{"id":74815,"date":"2020-11-25T08:33:51","date_gmt":"2020-11-25T16:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/?p=74815"},"modified":"2020-11-25T12:14:23","modified_gmt":"2020-11-25T20:14:23","slug":"wedding-photography-timeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/wedding-photography-timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Wedding Photography Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your wedding photography will live on long after your big day, and you only have one chance to get it right. Communication is crucial, advance planning is essential, and timing is critical to the success of your wedding photos. We partnered with renowned wedding photographer Steve Steinhardt of Steve Steinhardt Photography<\/a> to offer tips on creating a wedding photography timeline \u2014 plus, a timeline template you can reference when putting your own together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUltimately, the timeline caters to family portraits, bride-and-groom portraits, and the ceremony. Everything else is documentary by nature,” Steinhardt says. Read on to discover what you need to know before creating a personalized timeline, and how to pave the way for stress-free wedding photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to Consider Ahead of Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Photography style<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several different styles of wedding photography, and the one you chose could have a slight impact on time frames. A photographer shooting with film will take breaks to swap out rolls, while a photographer with a dramatic style will need time to set up and take down lighting equipment. A quick conversation with your photographer about any factors that influence timing is highly recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potential backdrops<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Steinhardt advises to let your photographer choose the shooting locales because \u201cthe photographer will know what\u2019s best for lighting and convenience.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you must have family photos taken with a certain background, let your professional know ahead of time. \u201cThey may need to augment the light or bring in additional assistants to help make it happen,\u201d Steinhardt explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The advantages of a ‘first look’<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A ‘first look’<\/a> isn\u2019t for everyone, as some couples want the first time they see each other (in full wedding attire) to take place during the walk down the aisle. But according to Steinhardt, a ‘first look’ provides an opportunity to capture a unique moment of the day, helps relieve anxiety, and allows you to get some extra bride-and-groom photos immediately after. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you skip it, then you must adjust the timeline so the photographer has time to shoot bridal portraits, family photos, and [the] bridal party,\u201d Steinhardt says. \u201cIt could affect your post-ceremony timeline by up to an hour, and if things are running late, you\u2019ll be cutting into photos with the best light of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A wedding photography checklist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to communicating your must-have images to your photographer, a wedding photography checklist<\/a> helps guide you in planning enough time to get all those poses and moments captured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Getting your photo subjects all on the same page requires early communication. Once you\u2019ve outlined your timeline, share it via email with your wedding party and family members so they know ahead of time when and where to meet for portraits. Plan to have printouts of the timeline ready; this way, your wedding planner can hand them out the day-of in case anyone has trouble accessing their email onsite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’re shooting at various different venues \u2014 for example, a hotel suite, a ceremony site, and a separate reception site \u2014 be sure to allocate time for travel between locales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Category Time Frames<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Attire and other details (30 minutes)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"attire
Steve Steinhardt<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Images of your wedding details are absolute essentials, so having the items in one place is a smart move for keeping your timeline on track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGather all the details and have them in the bridal suite at the beginning of the day,\u201d Steinhardt says. \u201cBring everything! I wouldn\u2019t recommend setting them up yourself, as the photographer will know the best place for lighting and convenience. Just have everything ready to go before they arrive.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steinhardt also points out that shooting these details shouldn\u2019t eat into the photo time devoted to capturing moments, so plan to have your photographer tackle this before beginning your ‘getting ready’ shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUsually, I make that my time \u2014 I don’t charge the client for that. I just show up early and set these shots up before my scheduled start time.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check with your photographer in advance, though, as they might have a different policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Items the bride should have on hand include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n