The Ultimate Wedding Photography Timeline for Your Big Day

By following this itinerary, you’ll capture every important photo without falling behind schedule.

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Published on December 14, 2023 09:00AM

Bride and groom holding hands and smiling during the recessional while guests toss flower petals — Photo by Brittany Painter

In This Article

Expert Tips to Follow A Sample Wedding Photography Timeline

A well-organized schedule is an important component of every successful wedding—if you want your big day to run smoothly, every event, from your makeup appointment to your first dance, needs to happen on time. Just like you have an itinerary that outlines when to leave for the ceremony venue and how long the speeches will last, it’s also necessary to create a timeline for your photos.

A wedding photography timeline is essentially an itinerary that notes the start and end time of each portion of the day, with a list of every picture to get on camera. Many couples don’t realize how long snapping photos actually takes, especially if your affair is happening in multiple locations, so a timeline will keep everyone on track. By having this schedule fully fleshed out before you tie the knot, you’ll simply be able to get all your desired images without feeling rushed. “Wedding timelines bring organization to the day and ensure everyone is on the same page with where to be and what time to be there,” photographer Terri Baskin explains. “Timelines help the day flow smoothly while minimizing stressors and providing a better experience for the couple and their guests.”

Meet the Expert

Terri Baskin is the owner of Terri Baskin Photography. She’s based in the Washington D.C. area and has 11 years of experience.
Libbie Martin is the owner of Libbie Holmes Photography, which operates in Denver, Colorado. She’s been shooting weddings for a decade.
Megan Rei is a wedding photographer with seven years of experience and the owner of Megan Rei Photography in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C.

If you don’t have the bandwidth to take this on yourself, photographer Libbie Martin recommends asking your vendor to tackle this task for you—just let them know your image priorities, and they’ll happily take this off of your plate. We’ve also compiled a trusty guide, based on professionals’ experience, for your reference.

Ahead, the ultimate wedding photography timeline for you and your partner to follow on the big day.

Tips for Creating Your Wedding Photography Timeline

Before crafting your wedding photography timeline, there are a few things to keep in mind. Follow these expert-approved tips before putting pen to paper.

Consider Including a First Look

If neither you nor your partner are strongly opposed to doing a first look, the photographers strongly encourage you to incorporate one into your wedding photography timeline. Taking your formal portraits before the ceremony—instead of during cocktail hour—will add more time to your day. “It’s a good safety net,” photographer Megan Rei says. “In case anything runs behind, you’ll still have that time during cocktail hour for photos if you need it.” Or, better yet, by taking portraits earlier in the day, you’ll actually be able to celebrate with your guests at the post-ceremony party. While first looks provide plenty of benefits based on a timeline perspective, you’ll also get to share an intimate moment with your future spouse before the busyness of the day ensues.

Check When the Sun Sets

The right lighting is essential for the best possible wedding photos. Before creating your wedding photography timeline, make sure you check when the sun will set on your special day, so you’ll have plenty of daylight to capture your pictures. To play it safe, give yourself a wider window of time. “Remember that on overcast days, it gets dark before the official sunset time, and many weddings have little hiccups that push timelines back, so plan your timeline in a way where you aren’t cutting it too close to the sunset,” Rei recommends.

Narrow Down Family Photos

With siblings, parents, and grandparents on both sides, taking family photos can get overwhelming and time-consuming. That’s why Rei suggests narrowing down these pictures. “Each combination typically takes one to two minutes, so I recommend limiting it to 15 photos if you’re trying to get them under 30 minutes,” she advises. To make the process even more efficient, Martin encourages you to alert everyone about their involvement in the photo, plus the time and place of the shoot.

Factor in a Buffer

No matter how detailed your wedding photography timeline is or how much you plan, life happens. Maybe one of your wedding party members runs late or there’s an unforeseen road closure along your route to the ceremony. That’s why it’s essential to factor buffers into your itinerary. For instance, instead of allotting 30 minutes for wedding party photos, give yourself 45 minutes. “Adding buffers helps keep the day on schedule should there be a delay during certain parts of the day,” Baskin mentions.

Having wiggle room is especially important for parts of your schedule where travel is involved. “Even if it’s a 15-minute drive from the hotel to your ceremony, remember that it also takes a few minutes to get everyone and their belongings downstairs and into the limo, and you could run into traffic,” Rei poses. The solution? Add another 15 minutes or so to your timeframe.

A Sample Wedding Photography Timeline

To help you get started, we’ve put together a sample wedding photography timeline. Keep in mind that yours will vary depending on the start time of your ceremony, but this is a good reference point.

12 p.m. — Wedding Photographer’s Arrival

12:15 - 2:15 p.m. — Getting Ready Photos