Couples ask me all the time how many hours they need. The honest answer is that it depends on your day, not on a number someone picked. So instead of a guess, here's how I actually build timelines with my couples, and how to figure out the right amount of coverage for yours.
Start With What You Want Photographed
Before we talk hours, make a list of the parts of the day you care about. For most weddings it looks something like this:
Getting ready (hair, makeup, the dress, the details)
A first look, if you're doing one
The ceremony
Family photos
Your portraits as a couple
Wedding party photos
The reception: entrances, first dance, toasts, cake and the dance floor
The exit
Once you know which of these matter to you, the hours pretty much decide themselves.
How Much Coverage Different Days Need
3 to 4 hours
This works for a smaller day or a tighter budget. With 3 to 4 hours I can usually cover the ceremony, family photos, your portraits and the start of the reception, like your entrance, first dance and toasts. For this amount of coverage it's just me shooting.
6 hours
Six hours gets you a little bit of getting ready, the full ceremony, portraits and a good chunk of the reception. It's a solid middle ground. My micro wedding collection comes in 4, 6 or 8 hours for celebrations of around 10 to 50 guests.
8 hours or more
For a full wedding, this is where most of my couples land. My full collections start at 8 hours with two photographers, and that covers the whole story, from getting ready through the dance floor. With two of us, one photographer can be with each of you in the morning, and during the ceremony we get both of your reactions.
If your day runs long with an after-party, a late send-off or a long cocktail hour, we can add time.
Build Your Timeline Around Sunset
In Miami, the light is everything. The best portrait light is the last hour or so before sunset, and sunset here moves a lot during the year. In June and July the sun sets a little after 8 pm. By November and December it's around 5:30 pm. Check the exact sunset time for your date with a sunset calculator like timeanddate.com.
That changes your whole day. A December wedding with a 5 pm ceremony means we'll be shooting portraits in the dark unless we plan around it. A summer wedding gives you a lot more room after the ceremony.
So the first thing I look at when I help build a timeline is your sunset time. Then we work backwards.
Leave Gaps for Portraits
This is the one piece of advice I give every single couple. Leave gaps in the timeline for portraits.
Weddings are not linear, and they never run perfectly on time. Hair runs 15 minutes late, a family member goes missing before group photos, the shuttle gets stuck in traffic. If your timeline has zero breathing room, portrait time is always the first thing that gets cut.
A few gaps I like to build in:
Before the ceremony. If you do a first look, 30 to 45 minutes for the first look and couple portraits takes so much pressure off later.
Right after the ceremony. Family photos go fast when you have a list ready. We'll plan the block around how many groupings are on your list.
Golden hour. Even if you've done portraits earlier, step away from the reception for 15 to 20 minutes around sunset. Every time a couple does this, it ends up being some of their favorite photos.
Walking time. Big venues like the Biltmore or the Ancient Spanish Monastery take time to move around. I always add a few minutes between locations.
A Sample 8-Hour Timeline
This is just an example, for a made-up wedding with a sunset around 7:30 pm. Every timeline I build is different and yours will look different too, but it gives you an idea of the flow.
1:00 pm: Photographers arrive. Details, dress and getting ready, with one of us with each of you.
3:00 pm: Getting dressed and final touches.
3:45 pm: First look and couple portraits.
4:30 pm: Wedding party photos.
5:00 pm: Break, tuck away before guests arrive.
5:30 pm: Ceremony.
6:00 pm: Family photos.
6:30 pm: Cocktail hour. We grab reception details before guests walk in.
7:00 pm: Golden hour portraits, 15 to 20 minutes.
7:30 pm: Grand entrance, first dance, toasts.
8:15 pm: Dinner and dancing.
9:00 pm: Coverage ends.
If you want the exit or the late dance floor, we push the start later or add an hour. That's a conversation we'll have together.
First Look or No First Look?
Both are great. A first look gives you more time with each other and gets most of the portraits done before the ceremony, so you can actually enjoy your cocktail hour. Allie & Dillon did a quiet first look in the cloisters at the Ancient Spanish Monastery, and Dillon's reaction is one I'll never forget.
If you'd rather wait for the aisle, that's totally fine. We'll just plan a bigger portrait block after the ceremony and protect that golden hour time.
Don't Forget Weather
Miami weather changes fast, especially in the summer. Summer storms can pop up fast and usually pass quickly. Always have an indoor or covered backup for portraits, and leave a little extra room in the timeline if you're getting married between May and October. I wrote a whole guide on getting married in Miami's heat and rainy season.
How I Help With Your Timeline
Every collection I offer includes help building your timeline. About a month before the wedding we hop on a call, go over the final timeline and your family photo list, and make sure your planner and I are on the same page. If you're working with a planner, I'll coordinate with them directly. A lot of my weddings are planned by Leiton & Co, and having a team that knows the flow of the day makes everything easier.
FAQ
How many hours of wedding photography do I need?
For a full wedding with getting ready, a ceremony and a reception, most couples need about 8 hours. A smaller day can work with 3 to 4 hours. It comes down to which parts of the day you want covered.
When should we take couple portraits?
I like to split them up. Some during a first look or right after the ceremony, then 15 to 20 minutes at golden hour, right before sunset.
Do we need a second photographer?
For a full wedding, I really recommend it. My full collections include a second shooter so we can cover both of you getting ready and get both angles during the ceremony.
What if our timeline runs late?
It happens at almost every wedding. That's why I always tell couples to leave gaps for portraits. A little breathing room keeps the day relaxed and protects your photos.
Let's Build Yours
If you have your date and venue, send them over and I'll help you figure out how much coverage makes sense. See my wedding collections, read my FAQ or reach out here.