Photographer question...

Our photographer took a few getting ready pictures before taking detail photos. Getting ready pictures weren’t really important to us except my mom helping me into my dress.

View Quoted Comment I don't think it's all that important to me, but, backstory: I'm a widow with 2 young daughters (currently 7 and 10, my 1st husband passed 4 years ago) and they have been so enamored with the wedding idea that I'm wanting to get pictures of them with that anticipation and excitement of getting their hair done and "primping", etc...that may not make sense. I'm beginning to think I should just take those pics myself. 😉

How many hours do you have your photographer for?


My photographer took photos of my bridal party getting ready in the morning. We had one photographer with the girls and the other with my husband and his groomsmen. They came about 2 hours before we finished getting ready.

We have our photographer for the full day to have these pictures. But when we talked with him in person he went through a whole timeline of on average how long he would need to get the pictures we wanted. I would consult your photographer - technically we only need 8 hours but I don't want to feel rushed. I think its a sweet bonding moment for you and your girls

View Quoted Comment His packages start at 4 hours, then go up by 2s. We only have the venue for 5, so I'm just weighing cost in the long run. It's $150 for each hour after the package price.

I’d say don’t count on others to take photos because everyone with you is most likely going to be busy with their own things. When both of my best friends got ready, we only had a few pictures that the bride herself took while she was getting turned around in her chair. I’d decide if those photos are important to you. For me, they are, so we booked a photographer who included those photos in their package. If it’s not as important to you and you’ll save money, then cut it out.

View Quoted Comment Ahh, ok. I definitely would get your photographer there for at least an hour so he can take pics of you guys drinking champagne and your mom/MOH buttoning up your dress. Also if you do a gift for your husband and vice versa and want to get pics of that.


Do you have one shooter or two shooters for photography?
Also remember, you most likely won’t need your photographer there until the very end of your wedding. Towards the end of the night, most people are just dancing so they’re sweaty and gross looking. Lol. I didn’t really need hours worth of dancing photos. I think if your photographer stays there for about an hour or hour and a half of dancing (as long as no major events take place after that — cake cutting, bouquet/garter toss, etc). I know tons of couples that did a “send off” photo before they actually left the venue for timeline purposes only. Maybe you can use the time you cut from that end towards getting ready?

View Quoted Comment Thanks for the advice. The photographer is by himself unless we go for a bigger package, then he brings an assistant. My fiance drives a semi, so I have all these thoughts while he's gone but wait til he's home to discuss them with him 😂

View Quoted Comment No problem!! Haha I used to do that as well. My husband would be on business trips so I would wait until he’d get home and bombard him with all these wedding details. 😂


Are you doing a first look? If not, I would suggest getting the package with the assistant. That way when you’re walking down the aisle— 1 photographer is getting shots of you walking down the aisle and the other is getting shots of your husbands reaction!