Behind the lens - What my day looks like on your wedding day and beyond.
Most people, when they start in this industry, don’t realize how much goes into what's behind the lens. Not to mention, if you are one of our clients. I wanted to give you a peek into what my day looks like on a wedding day. When I started this business, I wanted to be able to “cross-train” as much as possible so I knew what some other vendors go through on wedding days. When I was young, I worked for a catering company, so I already know how hard those people work. (Literally the hardest, most thankless job.) And in the last few years, I have been working for several wedding planning companies. So I am going to provide you with a sample timeline and give you an idea of what my job as a photographer looks like.
Let’s say, for the purpose of this exercise, this wedding is at Boettcher Mansion, which is 45 minutes from my home, and the Bride and Groom have gone with the Something Blue package. This package includes an engagement shoot and 8 hours of coverage on their wedding day. This means before the wedding day, we have already communicated many times and even done an engagement photoshoot together. This usually happens months, if not a year, before the main event.
Day of the wedding
8:30AM: Bridal Party Arrives to getting ready location
9:00AM: Hair Begins 9:00 AM Up for breakfast and family time
9:45AM Make Up Begins 11:30 AM Shower and get ready
12:00PM Men arrive to getting ready location. 12:30 PM Pack my camera bags and a snack bag with water bottle
1:30 PM - Leave my home
2:30 PM: Photographer Arrives
Getting Ready Photos
Matching pajamas with bridesmaids
Getting dressed with assistance from your mom
Popping champagne with bridesmaids
Final touches of hair & makeup
2:45PM: Gifts & Final Touches
Flat Lay Photos
3:00PM: Bride gets into Dress
3:15PM: First Look
3:00PM: Catering Begins Set Up at Venue
4:00PM Vendors Arrive at Venue
4:45PM Photos | Family & Wedding Party
Bride, groom, brides immediate family
Bride, groom, brides parents
Bride, groom, grooms immediate family
Bride, groom, grooms parents
Bride, groom, each set of grandparents
Bride and groom with extended family
Bride, groom, maid of honor, best man
Bride, groom, full wedding party
5:30PM: Bride & Groom back to “getting ready” areas
Photographer captures ceremony details
5:45PM: Allowed Time for Guest Arrival at Venue
6:00PM: Call for Ceremony
6:05PM: Ceremony Begins
Room shots at ceremony
Wedding party walking down aisle
Bride walking down the aisle
Grooms face as he sees bride
The vows
Exchange of rings
The first kiss
Recessional
6:30PM: Guests Move to Cocktail Hour
Cocktail Hour photos
7:00PM: All Reception Details Set for Guest Dinner
Photographer to capture details
Sunset Photos Between 7:30 PM - Sunset @ 7:56 PM
7:15PM Bride & Groom to Bridal Suite for Alone Time
7:20PM: Guests Move to Dinner
7:30PM: Guests Seated for Dinner | Grand Entrance
7:40PM: Dinner Service Begins | Plated meal
Eat Dinner
8:00PM: Prepare for Toasts
Set up any extra lighting I might want for indoor spaces
815PM: Toasts Begin
8:35PM: Private Cake Cutting
8:35PM: All Guests have Food
8:40PM: First Dance(s)
8:45PM: General Dancing Music Begins (Right after first dances)
9:00PM: Announcement
9:30PM Early Bird Shuttle BUS #2
10:00PM: Late Night Snacks
10:30 PM: Photographers contracted time is up
11:00PM: Last Call/Bar Closes 11:15 PM Arrive at home and unload
11:25PM: Last Song
11:25PM: Bride & Groom | Quiet Exit
11:30PM: Breakdown Begins
12:30AM: Site Rental Ends 12:15 AM Climb into bed
1:00 AM Finally fall asleep
Within the next month or two, I will carefully curate, cull, and edit the photos from this event and then provide them via Pixieset Album.
I hope that all made sense. Sometimes it looks like all we do is show up and take photos, but I know most of us wish that were true. It takes a lot of time to prep, and our day is just as long as the other vendors. Not to mention all the editing after the wedding, all the social media prep, website building, and networking that happens before that to even get an inquiry in the first place. I love all my clents and I am happy to put the work in so I can do this full time someday!
