How Many Hours of Wedding Photography Do You Actually Need

This question pops up all the time: “How many hours of photography coverage should I book?” And the truth is… there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every wedding is different! Some couples need just a handful of hours, while others need me by their side all day long with a granola bar in one hand and my camera in the other.

The Short + Sweet Wedding Day (5–6 Hours)

I’ve photographed weddings where five hours was more than enough, and they still got a full story of their day. These weddings usually look a little something like this:

✨ One location (yay, no travel time!)

✨ Small guest list and family groupings

✨ A tiny (or no) wedding party

✨ A short + sweet ceremony

✨ Buffet dinner (quick and easy, everyone eats, and then it’s party time!)

✨ A short reception with just the essentials: toasts, cake, first dance, and a little dancing before a sparkler send-off

It’s simple, it’s sweet, and it fits perfectly in a smaller coverage window.

The All-Day, Dance-’Til-Your-Feet-Hurt Wedding (8–10+ Hours)

Then there are those wedding days where I’m there for ten hours, and it still feels like we blinked and it’s over. These are usually the big, bustling celebrations that include:

💃 Multiple locations (getting ready, ceremony, reception… maybe even a stop at a park for photos in between)

💃 Big families + wedding parties (more people = more photos = more time)

💃 Longer ceremonies with lots of meaningful moments

💃 Plated dinners (beautiful, but they take longer to serve)

💃 Receptions that are packed with events AND a good amount of open dance floor fun

For these days, having a longer coverage window makes everything feel smooth and stress-free, we’re never rushing from one thing to the next.

Every Wedding is Different (Just Like Every Couple!)

That’s the beauty of it, no two days are the same! Your coverage really depends on what you want captured. Do you want those “getting ready” giggles with your besties? Do you want me there at the end of the night when your uncle is breaking it down on the dance floor? Or are you more of a “get the main moments and then let’s eat cake” kind of couple? Both are perfect!

My Best Advice

If you’re not sure, don’t stress. I always tell my couples: start with the smaller package. Once we build out your timeline together (which I help you with - yes, I love timelines, I am that person ), it’s super easy to add more coverage if you need it.

Because at the end of the day, my job is to make sure your wedding photos tell the full story of your day, whether that’s five hours or ten.