5 hours of wedding photography?

We are having five hours. Would like more, but its not in the budget. We also have a friend who is a fashion photographer who is going to shoot the boys getting ready, cocktail hour while family photos are taken and reception shots. Our photographer is experienced so I think if we stick to the schedule, we should be able to get the shots that are most important to us.

I can tell you even though 5 hours seems long it is really not especially at a wedding were things always are running behind. Plus if you don't have one of the major things done and time runs out the photog leaves so you could miss something important like cake cutting. I recommend at a minimum 8 hours of coverage.

I'm not sure if its enough I'm having 7.5 hours of photography to make sure that everything is captured from the ceremony and reception. I only paid 980.50 for my photographer to be at my wedding for that long.

It doesn't seem long enough to me... We did all day because we got to the venue at 9 am to start getting ready. My photog got there at 11 and stayed till about 11 as well. It was great because she got cute shots of just our rings, dress, decode items. Then getting ready, we also took our photos before the ceremony, and we really wanted pro pics of our send off at the end of the night... I feel like 5 hours you won't get the getting ready shots, it will just be your ceremony and major reception events. And your portraits, but if that is all you want go for it. Bependi g on where you are you can get a great photog for about 8 hrs at a decent price... Good luck!!

I don't think that's enough time either. My ceremony starts at 6p as well and I want all of my pics done before as well as our first-glance pictures. I'm not sure where you are located, but if you research i'm sure you could find a photographer who isnt that expensive and will shoot longer. My photographer is charging me $600 for unlimited hours on the day of, so I basically get to decide what time I would like to start shooting pictures & what time I want to stop.

I feel like it might just add to the stress, trying to maker sure you get all the right shots within that time limit.

were having eight hours done.

Just make sure you dont overstress yourself over it.

I agree with Scott and Brian. 5 hour is really not a lot of time. The photographer is covering you getting ready, then it seems like you chose to go with a first look before the ceremony. By the time you get to the ceremony a few hours would have past already.

But I will say this.. I highly recommend that you pay for 5 hours with a GREAT photographer than pay 8 hours with an cheaper photographer that may give you mediocre photos.

When it comes to photography Quality beats Quantity.

I do not think that five hours is enough. One thing that I went bridezilla on and would not budge on was having all day coverage. Yes, I had to pay a little bit more for that but it is my only wedding day and I want pictures from the salon to the very end of the night.

I think we ended up with about 6-7 hours of actual photography (minus travel time), and yeah, I really wish we'd gotten more photos. BUT the photos that we did get were good, so I also agree with Chango Bi that it's important to get someone good.

Thanks for the input!!! I will try to get a bigger package without going too far over my budget! Thanks!

Think of it this way...you have your venue for 7 hrs and I assume will likely start pics when you get it at 4pm. So, with five hrs, the photog will be headed out at 9.

If possible, definitely try to get someone who will cover the whole event. Our photographers showed up at 3:00pm while we were getting ready. Ceremony started around 5:00pm and the reception ended at midnight. They were there for everything.

If you kept a list of all the photographers you checked out previously, recheck their websites again for new promotions going on. I did exactly this and found one previously very expensive married pair of photographers having a $1500 package for 10 hours of coverage. My engagement is 1.5 years long though so I have had time to wait before signing a contract. Just make sure you like their style also before signing any contracts if you do find one. Check outside your area as well and pay the travel time if its worth it to you and your FH.

Even if the paper photos are not included, its a great deal. Just make sure you get the pix on a dvd and you can print out your own photos for a lot less some place else. My co-worker printed out all his wedding photos at Costco because he found a coupon for 6 cents a photo. He got over 1000 photos for around $11 and that included the bad pictures. lol

Ruby, while that route may seem cost efficient, keep in mind that professional photographers use professional print labs. These pictures have a quality which enables them to last far longer than prints you may get at Walmart, Costco, etc.

I think it depends on how may guests you have and how large your wedding party is. if you have a smaller wedding party you obviously wont need a full hour just doing that. i am also having bridal portraits done of myself before the wedding. i booked for 5hours of coverage and think that is perfect...but i have two photographers included in the package. all depends on your needs and your wedding.

I found a photographer that is going to have 2 people come for the entire day for a reasonable price. i think that since after the skirts have been bustled and the drinks have been drunk, you have the memories. i want as many pictures to remember it by as possible. thats just me tho

I highly recommend 8 hrs.