Capturing Timeless Moments: The Duration Of Wedding Portrait Sessions

Wedding portraits can take 30-45 minutes for couples and first looks, 20-30 minutes for wedding parties, and 30-45 minutes for formal family portraits. However, the time can contract or expand depending on the size of the wedding party and family, as well as the specific types of shots you want.

30-45 minutes - First look & couples portraits

30-45 minutes is the recommended time for first look and couples portraits. Most photographers say you need about 30 minutes for wedding party portraits, 30 minutes for family portraits (close family only), and 45 minutes for couple portraits.

The time can be broken up throughout the day and contracted or expanded depending on the size of your wedding party and family, as well as the specific types of shots you want.

If you've chosen not to do a first look, the cocktail hour will be your prime opportunity for portraits, bridal party shots, and family photos. Photographing family first (20-30 minutes), bridal party second (15-20 minutes), and your portraits third (30-45 minutes) is recommended.

If you have had a first look, still use some of this time to take some more portraits (perhaps in a different location and time of day).

Formal family portraits should take another 30-45 minutes. It’s essential to have additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings within different variety and groupings. Make a list of relevant pairing/groups so that we can run through them quickly and efficiently. Plan about 3-4 minutes on average.

20 minutes - Wedding Party

Wedding party portraits typically take 20 minutes, but it can be hard to get the wedding party together on time. Allotting more time is always the safest answer. The photos usually aren’t taken all at once, and the time is broken up throughout the day. Most photographers say you need about 30 minutes for wedding party portraits, 30 minutes for family portraits (close family only), and 45 minutes for couple portraits.

If you’ve chosen not to do a first look, the cocktail will be your prime opportunity for your portraits, bridal party shots, and family photos. I suggest photographing family first (20-30 minutes), bridal party second (15-20 minutes), and your portraits third (30-45 minutes). It’s always easier to push the clock a little bit if it’s just the three of us. I’ll be sure to get you to the reception as soon as possible though! If you have had a first look, I’d certainly still recommend using some of this time to take some more portraits (perhaps in a different location and time of day).

Formal Family Portraits should take another 30-45 minutes. It’s essential to have additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings within different variety and groupings. Make a list of relevant pairing/groups so that we can run through them quickly and efficiently. Plan about 3-4 minutes on average. We all know how much weddings mean to the immediate family, and we want to make sure we’re capturing enough pictures with them. Family photos are a separate category of their own and can be fit in your schedule. You can put them either before the ceremony (if you’ll see each other) or just after.

During the wedding day, we will do the family photos for 15 minutes, ending 45 minutes before the wedding where the bride and groom and catch their breath and rest before the ceremony. Please ask the officient in advance to make an announcement to the seated guests immediately after the recessional for extended family to remain seated for immediate photos.

Good luck and congratulations! I hope this is helpful! Ya the pictures themselves don't take very long. But trying to get everyone together and keep them together is like herding cats. People hear cocktail hour and lose focus fast. Have someone who knows most of the people in the pictures help the photographer. That tends to speed things up a bit.

30 minutes - Family portraits

If you're planning a wedding, you might be wondering how long it will take to get all the necessary portraits done. The good news is that the time is broken up throughout your day and most photographers say you need about 30 minutes for family portraits (close family only).

This time can be used to capture additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings in different variety and groupings. It's important to have these images as they represent a separate category of their own and can be fit in your schedule either before the ceremony or just after.

To make the most of your time, plan about 3-4 minutes on average for each grouping/pairing. This will help you run through them quickly and efficiently and capture enough pictures with your immediate family.

Remember, the timeframes can contract or expand depending on the size of your wedding party and family, as well as the specific types of shots you want. For specifics, it's recommended to speak to your wedding photographer about how long they'll need to take all the different shots you have in mind, plus how you might be able to save time.

30 minutes - Wedding party portraits

Most photographers say you need about 30 minutes for wedding party portraits, 30 minutes for family portraits (close family only), and 45 minutes for couple portraits. Just remember: These timeframes can contract or expand, depending on the size of your wedding party and family, as well as the specific types of shots you want. For specifics, speak to your wedding photographer about how long they’ll need to take all the different shots you have in mind, plus how you might be able to save time.

If you’ve chosen not to do a first look, the cocktail will be our prime opportunity for your portraits, bridal party shots, and family photos. I suggest photographing family first (20-30 minutes), bridal party second (15-20 minutes), and your portraits third (30-45 minutes). It’s always easier to push the clock a little bit if it’s just the three of us. I’ll be sure to get you to the reception as soon as possible though! If you have had a first look, I’d certainly still recommend using some of this time to take some more portraits (perhaps in a different location and time of day).

During that time we’ll join forces to shoot the whole bridal party. We ask that the brides and grooms immediate family (up to grandparents) be available for photos one hour before the ceremony. We will do the family photos for 15 minutes, ending 45 minutes before the wedding where the bride and groom and catch their breath and rest before the ceremony. Please ask the officient in advance to make an announcement to the seated guests immediately after the recessional for extended family to remain seated for immediate photos.

Formal Family Portraits should take another 30-45 minutes. It’s essential to have additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings within different variety and groupings. Make a list of relevant pairing/groups so that we can run through them quickly and efficiently. Plan about 3-4 minutes on average. We all know how much weddings mean to the immediate family, and we want to make sure we’re capturing enough pictures with them. Family photos are a separate category of their own and can be fit in your schedule. You can put them either before the ceremony (if you’ll see each other) or just after.

The pictures themselves don't take very long. But trying to get everyone together and keep them together is like herding cats. People hear cocktail hour and lose focus fast. Have someone who knows most of the people in the pictures help the photographer. That tends to speed things up a bit.

15 minutes - Family photos

Family portraits are usually 30 minutes long. Most photographers say that 30 minutes is enough for family portraits (close family only). However, if you want to take formal family portraits, it is recommended that you plan 30-45 minutes for this.

During the 30 minutes, the photographer will take the bride and her girls for portraits, and the other photographer will take the guys for portraits. During that time, they will join forces to shoot the whole bridal party. The brides and grooms' immediate family (up to grandparents) should be available for photos one hour before the ceremony.

The family photos will be done for 15 minutes, ending 45 minutes before the wedding where the bride and groom can catch their breath and rest before the ceremony. The photographer can be helped by someone who knows most of the people in the pictures. This tends to speed things up a bit.

If you have not done a first look, the cocktail will be the prime opportunity for your portraits, bridal party shots, and family photos. It is recommended that you photograph family first (20-30 minutes), bridal party second (15-20 minutes), and your portraits third (30-45 minutes). If you have had a first look, it is still recommended that you use some of this time to take some more portraits.

Frequently asked questions