Guide · 7 min read
A wedding photo timeline that actually works
Most timeline templates fall apart by mid afternoon because they leave no slack. A good timeline protects the moments that matter and builds in room for the day to run long, because it always does. Here is a framework we use, and how to bend it around your golden hour.
Before you read on
Know exactly what your day costs
Every price is published, no form required. See the full pricing, then tell us your date and venue.
Build the timeline backward from golden hour
The single best move is to find your sunset time and reserve the thirty to forty minutes before it for portraits, then build everything else around that anchor. That is when your photos look their warmest, and it is the easiest block to lose if you plan front to back.
We plot the exact sun position for your date and venue, so we know precisely when to step away from the reception for a few minutes of the best light of the day.
Getting ready, ninety minutes
We arrive while hair and makeup are finishing, with the dress, rings, invitation, and details ready to photograph. A relaxed ninety minutes here sets the tone and gives us the quiet, honest frames couples love.
With two photographers, one of us can be with each side at once, so nobody's morning goes uncaptured.
First look and portraits, sixty to ninety minutes
An optional first look earlier in the day takes pressure off the timeline and gives you a private moment together. It also means most of your couple and wedding party portraits are done before the ceremony, so cocktail hour is yours.
If you skip the first look, we move these portraits to right after the ceremony and protect a golden hour window later for just the two of you.
Ceremony and family photos
Ceremonies run from a tight fifteen minutes to a full hour depending on tradition. Right after, we do family groupings, which go fastest with a short shot list of who is in each photo. Twenty to thirty minutes covers most families.
Send us the family list ahead of time and assign a relative to help gather people. It is the simplest way to keep this block from sprawling.
Reception and the golden hour break
Once the reception starts, we cover the entrances, the first dances, and the toasts. Then, at the hour we flagged, we borrow you for a few minutes outside for golden hour portraits before diving back into the party.
Leave a little slack between formal moments. A timeline with breathing room is the one that still works when dinner runs fifteen minutes late.
Good to know
Common questions
Do we need a first look?
No, but it helps the timeline. A first look moves most portraits before the ceremony so you can enjoy cocktail hour. Skip it and we protect a golden hour window later for the two of you instead.
How long should family photos take?
Twenty to thirty minutes for most families. The trick is a short shot list of exactly who is in each grouping and one relative assigned to gather people.
When is the best time for portraits?
The thirty to forty minutes before sunset. We plot your golden hour for the date and venue and build a short break into the reception so you get it.
