When going through the wedding planning process, booking a photographer is very important. But how do you determine how long to book your photographer for on your big day? There are many elements to consider in your wedding day planning. Typical wedding photography packages can range from 6 hours to 10 hours. Most western weddings don’t require more hours than that.

How Many Hours Should Your Wedding Photographer Package Be?

This is a difficult question to answer since it really depends on the size and scope of your wedding. If you have a large wedding with lots of guests, you may want to consider hiring a photographer for the entire day. This way, you can be sure that all of your guests will be captured in photographs. However, if you have a smaller, more intimate wedding, you may not need a photographer for the entire day.

Booking the Essentials with a Wedding Photographer

In general, most weddings will require at least 6 hours of photography coverage. This will give your photographer enough time to capture all of the important moments, from getting ready with your bridesmaids to your first dance as a married couple. If you want extra photos of your guests or more time to get creative with your posed shots, you may want to consider booking a photographer for 8 hours or more.

Is 6 Hours Enough for Your Wedding Photography Coverage?

Six hours will typically cover a first look and portraits, a small wedding shot list, ceremony, cocktail hour, and the basics of reception if you front-load your activities. This leaves less time at the end of the night for more candid shots and fun with your guests. If you want more time for these types of moments, you may want to book a photographer for 8 hours or more.

The Standard: 8 Hours or More of Wedding Photography Coverage

Eight hours or more allows your photographer to document most if not all aspects of your wedding day. They will be able to capture all of the important events as well as get plenty of candid shots of you and your guests throughout the day. This is a great option if you want to make sure that every moment is captured in photographs. Plus, if you have a longer family shot list or more people you want reception photos with, this is helpful to get everything you need covered.

When Would You Need 10 Hours of Photographer Coverage on a Wedding Day?

If you are having a large wedding with over 200 guests or more, you may want to consider booking your photographer for 10 hours. This will give them plenty of time to capture all of the important moments as well as get creative with their shots. Plus, if you have a lot of family and friends you want to take photos with, this will give you plenty of time to do so. Alternatively, if you need to change locations a lot, 10 hours is worth it – hotel, church, park, reception venue, for example.

Not Sure How Many Hours You Need? Start Small and Work Up

If you’re not sure how many hours you need, it’s always better to start with a smaller package and then add on more time if needed. This way, you won’t have to worry about paying for more time than you need. Most importantly, don’t forget to communicate with your wedding photographer about what you want captured on your big day. This will help them to determine how many hours they need to book in order to get all of the shots you desire.

Flexible, Candid New York Wedding Photographers

At Megan & Kenneth, we understand that every wedding is different. That’s why we offer a variety of photography packages to fit your needs. Whether you need 6 hours or 10 hours of coverage, we can customize a package to fit your budget and wedding day needs. Contact us today to learn more; as top New York wedding photographers, we want to make sure you have the right about of coverage for your celebration.