: these are times for photographic moments that need directions and staging!
Details pre ceremony (dress, rings, shoes, etc)- 30-40 minutes
First look– 10 minutes
Bride and groom portraits– 40 minutes
All wedding party photos- 20 minutes
Family photos (depends on family size)– average of 15 minutes
Include buffer time.
You are going to have to pee. You may want to fix your hair or freshen up. Or you may get stuck talking with your Great Aunt even though family photos were supposed to start 10 minutes ago. So always include at least two 10 minute buffer times throughout the day. Trust me, most likely you won’t actually be able to use those times to pee.
Give it to someone else.
I work hand in hand with my couples to create a timeline that suits us all. And then I take charge. I keep it on my phone and put a copy in my bag and I gently remind people of what is next and when. Then, the bride and groom don’t have to worry about the timeline at all. They shouldn’t have to, after all! That’s why they’ve surrounded themselves with a good team.
