Are getting ready photos worth it?

I'm sure everyone's preference for this is different but I love my getting ready photos and I made sure I selected a photo package so that I would have them.

Eh, I don't think my getting ready photos were anything to write home about. I probably won't end up making prints of any of them, actually.

My getting ready photos are some of my favorite photos, especially with my mom and sister. I am so glad we go those. Are you doing something special that you need the photographer so late? Ours stayed through all the expected events and took a couple sunset pictures, but then left. I didn't mind because she already had a lot of pics of the reception and would only have captured more dancing pics.

I'm not doing getting ready photos. It just doesn't appeal to me.

I will NOT be getting "getting ready pics" , I personally think they r a little creepy and staged/cheesy ....

The only pics of my getting ready shots I liked were the ones with my mother helping me with the dress and looking on as I was getting my makeup done. I do like H's getting ready photos though.

I plan to get them but I have also heard that if you want them but don't wan to pay the extra hours you can stage them and just take a few that you really may want.

I think they're a sweet beginning to the story...but you don't need 489 of them with the photographer being in changing rooms for 4 hours. The finishing stages are all you need.

Honestly, I love them. It's one of those things that I was REALLY sure that I wanted for my own wedding. However, the photographer definitely doesn't need to be there the whole time. A few pictures of everyone together, a few detail shots, makeup/hair being done....that's all that you really need. I understand not wanting to pay your photographer for like a 12 hour day - maybe talk to the photographer and get their thoughts?

I'm not having them but I'm getting hair/makeup done off site. And we aren't doing a first look. But those shots aren't that important to me. I think it's personal preference.

I really wanted them but now I'm thinking of maybe just doing a few "final touches" pictures. I personally don't think in 10 years I'll be upset that I don't have pictures of my make-up getting done. I do want pictures of my mom helping me , etc. etc

I'm having them. I don't ever get dressed all fancy with hair and makeup, so I think some good photos will come out of it.

I did and it was fun with my girls and both his mom and my mama. My grandmother even came in for a bit. I love these pics. If you don't want an additional charge to be added for a pro, just have some non pros taken.

Some of my favorite pics to stalk are the getting ready photos. Do I think they're necessary? Nah, but I really love them. I found a photographer who does an all day package, whether 6 hours or 14. I lucked out there. If I were paying by the hour, I would definitely reconsider how long to have them there.

I am really on the fence about getting getting ready photos done too!

Our photog showed up about 30 min before we finished getting ready (because I didn't want to pay her a ton of extra hours) and I really wanted send off photos at the end of the night.

I was honestly shocked at how many getting ready photos she snagged in that time frame and it looks like the could have been there the whole time. I do enjoy looking at them, but I also don't feel like it would have been the worst thing ever to not have them. If you can swing the cost of them being there just right at the end and for you to get in your dress, that's really all you need.

I was in the air about this, until last night. A friend of mine posted hers on FB and they are beautiful. I cannot wait.

I personally think a few getting ready photos are nice to have and show a special glimpse into such a big day and all the planning. You don't need the entire getting ready time though, just the end to capture a few details as you're putting your dress/tux on and touching up makeup/cuff links, etc.

Can you elaborate on the rest of your timeline though? Nine hours is a pretty good amount of time for photos. But when does your ceremony start? When does the reception start? You might be able to cut off more hours at the end (reception) to get that extra hour or so for getting ready. You don't need the photographer for the entire reception; you really just need the highlights (introductions, toasts, special dances, cake cutting, etc.) and the first hour or two of dancing (after a while, most drinking and dancing starts to look the same). So depending on what time the ceremony starts and then reception, you might not need the photographer until 11:00pm.

I'm skipping them. My photog is meeting us at the venue to get shots of my dress and then photos of my sister lacing me up & me putting my jewelry on and that's about it as far as getting ready shots.

I haven't seen ours yet but I think they're worth it. We had our photographers come at the very end of getting ready, i.e. doing finishing touches on my make up and hair was already done. They arrived at 1 with our first look set at a different location for 2. They basically got a few shots of me/my bridesmaids in robes and then got a few pictures as they were helping me put my dress on. Our reception also went until midnight, but they left at 9:30. Plenty of time to capture pictures of all the big things (bouquet toss, first dance, cake cutting, etc.) and still get about 30-45 minutes of dancing. Might be something to consider if you really need them until 11.