How many hours of photography do you need?

  Odds are if you’re reading this then you are recently engaged or shopping around for a loved one. Either way congratulations! You have reached out to one or more photographers and received information on packages and pricing. There is a lot you need to think over and different packages come with different perks and options. There is a lot to unpack there but for now we will keep it simple and focus on the one thing that defines any wedding package. The hours of wedding day coverage. 

   It’s hard to tell when you have just started your wedding planning how many hours you might need. Especially when you have little or no experience when it comes to wedding planning. Hopefully this article can help you get at least a foot in the door with your final decision. I will base this article on the packages which Sarah and I offer but most other photographers are similar when it comes to hours they offer so this should be helpful across the board! 

The Hourly Option

Every photographer offers packages with a set amount of hours, you can find photographers who are willing to go by the hour or photographers who offer very short elopement packages. If you are looking for 3 or four hours of coverage this might be perfect for you. These packages are good for people who aren’t having big weddings. Just a small intimate ceremony and some couples photos. Maybe some family photos as well.  If you are wanting a full wedding day experience you will want to consider a longer package but please don’t make the mistake of thinking you can squeeze a day’s worth of events into this short amount of time. Not only will you find yourself incredibly tense trying to achieve this goal but your family will not have a good time and you likely lessen the quality of your photos as a whole due to rushing your photographer and leaving your family no time to offer up those cute candid moments that photographers watch for. 

Part of the Day

   Our packages start at 6 hours of coverage. This amount of time covers two thirds of an average wedding day. When I say a wedding day I’m referring to the time between preparation, (Hair, Make-up etc..) to the bride and groom's exit at the end of the reception. Typically when we schedule a 6 hour package we will arrive at the end of hair and make-up and exit after the first dance at the beginning of the reception. The Bride and Groom will have photos done that capture many important parts of the day but leave out the majority of the behind the scenes action and the celebration. 

A Full Story

   Our most commonly booked package is our 8 hour package. At this point we are talking about capturing a full story of your wedding day. This package ( in most cases ) captures a big picture story of the emotions and celebration of your love. We typically arrive closer to the beginning of the bride's hair and make-up session. We capture photos of not just the bride getting ready but also the bridesmaids and moms before moving over to the men in the bridal party. We spend the wedding day making beautiful art and have a blast capturing behind the scenes moments that the bride and groom might have missed all together if we hadn’t been there. As long as this package is, it still isn’t usually long enough to take us to the end of the reception. Typically if the bride and groom don’t want to add time for this we will bring up the option of doing a “mock exit” We will have the DJ announce that the guests line up around the exit and make a tunnel. The bride and groom will run out of the reception hall as all of the guests cheere and celebrate. At the end of the day we have a story that appears complete and we have helped create a family TREASURE!

The Definitive Full Story

  In this package we provide 10 hours of onsite coverage. This is no doubt the best option for a couple who is planning a big wedding and an exit at the end of the night. Nothing will have to be faked or reenacted. We arrive at the beginning of the preparation and leave after the big exit at the end of the night. The end product is not only gorgeous but priceless. As the years pass the decision to go this route becomes more and more valuable to your friends and family as a window into the past. We have only been photographing weddings for just over a decade and I can’t tell you how many clients have contacted us years down the line to tell us how something came up that required them to dive back into their wedding photos and they fell in love with them all over again. In 10 hours a good photographer can capture so many special moments and will have time to catch each one of your guests at your reception. 

In Closing

   Only you can know which package is right for you and there are many reasons aside from budget that will determine that decision. Sometimes wedding planning can change as the wedding approaches. This is why Sarah and I always offer the ability to edit your package or add hours when you need them. Even on a wedding day. Take your time most importantly make sure you pick the right photographer who understands you and your needs! 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read. I hope this article helped you on your wedding planning journey.

  Sarah and I are open for bookings in the Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky area as well as traveling sessions. If you’re interested in possibly booking a session just hop over to the contact page and shoot us an email!

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Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson