How Long Do You Really Need To Hire Your Elopement Photographer?

This is such a common question, so I’m writing about it. By now you’ve probably shopped around and noticed that there’s so many offerings for elopement photography. Don’t be overwhelmed, I’m happy to demystify the subject for you. Here, I’ll answer the question, “How long do you really need your elopement photographer?”

A common misconception: hiring an elopement photographer means that you’re having a photo shoot.

Couples have been walking around here mad as hell that they have to hire someone to have a long photoshoot. I see it all the time and speak to couples who think,

“We just need 1 hour of photography, we don’t want to be posing for any longer than that.”

Or “The ceremony is only 30 minutes so we’ll just need you for an hour total for some photos after with the family.”

The truth is

YOUR ELOPEMENT IS NOT A PHOTO SHOOT.

If you’ve been planning your own elopement, there are things you’re picking and choosing specifically because they’re special to you. You’re planning places for you and your family to meet. Choosing your guestlist is intentional. You’re not just inviting everyone and anyone. You’re making sure you’re both dressed to the nines, and you’re making sure it’s special.

So this is not a photo shoot, this a photo opportunity.

This is the opportunity to have an elopement photographer be present to capture something from the point of view of an outsider, but also an insider.

It’s the opportunity to not fuss with your phone.

You are hiring an elopement photographer for both their skill and their ability to see you two as delicate, unique individuals with a special love.

If you’re lucky, you’re hiring a photographer who can suspend that love on paper for you. Giving you something to keep forever so that it will hold you on the days when love is difficult. These images will solidify every reason you chose your person. These images are the story of your lives.

So here’s my honest answer to, “how long do you really need your elopement photographer?”

A few notes before we get to the deets – Find more in Your Ultimate Elopement Timeline Guide – What Your Elopement Could Look Like to build your own elopement day.

*Time flies when you’re having fun. Elopement photographers won’t be experiencing the same day you experience. We’re your active observers so that you can actually enjoy the time you have together.

*Elopement photography is just like any job. To deliver images that are up to our standards, elopement photographers all have a different way of working. For example, I require communication with clients to understand their needs. When I’m working with eloping clients I’m doing two jobs, coordinating and photographing.

*Although we are capturing moments milliseconds at a time doesn’t mean that’s the only job we have. In each description I’ll give you a bit of perspective of what each segment of time requires.

*These are not hard and fast rules. Some elopement photographers may take less or more time with each portion of your day. This is simply my attempt at quantifying your day so that you understand what a photographer requires for these moments. This is how much time I take with each portion and may not reflect that of other elopement photographers. Make sure to ask your photographer to break down times.

*We encourage taking your time for your elopement. Rushing isn’t fun. Rushing is stressful. So we encourage our couples to savor each and every moment.

*I’m allotting buffers in each portion. It’s important to know that there will be times that elopement photographers won’t be photographing things. We’ll be switching cards, lenses, adjusting lighting situations, helping put things away or making things available, coordinating a moment, anticipating a moment, clearing backgrounds, making things aesthetic, composing images. There are so many things that go into photography that happen before we click the button. I’d venture to say that “making things aesthetic” is about half of my job. I hate working in post-production to edit things out.

Now That That’s Out of The Way – Add Up All Of These Elements You Want Your Photographer Present For

Details – 30 minutes

If you have chosen things that you would like to be photographed, such as invitations, heirloom jewelry, shoes, your dress, your tux/suit/outfit, flowers, cufflinks, etc. you should put aside at least 30 minutes if you want your photographer to photograph these items specifically. Styling of items can take anywhere from 15 – 60 minutes, depnding on how many items are involved. If you’re ok with these items being photographed during your event and not in any stylized manner make that clear to your elopement photographer. But this doesn’t mean it doesn’t require the same amount of time. Throughout the day of an event, a photographer can take up to 60 – 120 minutes photographing different details while they’re in action, choosing the best compositions for them, coordinating them, or anticipating them.

