HELP!! How many hours do I book the photographer for????

Vineyard0912

Hi Ladies!

I'm normally on the Napa board, but I'm about to sign the photography contract & I need some Knottie assistance!  I'm wondering...when you are having your photographer arrive and how long is he/she staying at the reception?  My photographer has a 5 hour package that I can add on to for $150/hr if I want.  Ceremony is at 6 with signing the Ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) beforehand.  I have no idea how long it will take me to get ready either.  An hour?  Two???  I'm thinking of having him 4-9 or 4-10, or earlier?  Or later??  Any advice would be very much appreciated!  TIA!!

lana2007

Plan on having the photographer about an hour before you have to be doing anything (ceremony, signing things, etc) unless you want portraits before hand, which some couples do. So an hour before, an hour during the ceremony, an hour for cocktails during which you will be with your husband and the photographer taking portraits, and then (if you stick with 5 hours) 2 hours for the reception. However, I always tell my couples that the should book me until the last tradition (usually cutting the cake). Do you have an hour by hour plan for the day yet?

I want to shoot a wedding in Napa!! How beautiful.

Good luck!

Lana
www.lanarenee.com

fallbride1109

I had my photgrapher for 8 hours:  4-midnight.  She was scheduled to get there at 4:00 for when I got dressed and our reception was ending at 11:30, then she came up to take pictures of us going up to our room (like my siggy pic).

She actually came early and started shooting so she got some getting ready shots and all my attire details also (dress, jewelry, etc.).  We also signed the Ketubah beforehand (6:30 for our 7:00 ceremony).

It depends on what is more important to you--those getting dressed shots, or the reception.  I wanted it all so I paid for 8 hours.  I would allow for 2 hours for yourself to get ready start to finish.

drphoto

6 hours is about the minimum coverage, with an average of 8 hours.

Corey Schwartz
www.DesertRidgePhotography.com

[Deleted User]

well, a wedding is an all day event, and the preperation work as you're getting hair/makeup is usually the start of the story.  The end of coverage usually goes until you cut the cake and have your first dance.  You'll want to enjoy your reception and dance/eat without the bother of flashing lights.  Your guest will not look so awesome in pictures when they're all sweaty and drunk. 

ourwedding111111

Like pp, I have booked our photographer for 8 hours, from 4 to Midnight.  

ceeceed80

i'm booking mine for 7 hours. and i'm allowing her to leave about 1.5 hours into the reception. we will do everything dances, tosses, cake cutting etc in that 1.5 hours. 

i don't see a need to have 500 photos of our reception and we aren't having a grand exit. i would rather spend more time on her taking photos of me and my new husband. just something to think about.

Vineyard0912

Thanks for the input, everyone! 

I neglected to mention our ceremony starts @ 6ish and the reception ends at 11.  I don't think we need him to stay until the end (no grand exit for us either).  The photographer recommended staying 2 hours into the reception to get the important shots, but its tough to know what time that will be.  My biggest question was about him photographing me getting ready.  I don't think I need professional pictures of me getting my hair & makeup done...I can have friends and family do that.  I did want pictures of the dress, shoes, etc, so I'm just trying to guage the timing.

Thanks again!

katheriner89

I booked mine for 8 hours-
2pm-10pm.
Getting ready at 2pm, all the way through til we "leave" (plus 30 minutes to take pictures in my short dress, when we come back!)

I'm also having a photobooth, so i figures that would capture the funny photos I want later in the night.