TIPS & TRICKS | WEDDINGS MALLORCA

“Six? Eight? Ten? Twelve hours of wedding coverage? Gosh, that sounds like a lot of time! How many hours of wedding photography do I really need?“

If this thought has crossed your mind while shopping for a wedding photographer, you’re not alone.

In this article, I’ll walk you through some of the most popular coverage timeframes, what’s realistic for those coverage times, and how much time each event takes based on actual weddings I’ve photographed, not guesswork! I’ll also include a breakdown of why things are timed out the way they are so that you can make informed decisions as you plan for your photography coverage!

Figuring out what you need – Realistically

After photographing weddings for over a decade, I have found the following to be the most realistic breakdown of what’s doable within those timeframes. 

Please keep in mind that these are general rules. Each event is unique and every photographer works differently, so you should absolutely discuss the specifics of your event with your photographer:

6 Hours – Short day. The ceremony, all portraits, and the beginning of the reception. OR Getting ready, Ceremony, all portraits, no reception. Ideally all at the same location.

8 hours – Average timeframe. getting ready, ceremony, portraits, partial reception. Possibly time for short travel between hotel & church/venue, and church to the reception.

10 Hours – Average timeframe with breathing room. Getting ready, ceremony, portraits, a good portion of the reception. Time for travel between getting ready, church, venue, and maybe a closeby photo location.

12 hours – More flexibility in terms of timing and flow. Getting ready, ceremony, portraits, pretty much the whole reception OR you’re getting a lot more breathing room throughout the day. Time for travel between closeby locations (hotel, church, venue, and maybe an offsite photo location)

Multicultural weddings that have a lot more events or days, usually require even more hours depending on coverage needs. I recommend discussing your needs with your photographer to ensure that all of your important events are properly covered!

My personal preference: between 8-10 Hours and two photographers. For me and my team, this is our sweet spot to do our best work and, most importantly, give our couples a great experience that doesn’t leave them feeling rushed on the big day.