Getting Ready – 30 – 60 minutes

The getting ready ritual isn’t just for big weddings. If you’re having moments before your wedding that you’ve planned out, like a get together at your Air BnB before your elopement, or a moment between three generations of mothers, or breakfast together in the great outdoors, all of that deserves attention and encapsulating. Mind you, any of these things I’ve listed above could take up to 60 minutes to two hours, but time can be split between details and getting ready moments easily. If you’re having a boozy brunch with folks before your elopement, we won’t shoot faces or people while you eat, we’ll just photograph details instead, like all of your special details along with the food you’ve made or ordered in. We don’t have to capture the entire hair and make-up regiment, just the last few parts and capture details before you’re done.

A First Look Moment – 30 – 60 minutes

Maybe you’re saving yourself for the “aisle.” But if you’d like to have a special moment before you meet at the top of the mountain, end of the aisle, on the beach, wherever. You can also use this moment to pray. Maybe you want to say private vows. Or maybe you don’t want to look at each other, but touch each other, take in the sights together before you start your ceremony.

This moment can simply be a way to take a break from what might feel like a rush or chaos. Your photographer will coordinate this moment as well as photograph it. Though that might sound easy, making sure you don’t see each other before you’ve both turned around requires a bit of coordination and chaos for your photographer. The 30 – 60 minutes includes the coordination, walking to the spot you’ll meet, directing you, and the private moment you’ll take together.

Ideas for your first look.

• The classic tap on the shoulder and turn around for the groom.
• Meeting back to back but only touching and not seeing each other.
• Praying together.
• Exchanging gifts.
• Having a quick drink together.
• Grooming each other.
• Reading letters to each other.
• Doing last minute checks of each other’s appearance.
• Giving boutonnieres and bouquets to each other.
• Having a quick afternoon tea.
• Taking in the sights.

Ceremony – 10 – 120 minutes

A ceremony can be as simple as signing paperwork or it can be a fully guided ceremony by an officiant who leads you through your vows, a unity ceremony, religious rites, all the way to your first kiss. Of course you can have something in between all that. Since it’s your ceremony you have the ability to choose what is part of it, what it looks like, and how it will all be carried out. Generally 10 – 120 minutes is what you’ll need your photographer for this portion.

Included in this portion are things that may happen post-ceremony

• Formal/posed photos with family/friends.
• Champagne pop, imbibing, smoking a joint.
• Quick snack or dessert.
• Exploring the location.
• Spending quality time doing some exploring or sightseeing.

Celebration 60 minutes – 3 hours

Every celebration looks different. It could be a night on the town, a quick dinner, a cocktail hour, maybe all of the above, but in any case, the celebration can take anywhere from 60 minutes – 3 hours. This is an opportunity for your photographer to capture all the fun stuff you’ve planned for your elopement. A reception does not have to be eating and drinking, it can be games, it can be plans you make over the course of a whole trip with your folks, it can be a catered or privately cheffed dinner, it can be all the excursion you planned with your new spouse, it can be anything and this is why this portion has the most time for your photographer. If you’re planning something super special, those moments deserve to be captured too.

Things You Might Have Forgotten About

Meals & Snacks – 20 – 60 minutes

We provide a 20 minute time out for meals so that we’re not photographing anyone eating and typically, we’re eating with the couple and their guests, as well at this time. That could be snacks and/or meals. At this point we’re on break as well and generally, taking photos of people eating isn’t a thing for us. This 20 minutes isn’t accounted into the amount of time for collections. This might not be for all elopement photographers but we do this as a courtesy. Everything before and after physically eating, however, is included, for example service time, cooking time, etc. because this is all time that you’re connecting with your spouse or family members while you wait. The details in the food are also captured because, well, when do you get the opportunity to have a whole day of your favorites?

Travel Time – 30 minutes – 3 hours

We consider any time moving “travel time.” This is where the buffers come in. If you’re in your Las Vegas hotel getting ready and you’re heading downstairs to meet your spouse for your first look, that’s going to take some time. I’ve timed it many times and generally something like this takes up to 15-20 minutes between making sure you have everything you need, grabbing the last minute things you’ve forgotten, walking to the elevator, waiting for the elevator, taking the elevator, navigating your way through the hotel/casino, doing last minute checks of shoes, make-up/hair, 15-20 minutes goes by pretty quickly, but also because Vegas hotels are huge.

Then there’s times where you’re driving from one location to another, hiking, taking a helicopter, waiting on your limo, etc. Some of these things are beyond your control and hurrying up and waiting might be part of your itinerary. Moments like this add up during your day. That’s why it’s important to have a timeline in place so you know how long things will generally take. Tap here to learn how to put together a robust timeline. I even provide examples. Your photographer may or may not have travel time included, which means your 4 hour collection just became 2 hours of photography coverage because your photographer has to drive up to 2 hours to go from location to location. Make sure to ask.

Ways to remedy this problem

• Make plans for your photographer to ride with you if you’re driving that way they can still capture you from the back seat. Or even better, hire a driver so that they can ride in the front and get you both being all cozy in the back seat.
• Put together a timelime that includes every minute of your day.
• Make sure to acknowledge every logistical obstacle and find solutions – road closures, inclement weather, knowing the process of what happens before you board a helicopter or a boat.
• Make time and space for your photographer to do their job effectively. I’m a photographer, I absolutely feel like I can do a million things at once but the reality is, I can only do one thing at a time.

Factors to Determine How Much Time You’ll Need With Your Photographer

• If you still don’t think you need all the time your photographer is offering, choose a collection and have them photograph the parts of your elopement that are most important to you. For example, if your details aren’t important, or the time you’re spending getting ready with your folks or future spouse don’t matter too much to you, then just choose a collection that will cover your ceremony, a first look, and some of your celebration.
• The more people you have present, the more time you may need with your photographer. If you want to honor every moment with the people you love, make sure you’re getting photos with them, they’re present for a reason.
• What you don’t pay in money, you pay in time. If you plan on DIYing any part of your day by taking photos on your own or asking others to take photos, you’re exchanging time on your elopement day for the photos you could have paid someone else to take. In addition, although you can take photos doesn’t mean you’ll be happy with the outcome. So now you’re not just sacrificing your time to take photos, but you’re lamenting the fact that they’re not as pretty as the rest of your elopement photographs, and lamenting the time you took away from spending with your spouse. It’s a horrible cycle, trust me. It’s like if you did your taxes yourself rather than hire a tax professional who knows about the many deductions you didn’t know about and now you’re paying the government rather than getting a refund. And there’s so many other things you could’ve done instead of doing the damn taxes.
• Find out if you can have a discontinuous schedule. Let’s say you want to take a break in the day or don’t want photography during meals, then go ask your photographer if they’re willing to split up their time.

Questions to Ask Your Photographer

I know, you know we’re artists and that we’re all sensitive and stuff but here’s a list of questions that you can absolutely ask your photographer before you decide to hire them and if their collections are completely clear.

• What’s your average turn around time?
• What’s your style of shooting?
• Do you have any full collections from past clients you can show me?
• If for whatever reason you can’t photograph my event what is your solution?
• Do you include planning?
• Can you help with locations?
• How many images will we receive?
• Are prints included?
• Tell me about your process leading up to my elopement.

How to Choose a Photographer

This is all a matter of preference. Couples who are choosing a photographer based on their art understand that they have a style with which they resonate most. But it’s not just in the way their images look.

This is how you’ll make sure the photographer you choose is right for you.

• There’s an undeniable vibe between you. You’ve seen their work, you love it, and then when you get on the phone you feel a charge and a new excitement for your elopement.
• You feel like you can trust them. They’ve got great reviews, you see their face and feel close to them even if it’s just on Facebook/Instagram, and when you’re on the phone with them it just makes sense.
• Their photos make you want to be in their photos. You know that when it’s your turn you’ll be able to feel like the main character because no matter how “non-photogenic” you feel (even though you are photogrenic), you know damn well they’re going to make you look good, feel good, and remember your day with love.
• They make you feel comfortable. With the detriment of the camera (I know, I hate the camera myself.), someone you can feel totally yourself with is someone you’ll love to have taking your photos.
• Get to know their process. The more you know about how things work on their end, the more you’re likely to feel in the loop and not lost. Make sure you can communicate well.

All of these factors make it easy for me as a photographer to create beautiful images and have openness during this artistic process.

I hope I’ve answered your question of how much time you need with your photographer. Though other elopement photographers might have different collections with different hour coverages, as a photographer myself, I want you to know that I value your elopement. This is a day you’re marrying the love of your life and though you have decided to elope, it doesn’t mean it’s any less important than if you had a big wedding or a courthouse wedding. In fact, I think you’re dope for choosing to do you.