Average hours photographer is needed?

Well, what is the timeframe of your wedding? You'll need coverage for that. Also, most photographers don't stay for the entire reception because it's just going to be a bunch of pictures of guests dancing. Which means that you'll be doing a fake send off (which can be a pain in the ass to organize) at some point during the reception.

Do you want to do a first look? Will you and H be in two different locations? Are you going to hire two photographers or one?

My photographer told me that she automatically puts down 3 hours for all of the getting ready photos. Then, depending on the ceremony, about 1 hour for that part. Then the group photos during cocktail hour, so about an hour there. That is already 5 hours. If you want coverage of the entire reception and the send off, I'd go with the most hours you can book. I'm debating between 10 hours and the all day coverage that she offers. Though she said I can always change the package closer towards the ceremony if I decide that I need more or less coverage.

I hope that helped!

We will be doing a first look. We will be getring ready that the same location and there will definitely be two photographers. Also, I never considered what a pain it would be to do the fake send off lol thanks!

Perfect. If you have the typical wedding (5-5.5 hours), then IMO, you're going to need minimum 8 hours. First look means you won't need to take photos during cocktail hour, but immediately after the ceremony is a great time to wrangle up some family members if you want to do some family shots - that part took us only 10-15 minutes. My first look took 90 minutes but that is because I paid for that time at a botanical garden so I wanted to use it all up. Doesn't mean it takes that long, but we got hundreds of portraits of us as a couple, and individuals in that time frame.

I don't know how it works where you are, but in my case, brides pay me the day. It doesn't matter if I'm working 6 hours or if I'm working 13. The payment is the same. I have made weddings where I worked 15 hours, for example, since 7 when the bride starts to get her makeup, and hairstyle done, until morning of the next day.. It's exhausting but thats how we work when we love what we do

We are doing 8 hours, not having a first look.

Also if you want I can send you the portfolio of my team so you can take a look, but I don't know how to send PM's on this forum so I can talk with you in private

I'm having mine for 8+ hours

Everyone I have spoke with does it a certain amount of hours per package and each additional hour is an added charge. I had a feeling 5 hours wasnt gonna cut it lol

I don't work like that. Just out of curiosity, how much do you pay in average to a photographer that works 8 hours?

This is a good question. The photographer I liked a lot was going to be for 5 hours but now that doesn't seem like enough hmm.

@OP sorry no advice, just following

The package we chose is two photographers for 10 hours

We're doing 10. It depends on your timeline, but we wanted every moment captured.

From what ive seen anywhere between 1,700 and 2,500. Those also come with engagement shoots and some other little add ons.

For that price, me and another photographer would do the whole day of the wedding. I'm not joking.

Where are you out of and do you have a website?

We're doing 10. The packages my photographer ranged in hours between 8, 10, or 12. If you want getting ready photos, I wouldn't think 5 would be enough. Write down a rough timeline of your day and then work out from there how many hours you would need the photographer there for. Getting ready through to first dances or cake cake cutting (or longer if you really want the exit).

@Andre - if you're a vendor, shouldn't you have a vendor account??

If you want getting ready pics til send off...you are going to need way more hrs that our 6hr pkg we got from 1st look thru 1st hr of dancing.

We're having 6 hours of photography.