Your big day is on the way, and you’re trying to finalize your timeline. You know you have to set aside time to get ready for the day, time for the ceremony, a block for all reception events…but what you may forget in the hustle and bustle is to factor in time for your professional wedding photography! Taking some of those perfect shots takes a bit of a time commitment, so here are some specific situations to account for in your schedule!

First Looks

First looks have grown in popularity, and it’s easy to see why! Sharing a special moment with your soon-to-be spouse and/or your parents before the ceremony is a wonderful way to get images to remember all of the emotions of your wedding day.

A first look is a time commitment, though; to absorb all of the emotions and spend some precious time with your loved one, you’ll want to plan at least 15-20 minutes for you to get into position, have your experience, and then prepare for the next event in your day!

Bride and Groom Portraits

To get those beautiful portraits as a new married couple, you’ll need to block out time for just the two of you to step away from the hustle and bustle and just spend some time together. Whether you plan for these portraits before or after your ceremony, you’ll have family and friends that want to share their well-wishes for your future, and so it can be difficult to sneak away for these images if you don’t block out time for them! 

Half an hour to an hour (depending on the number of images you want and what kind of backdrop you want) should be blocked out of your day to adequately capture the perfect images…plus it will be nice for you to have some personal time together!

Wedding Party Portraits

Just like your couple’s portraits, you’ll need to block out some time with your wedding party to get images of the whole crew together! Traditional images of the entire party, the bride and bridesmaids, and the groom and groomsmen, have been supplemented with more playful shots to reflect the couple! 

Whether it’s a fun matching detail shot (non-traditional shoes or printed socks, for example!) or something a little on the adventurous side, having time to plan and execute these shots can be crucial to showcase you and your closest friends in a way that you’ve envisioned.

Family Portraits

Family portraits from your wedding are images that all of you will cherish for the rest of your lives. Your family will love being a part of your big day, and everyone will want to remember the joyful occasion! 

Depending on the number of guests at your wedding and what portraits you want (immediate family, extended, family unit shots, etc.) this can also take a good chunk of time out of your day. By scheduling half an hour to an hour for these shots, you can help to make sure that no one gets left out and that you have great images of all of your family members to keep for years to come.

A General Timeline

Every wedding is different to fit your unique needs, but I have made a mock timeline to give you an idea of what a wedding day photography plan could look like!

Communicate With Your Photographer

Planning time for your wedding photography can seem intimidating, but don’t worry! I’m here to support you every step of the way. We’ll keep an open line of communication leading up to your big day so that I know your expectations and we can plan a finalized timeline to make sure we capture every special memory! 

We’ll want to finalize your timeline at least a week before the big day (particularly if you are looking to capture sunrise/sunset images) so that we can make a plan to have cameras in position for every important moment. 

At EmmiClare Photography, you can be sure that I care about your wedding day as much as you do. If you are looking for the perfect wedding photographer near Richmond, VA, contact me today and let’s connect!