Our wedding photos are the sentimental, poetic souvenirs of wedded life, the tangible ties that transport us back to that day, that special moment in time that seemingly passed by so fleetingly. For many, it’s their first foray into hosting an event of such scale, and if without the support and guidance of a planner, the wedding schedule can be confusing to understand and overwhelming to keep up with as the day unfolds. Hiring a photographer who is not only invested in understanding your vision but also helps mold your wedding day plan allows them to be there to capture every emotion, every moment in a way that is true to their quality of work that you know and love. To get there, it all starts with understanding how a typical wedding photographer’s timeline unfolds, from the initial conversations through to editing and final delivery. So, we’ve leaned on US based international wedding photographer Austin Trenholm of Trenholm Photo to take us on that journey, with keen insight into shoot time allocations and priorities to help you correctly plan in advance without missing a beat. With hundreds of real weddings spanning the globe of a myriad of shapes and sizes under his belt, who better to ask?
Initial Consultation
Discussing your priorities is the first step in determining the timeline. What is important to you is important to me. Some couples really value the design details, while others are more focused on candid moments. Each photographer works differently, but what I find works best is to work from the ceremony outward, taking note of the couple's key events planned for the day and filling in any gaps from there. It's equally important we consider all the finer details too, such as the logistics of travelling between each location, the changing of the light throughout the day and the guest's movements to make it all achievable while managing expectations. Booking a minimum 9 months out allows us to work through this process while also intuitevly research and plan around the wedding venue.
Morning Of Portraits
Consideration for the bride and groom prep locations is important here, to first determine what is feasible, and if a second photographer is required to be able to capture both equally. Your photographer will capture the morning preparations, usually both individually and with your nearest and dearest. This period is also valuable in getting some one-on-one time with the couple before the day's key events ensue with a first look session. I like to spend 15-20 minutes on first look photos, followed by 15-20 minutes on bridal party photos. A break between for HMU touch-ups and final adjustments is usually much needed to not become too mentally draining for the couple. If we can, we like to sneak in another 15 minute portrait session with the couple before the ceremony starts. It's often these times with all the excitement and nerves buzzing that the best, most authentic portraits happen.
Ceremony
Having the time to do a pre-scout of the venue and ceremony location is imperative to nailing the angles while things are on the go. I plan where myself and my second will be positioned throughout the ceremony to capture the key moments and candid emotions. Each ceremony time is different, depending on the celebrant and the traditions incorporated, but this is the heart of your wedding day so your photography team will be there to capture it all. Post ceremony, it's important to just be present and enjoy this moment with your loved ones, and not rush through this time.
Family & Group Portraits
Cocktail hour makes up some of my favorite, candid frames. Everyone is on a high from the ceremony and the couple is really present so it's a wonderful time to capture those bonds. While we never like tearing them away from the festivities, it's usually the only time to get the family and bridal/ groom party portraits. Providing a list of names for all the group photos in the lead up to the wedding day will make this time most efficient so everyone can get back to enjoying the cocktail party celebrations. For this same reason, we also recommend having these portrait sessions on site, rather than jetting off to a new location, to streamline and keep you present with your guests.
Golden Hour Portraits
Golden hour makes for some of the most romantic frames. When the sun is dipping beyond the horizon, and there is just 5-10 minutes left of cocktail hour, I like to whisk the couple away for some more private photos. This is always such a peaceful moment, their time to reflect on the day, watch the sunset, and just melt into each other. Never miss this moment, you won't regret it.
Reception
There is a small window of time between the stylist completing the table settings and before the guests arrive for your photographer to capture all the beautiful details you have so carefully curated. A tight plan or second photographer is key here. From there, a photographer is at the whims of the schedule the planner and couple have layed out for the evening ahead, so we move quite fluidly. As the night unfolds, we'll capture the speeches - the laughter, the joy, the tears and atmosphere through it all, ready at a moment's notice for whats to come next.
After Party
If you plan to have your photography team on through to the after party, be sure to give them a chance to kick their feet up and have a bite to eat to recoup their energy before the festivites to come. Be sure to brief your photgraphy team if fireworks or another spectal is planned so we can be sure to be ready and waiting. A set end time will be agreed on in advance, so we can sneak out and leave you and your loved ones to celebrate in style.
Image Editing & Delivery
Editing the wedding photos is a huge part of the creative process. Choosing which photos to deliver and how they look is an art unto itself. While every photographer works differently, I aim to deliver a sneak peek gallery to my clients with 2 weeks of the wedding, and the full gallery within 6 weeks. This time will often vary depending on your photographer's wedding and travel schedule, but discussing the timeline in advance is always most beneficial to manage expectations. The final images are delivered through an online gallery for clients to customize and share between friends and family, or have professionally printed as momentos for years to come.
