Is anyone hiring a photographer for only a few hours?

I think it might be challenging to find someone to do a smaller package (and thus smaller bucks) in prime season. As wedding pros, we only have so many dates we can 'sell', and committing to a 500.00 wedding this far ahead may be problematic.

We have elopement packages too; they usually run 300-500.00 depending on the photographer, but they won't book more than two months out.

We hired ours for 4 hours because that is all we could afford. He covered the ceremony, family and bridal party photos, photos of DH and I and some reception. It all just depends on what you find important.

Just because I only hired my photographer for 5 hours, it was still a hefty sum of over $3000.

We did not do father/daughter, mother/son dances, tossing of things or speeches. It was a small gathering of 40 people and retaining the small intimate wedding without a photographer in our space was important to me.

We also own our photos and they were all edited.

We have ours for 2 hours. It will be split up into 15-20 min increments. The before shots with the guys and girls, 30 min ceremony, a few family and just us photo and then pics of our first dance. I'm happy with our decision.