Wedding Day Schedule, Photograph concerns (hair make up confusion)

GilMoses

We booked our photographer for an 8 hour package as we thought this was plenty of time.  But now after booking hair and make up for my bride we are realiaing we are in trouble. We asked the photographer how she expects the day to go in terms of times and she said they would show at 12. ( we have a sunday wedding 4-10) When we first spoke and booked she said 130 to 930 10 ish.  Now she says 12 so she can capture make up and hair at the hotel . Then the getting dressed before we head to the venue.  From there first look (what is that?) at 145 pics starting at 2 til 4 and then the cocktail hour ceremony and reception. but she would leave at 8. that threw me off because for me the dancinh and party pics are very imprtant but so are the getting dresses close up artsy shots of my girl.
So I guess my questions is how does it work? hair then make up? hair and makeup at the same time? Did you get dressed at the venue or in the hotel?
It will be tough to pay for more time with the photographer so is it bad if they leave  that early? Do they need over two hours for photos? Is it rude if we were taking pics while guests began cocktail hour. It is a Jewish affair so the ceremony is after the cocktail hour.
Thanks

hellerc1

I am not having my photographer at the hair and makeup. He will start the day at the venue where we will get dressed. Our wedding is at 5 so I am guessing he will come around 3 for getting ready and some bride's family photos. then from 5.30-7 we are doing photos with dinner at 7. We are having everything in the same place so everyone will be together from 5. Our photographer will leave around 11 or when he wants after that. Sometimes it comes down to what is most important. To me it's everyone who is at our wedding having a good time so my mom will do photos at hair and makeup and some of us getting ready.

First look is bride and groom seeing each other before the ceremony.

wiwicaty

PP is right, a first look is when the bride and groom take photos before the ceremony instead of during the cocktail hour. 

We're not having a first look and our two photographers will capture getting ready pictures one hour before the ceremony. Although, I don't have a bridal party so if your FI has one she might want to extend the getting ready photo time to 1 1/2 - 2 hours. 

Sounds like your photographer is considering a first look for the two of you, hence the 4 hour period between her start time and the ceremony. This is a choice you and your FI should make. It is common and acceptable that the couple shoots during the cocktail hour, provided you don't make your guests wait too long. This is exactly what we're doing. The cocktail hour will last 1 1/2 hour while we'll be out shooting. 

If your priority is the party/dancing part of the event then maybe you should tell your photographer to show up at 2 or 3 pm for the getting ready pictures and proceed from there until her 8 hours are up. This would allow you to include getting ready shots, cocktail our photo time, dancing etc..

sklink0486

I personally like the getting ready pictures, BUT they are definitely not necessary. Especially if you are doing a first look during the cocktail hour/before the ceremony (PP see comment about it being a Jewish wedding). It's really up to you what to cut if you can't add more time- do you want pics of you having your hair and makeup done? or pics of your guests enjoying themselves throughout the reception? Personally, I think I would forget the hair/makeup and go with pictures throughout the reception. 

Maybe a compromise would be to have the photographer take pics of your bridesmaids helping you into your dress before the first look pics and helping you put accessories on. It wouldn't take long and you would still get special pics. Those are a little more traditional photos anyways- I've only seen the makeup/hair shots recently.

Two hours is not too long for first look photos. That is kind of the point- to have more time than you would if you did it after the ceremony and to not feel as rushed. I don't think that it's rude for you to be taking pics during the cocktail hour, but I don't know what's common for Jewish weddings. I've never seen the bride and groom present during a cocktail hour in Christian weddings I've been to because they are usually taking pics, and then they make an entrance which signals the beginning of the reception usually. I think if your cocktail hour is before the ceremony then you wouldn't really want them to see you and your fiance before the walk down the aisle anyways, right? 

wiwicaty

Oh you're right! My mistake.

tidetravel

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_wedding-day-schedule-photograph-concerns-hair-up-confusion?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:4da737cd-42a4-4efc-ab39-a6fc9cd23bd2Post:e347240a-cb8a-4bbc-b115-8286da8814d3">Wedding Day Schedule, Photograph concerns (hair make up confusion)</a>:
[QUOTE]We booked our photographer for an 8 hour package as we thought this was plenty of time.  But now after booking hair and make up for my bride we are realiaing we are in trouble. We asked the photographer how she expects the day to go in terms of times and she said they would show at 12. ( we have a sunday wedding 4-10) When we first spoke and booked she said 130 to 930 10 ish.  Now she says 12 so she can capture make up and hair at the hotel . Then the getting dressed before we head to the venue.  From there first look (what is that?) at 145 pics starting at 2 til 4 and then the cocktail hour ceremony and reception. but she would leave at 8. that threw me off because for me the dancinh and party pics are very imprtant but so are the getting dresses close up artsy shots of my girl. So I guess my questions is how does it work? hair then make up? hair and makeup at the same time? Did you get dressed at the venue or in the hotel? It will be tough to pay for more time with the photographer so is it bad if they leave  that early? Do they need over two hours for photos? Is it rude if we were taking pics while guests began cocktail hour. It is a Jewish affair so the ceremony is after the cocktail hour. Thanks
Posted by GilMoses[/QUOTE]

You're paying her.  You really should be telling her what you want her to take pictures of, and the time frame that YOU need her there for. 

Generally, formal pictures are taken during the cocktail hour - B&G usually aren't expected to be there (this may be different w/ a Jewish wedding).  So, if you're having a 1 hour cocktail hour, you can push that time frame back.  That being said, it's going to be difficult to do any formal pictures if your cocktail hour is before the ceremony if you don't want to do a "first look," as there won't be any time for formals between the ceremony and reception. 

Your only real choice is to do a first look and then formals before the ceremony, or  to move your cocktail hour in between your ceremony and reception.  This is what I would recommend, based on your time line:

2 pm - 4 pm - getting ready pictures (if you want them), start of formal pictures w// family and bridal party 
4 pm - cocktail hour for guests, continue formal pictures w/ B&G, allow family/WP to attend cocktail hour
5 pm - ceremony
6pm - 10 pm - reception 

There's your 8 hour time frame, including everything that you want.

bridezillatobe2009

Our ceremony is at 2 cocktails at 530. The photographer will be with us for getting dressed but not hair and makeup (hello 9am?) and the reception goes until 1am. I am more than fine with the photog leaving after speeches and the first 3 dances

2ladytoo

Consider looking thru other pictures the photog has done of receptions - sometimes the lighting isnt conducive to good pictures - look at the venue - what will the background shots be like - with the lighting?

So with that in mind, just an hour at your reception may be enough - but I do like the timeline tidetravel posted - 

you are paying your photog - make sure you are upfront with your expecations, my sisters photographer spent 2 hours after the ceremony getting shots - and w/o a wedding planner, that was an hour longer than originally planned!  

Lots of things to consider when hiring a photographer, thanks for the question - 

kitc101

Our photographer is actually doing the 'First Look' shoot a week before our wedding. If you don't mind your FH seeing you in your dress before your actual wedding day, I would ask your photographer about doing this. It savees a ton of time on the wedding day, and we will be able to get some really neat shots/different locations :-)

As for having the photographer there when we are doing hair/makeup, no thanks. Our photographer is a guy, for one, and we don't want him there when we are getting ready lol...

GilMoses

Thank you all for the responses. I have actually worked it out so we will have one of the two photographers come early and the second one come later and stay to the end. This way every one gets something they want.