(Originally posted: May 2014. Updated: July 2026)

Every wedding is different. Some are big celebrations, while others are small and intimate. The number of hours you'll need a wedding photographer depends on what you'd like captured, your locations, travel times and how your day is planned.

When helping couples choose a package, I always start with their timeline, what matters most to them, and their budget. This guide will give you a good idea of how much time each part of the day usually takes, making it easier to choose the coverage that's right for you.

A note on videography:

If you're also having a videographer, it's worth allowing a little extra time throughout your day. While we work closely together, both your photographer and videographer need opportunities to capture key moments without your schedule feeling rushed.

Preparation Photos

A lot can affect how much time you allocate to preparation photos. Whether you're getting ready separately or together, whether you have two dresses, two suits, or one of each. Whether you want short and sweet memories of your morning, or longer coverage to capture more of the story. The recommendations below may not suit everyone, so please feel free to get in touch if you’re planning your wedding in South Australia (or anywhere else in Australia for that matter); I’m more than happy to help my clients figure out what they need on their day.

And remember, you don’t need preparation photos if you don’t want them. You can do your day your way.

Groom Prep

At many weddings, the groom is the partner with the simpler preparation schedule, so this is often where I begin. Every couple and every wedding morning is different—I’ll usually start with whichever partner is ready earlier or has less involved styling.

I love to have 45–60 minutes for this part of the day, although it can be done in 30 minutes if needed. If there’s a larger family or wedding party, or you have a few extra creative photo ideas planned, it’s worth allowing a little longer. Videographers generally prefer at least 60 minutes.

Want to know what preparation photos are all about? Check out this blog post. xx

Bride Prep Photos

Preparation that includes professional hair and make-up, more detailed outfits, or extra styling naturally takes a little longer. Hair and make-up (especially when done by a professional) can't be rushed, and wedding outfits often take a helping hand to button, zip or lace up. (I've spent many a minute helping with stubborn zips, tricky buttons and even the occasional last-minute wardrobe rescue!)

I also love photographing all the little details: make-up, flowers, shoes, jewellery, outfits and all the little personal details and moments that tell the story of your morning.. Because there's simply more happening, I recommend allowing 60 minutes, but I prefer 90 minutes if your timeline allows. Larger families or wedding parties, or couples wanting a few extra portraits before leaving, may like to allow a little longer. Videographers also tend to prefer around 90 minutes.

Want to know what preparation photos are all about? Check out this blog post. xx

Joint preparation photos

Many couples are throwing traditions out the window and are getting ready for their wedding together. Sometimes in separate rooms with “thou shall not enter!” rules, and sometimes completely together. Breakfast together, make-up and hair in the same room, even helping each other to button up the dress or pin the boutonniere. If you’re getting ready together, I find that 90 minutes is the sweet spot for me. 60 minutes is also doable for extra short and sweet coverage. A videographer may prefer to have 1.5-2 hours, but it’s worth asking them directly.

Optional: First Look Photos

Once considered a little unconventional, first looks are now quite common before the wedding ceremony. It's definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but for some it's a great way to rearrange time so that there's a minimal gap between the ceremony and reception. And for others, it's an opportunity to make a public moment very intimate and private. The time spent on a first look really comes down to the purpose of it. For the first look itself, schedule 15 minutes. That’s enough time to take each other in, have a cry, have a cuddle, and put yourself back together for the next steps. Whether that’s straight to the ceremony or onto pre-ceremony portraits.

You can also schedule a first look with family members (dad and/or mum) during your preparation photos, if you’d like to capture that sweet moment with them. x

The Ceremony

The average ceremony these days lasts only 20-30 minutes, but others can take an hour or longer if they're more traditional/cultural. This comes down completely to what you want your ceremony to be. After the ceremony, photos such as certificate signing, a group photo of all of your guests and photos of you taking the time to be congratulated as you walk back up the aisle are what can add to your time frame. Generally, I suggest 60-90 minutes put aside for your ceremony - just so you know you're covered.

