As New York wedding photographers, one of the biggest questions our couples face is how long to hire photography services for. This varies between different photographers, but there are some standard wedding photography packages in New York City. Let’s take a look at the different options for hiring your photography wedding vendors.

Standard Wedding Photography Packages in New York City

Each photographer will have their individualized packages that typically come in sets of hours. While some choose to work à la carte, many will have set packages based on the needs of different couples. Most wedding photography packages in New York will have 6, 8, and 10-hour options for standard Western weddings.

Hiring a New York & Hudson Valley Wedding Photographer

To find out a photographer’s packages, you’ve got to check if they’re available for your date. Most photographers will have an inquiry form on their website, or an email listed to contact them. Reach out and see whether they’re available for your wedding. Be sure to provide as much information as you can – this will help the photographer consult you better.

What to Include in a Wedding Photography Inquiry

Include information about where the wedding is taking place, whether you plan to have more than one location, and any other pertinent details. For example, if you plan a church ceremony and a venue reception, be sure to list those details. That will help the photographer estimate a timeline for your day.

Be Aware of Travel Time Between Separate Locations

If you’re planning the wedding with multiple locations, don’t forget to factor in travel time, as well. The travel time between locations will often count toward your photographer’s total time hired. This is because they may not be shooting, but they are still working to move equipment and prepare for the next part of the day.

Communicating with Your New York City Photographer

Your New York or Westchester wedding photographer choices will answer you with packages or a customized quote. After you review their offerings, set up a time to chat with the professional. You’ll want to make sure you’re fully on the same page. In addition, you’ll also want to ensure that you have great chemistry before hiring your photographer.

Planning Timelines in Advance of Your Consultation

Planning your wedding timeline in advance helps you to see exactly how many hours you need before you talk to a potential photographer. Most photographers will allow you to add extra hours of wedding photography coverage during the planning process, so don’t worry too much about having a solidified schedule. Talk to the wedding photographers and wedding planners to get a better idea of the time required and select the appropriate amount for that time.

Setting Up Timelines with Your Wedding Photographer

As professional photographers in NYC, we know that wedding plans can shift. There are many moving parts when it comes to wedding planning. We allow for our couples to start their wedding photography packages at 6 or 8 hours, allowing them to upgrade their hours closer to their wedding date. That way, once we sort out the timeline in a more finalized way, we can decide what is most necessary for the celebration.

Having a Timeline Consultation Closer to Your Wedding Day

Our timeline consultations take place about a month before the wedding. This is enough time for the majority of details to have been organized, so we can put a plan in place. At this point, couples are welcome to add more hours onto their package should they need it. We’d much rather our couples have what they need when they need it than oversell package hours in the beginning.

When Do Wedding Photographers Start the Day in New York City?

If you book your wedding photographer or photographer for the whole day, they will start capturing key moments hours before the ceremony. As Catskills & Hudson Valley wedding photographers, we typically start about an hour before you’re done getting ready. We love capturing shots of the wedding party celebrating with the couple before the big day begins.

Getting Ready Photos on a Wedding Day

Many couples want getting ready photos. We love capturing detail shots including rings, dresses, accessories, florals during this time as well. That last hour before you’re ready to go is the perfect time to do these photos. That way, you don’t have two hours of photos of you sitting in a chair with no hair and makeup.

Coordinating a First Look with Your New York Wedding Photographers

If you plan to do a first look, your wedding photographers will help to coordinate this. Bridal parties may or may not be present during this time, depending on how intimate you want the moment to be. You can then get all of your wedding portraits done, and even family/wedding party photos too if you’d like!

How Much of the Day Do Wedding Photographers Capture?

Your photographers should stay throughout the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. They’ll be there to capture speeches, first dances, and other important moments in the big day. When thinking of how long you should hire a wedding photographer for, consider which parts of the reception are important.

Wedding Photography Coverage During Your Reception

As Hudson Valley & New York wedding photography experts, we typically leave about 45 minutes into the final dance floor. This gives enough time to capture the best moments when everyone is fresh and full of energy. After those 45 minutes, we’ve found guests are a little more inebriated and may not want some of those end-of-the-night images.

What to Ask a Wedding Photographer When Deciding Package Hours

Some couples will choose to look at a contract before making the decision on their photographer. Have your photographer outline any important points they should be aware of in the contract. Regarding how long you should hire a wedding photographer for on a wedding day, you should ask the photographer about overtime rates.

Ask Your Hudson Valley & New York wedding photography Professional About Overtime Rates

If you hire a photographer for a certain number of hours, you also must be aware of what they charge for overtime. Many wedding schedules do not end up going to plan, and your vendors may need to stay a little longer. For wedding photographers, many of them will have set overtime hours to pay attention to.

Be Aware of Your Options with Overtime for Wedding Days

Make sure you understand the conditions of overtime, as well. As Beacon-based wedding photographers, we make sure that if our couples want coverage outside their hours, we need explicit permission to stay. That’s essential when it comes to overtime – make sure you are giving the photographer permission to stay at the wedding.

Additional Costs to Be Aware Of When Hiring a Wedding Photographer

When hiring a wedding photographer, hours of coverage are not the only thing you’ll need to think about. There are some additional costs that may come with hiring a wedding photographer. Let’s take a look at some of the more notable costs of having professional wedding photography.

Engagement Sessions

We include complimentary engagement sessions in all of our packages. Regardless of whether our couples already have engagement photos, we recommend doing the session anyway. These sessions are the perfect way for us to get to know each other. We want you to get comfortable with us behind the lens.

Checking Engagement Session Prices with Photographers

Not all photographers offer engagement sessions, so check how much this shoot would cost. Make sure to factor that into your overall photography budget if you choose a photographer who doesn’t add them.

Travel Fees for Hudson Valley, Long Island, and Upstate New York

If you’re having your wedding outside of New York City, figure out what the travel costs are for the photographer. Some may include travel time while others may have expenses. Many wedding photographers are willing to travel outside the five boroughs, so please be sure to check on what their travel policy states.

Photography Permits

If you’d like to take photos in some of New York City’s most sought-after locations, you’ll likely need a photography permit. Some of the most notable locations that require permits include the Conservatory Garden and the New York Public Library. Your photographer can help research permits, but they should not be fronting the cost of the permissions.

Additional Photography Shooters

When hiring a wedding photographer, you may need additional shooters for more in-depth coverage. As Beacon-based wedding photography professionals, we come with two shooters as we’re a married duo. That may not be the case for other photographers, however. Be sure to check on how many shooters are included in your initial package.

Adding a Third Shooter to Your Special Occasion

For weddings with over 125 guests, we even recommend adding a third shooter onto the package. This will solidify coverage across the board when it comes to the big day. For larger weddings in New York City, you’ll want to have photography coverage throughout your entire special day without worrying about missing a moment.

Wedding Videography Coverage

We offer photo and video coverage, giving you an accessible option to have videography at your wedding without having a huge team of people following you around all day. Our hybrid photography and videography style for weddings is subtle and casual, allowing couples to enjoy the experience of their day.

Highlight Reel from Your Wedding Day

You’ll receive a four-to-six-minute highlight reel after your wedding with the best moments of the day. We use small lav microphones to capture important moments like vows and speeches. Our unobtrusive style is perfect for couples looking for both photo and video coverage without the hassle.

Prints and Albums

Check on what your photographer offers in terms of prints and albums. Some professionals bundle these into packages, while others offer albums and prints à la carte. If you’re interested in either, be sure to understand pricing ahead of time. You’ll also want to be sure on whether you have printing rights for the wedding photography gallery.

When Should You Hire a Wedding Photographer?

Many wedding photographers are hired nine to twelve months in advance of the wedding day. This allows for plenty of time to get to know your photographer and do an engagement session. Some couples book even further out, with fourteen to sixteen months being a normal inquiry time.

You’ll also want to get engagement photos done with the same photographers. It’s important for couples to get comfortable ahead of time with their photography professionals. You’ll be spending a lot of time with them on your wedding day, so comfort is absolutely key for a good experience.

Booking Wedding Photographers in Advance

If your Tarrytown wedding photographers are in high-demand, the sooner you inquire, the better. Deciding on the amount of coverage can come later on in the process once your ceremony and reception details are finalized. Start with one of the photographer’s 6-hour packages to lock in their time for your wedding day.

When Do You Typically Receive Your Full Wedding Photo Gallery?

Every photographer has different turnaround times. As photographers based in the Hudson Valley, we try and deliver our photos within four to six weeks. We typically deliver galleries closer to the 4-week side, but it’s important to check with your photographer on estimates. Since we love wedding photos so much, we also send a sneak peek within 48 hours.

Which Wedding Photography Package is Best for My Wedding Day?

Six-hour packages are great for couples who are having a more intimate wedding day with a less involved schedule. Eight hours makes a lot of sense for weddings that are a little larger and more traditional. Going up to nine and ten hours is suitable for couples having a more involved reception.

How Long Should You Hire a Wedding Photographer for In New York?

Planning a wedding in NYC? Let us know – as Beacon-based wedding photographers, we would love to help. We’ll provide you with packages that meet the needs of your wedding day, no matter how intimate or large.

When deciding on how long you should hire a wedding photographer for on the big day, be sure to consider these factors. Consider your initial timeline ideas and how your photographer fits into those. Make sure you know the costs upfront for wedding photography package add-ons and additional hours.