How many hours did you hire your photographer?

All day, two shooters. It will end up around 9 hours including getting ready shots and send off.

I'm having 2 shooters and they are both coming while we are getting ready and will stay until probably halfway through the reception!

We have 2 photographers for 10 hours for $2100

Now I'm thinking if my 5 hours are going to be enough but here in Miami we are paying $2100!! And $500 each extra hour... one photographer and one light assistant

We did 4 hours

We are skipping the getting ready photos. He's showing up at the chapel, doing our formal family photos then shooting photos of the first dance and stuff.

Three. The last part of getting ready, the ceremony, and some formals. Reception was a luncheon at a restaurant, and we really didn't feel the need for a bunch of pictures of people eating.

AC, it totally depends on :

- are you getting coverage of the things you are wanting covered?

- $2100 for 5 hours is pretty normal for a pro/team (lighting assistant makes a HUGE difference in how efficiently a single photographer works.

- but even more importantly did you hire someone whose work you love and who you have a trusted relationship with. If so, you're golden. No need to 2nd guess.

I have 6 hours but I'm thinking of extending to 8

8 hours

@Jay Farrell Photography thank you for the photographer perspective. We haven't exactly mapped out the full details just yet which I have a meeting with her in October. But when we spoke regarding the hours she did recommend 6 hours vs the 5 that way we can get all of the details such as first look, WP, etc. I just thought 6 let alone 5 hours wouldn't be enough to truly capture everything

@Kate I am hoping for a 6pm ceremony start as well. We have the venue for 6 hours plus an additional 3 hours before the event actually starts.

6

We did 9 hours, but photography was my #1 priority!

10 hours for one photographer and one videographer

Ours said he will be there the entire time we need him - no hourly limit. He has a smaller package for 6 hours though

If you are having an intimate wedding and either skip getting ready or catch the tail end of it (which there is no need to document that whole process) and do limited group photos, it's doable. If you put it all together and you need more time, I'm sure your photographer would accommodate. Personally, I'd have mapped it out with you before booking so you wouldn't have to ask strangers and you'd feel confident you have the coverage you need. That way you'd know how their time is allocated and decide from there if you need more time.

I had a photographer for 6.5 hours on my wedding day. As a photographer, I generally recommend no less than 5 hours, but usually 7-8 hours can cover everything. This, of course, depends on the locations of getting ready (and if you're having getting ready photos - you only really need the end of that), ceremony, reception, if there is driving time/distance, cocktail hour, etc. If everything is in one location (for example, at a house) and there is no travel, 5 hours could be enough, but 6 might be better. If there is driving time or more events you want covered, opt for more hours.

Couples often think they need much more time than they do. You also don't need the entire reception photographed, just the highlights (introduction, toasts, cake cutting, dances, and a little of guests dancing). It's best to have more time than less, if you're unsure. Wedding photography is often a splurge for couples, and with good reason. You likely won't see many (or any) people regret spending more money to get a great photographer and/or more time, but you'll often see people say they regret not hiring a professional photographer or, possibly, not hiring them for more time.

ETA: Work with your photographer on a timeline for your day, so you can plan the most efficient number of hours and best flow of your wedding day

We have our photographer all day. 2 shooters.

We will have our photographer for 8 hours.

One photographer offered 6 hours and we could pay of additional. We ended up hiring someone with a package that they are there when we tell them to be and they leave when we tell them for no extra charge.

I'm going to preface this by saying we are not sentimental photo people. That said, our photographer is contracted for 5 hours. Most people will say that isn't enough time, and for them it may not be. It depends on how important photography is to you. For us, 5 hours will be plenty.