One thing couples often forget to include is congratulations immediately after the ceremony. Those hugs from family and friends are some of my favourite moments to photograph, so it's worth giving yourselves time to enjoy them.

I love having 30 minutes before your ceremony to capture decor, location, atmosphere and candids of guests arriving. But I can make 15 minutes work as well. Videographers will need at least 30 minutes to set up their gear for the ceremony. Your ceremony will then last 30-60 minutes (depending on the style). Following that, allocate 15-30 minutes for signing, confetti, and hugs, etc.

Portraits

The part where your photographer steals you away from the wedding, and guests are left to munch canapés and sip drinks. You don’t have to make this bit long. Controversially, I even suggest at times that you don’t even do your couple portraits until sunset (so you can enjoy some of your own canapés with guests!) I love structuring a wedding day so you get to be part of it, rather than feeling like you're constantly being pulled away for photos. Ask your photographer how they can help you schedule your day the same way.

Family Portraits

I like to do this straight after the ceremony, when everyone is still together and easy to gather. (Otherwise, it can end up feeling like herding cats). I’ve written a blog post all about family photos at your wedding here, so I’ll keep this part brief. I generally suggest 30-45 minutes in your schedule for family photos. Not just for the photos themselves, but for the gathering of your family and the hugs. It’s always best to have a bit of breathing room up your sleeves for this. Don’t worry about your videographer, they often don’t capture family portraits and use this time to pack up the ceremony and set-up for reception.

Bridal Party Portraits

Not every wedding has a bridal party anymore, and that's absolutely okay. If you don’t have a bridal party (as is becoming more and more popular), you can skip this bit. If you are having a bridal party, to share the full day and planning experience with your absolute besties, read on! I like to have 45 minutes for bridal party portraits. This captures not only you and your bridal party hanging out, but also some lovely couple portraits. This means you don’t need to factor in additional couple portrait time below, unless you want to sneak out for sunset portraits (which I highly recommend!) For me, 45 minutes is the sweet spot. We can squeeze this into 30 minutes, or spend 60 minutes + capturing these photos (for a more relaxed vibe, and extra locations). Choose what fits best with your day and timeline, as well as your photography goals.

Couple Portraits

This is one of my favourite parts of the day. This is your chance to slow down together, take a breath, and enjoy a little quiet time away from the excitement. So that guests don't feel like they're "having to wait around for photos" I always suggest starting with the big groups first, such as family. Then letting them head to pre-drinks while we shoot the bridal party portraits, and then even letting them head on while we get a few more quiet romantic portraits with just the 2 of you. Ideally, I like to have about 30 minutes to shoot couple portraits - and this can stretch out as long as you like! You can take your couple portraits before your reception, or save them for later when you duck out during your reception for sunset portraits.

The Reception

The reception is the time to let your hair down and celebrate what an amazing day this is! Key formal moments include cake cutting, the first dance, speeches, throwing the bouquet and leaving the reception. But just as important are all the candid and in-between moments; quiet moments with guests and a raging dance floor.

How much of the reception you capture is up to you. Some people capture just the entrance, or none of it at all. Others capture just the formalities, and for some, the entire party is worth documenting. This can be anywhere from 2 - 6 hours, and comes down in part to your venue and catering teams’ reception timeline.

Travel Times

The final consideration in your schedule, travel times! A lot of people forget to factor in the time it takes to travel between locations. 10 minutes here or there can really add up, and will either cut into your photography time or cause you to run late. Once you know roughly how long you want to spend on photography for each section of your day, I recommend adding travel times in-between each location. Once you've added your photography time and travel between locations, you'll have a much clearer idea of how many hours of coverage you'll need.

I hope this guide has helped give you a clearer idea of how much photography coverage you might need. Every wedding is different though, and I'm always happy to help my couples build a timeline that suits their plans and choose the package that fits them best. For more information, please check out my wedding page or contact me. You can also check out my guide ti scheduling your wedding day for even more planning tips. x