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![I know I'm being petty.. [long bridezillay rant]](http://boards-static.weddingbee.com/images/left-loop-button-on.gif)
I was going to say to ask your photographer, but if your photographer doesn't have wedding experience maybe they don't know, and maybe its actually hard to tell how long it will take.
My experience, and this is how we are planning our photography, is that you want the photographer to show up about two hours before the ceremony if you want candids of the process of getting ready. If you are going to have bridal party photos in the church or in front of the church before the ceremony, you want to be done with those by 15 - 20 minutes before, so that you don't get "caught" by early arriving guests. If you're doing before ceremony photos in two groups (because of not wanting so see the groom) I would allow 10 - 15 minutes for each group. So there's your 30 minutes before, although it actually occurs more than 30 minutes before the ceremony.
After the ceremony and at the church, you will be getting primarily bride and groom pictures, maybe a few with the whole bridal party and parents, maybe one of you signing the marriage license, but I would say 15 - 20 minutes max.
We are also doing end of reception pictures, as we want sunset shots, and we will wander outside with the photographer around sunset (just bride and groom) and we are anticipating about 15 minutes.
So - I do think your time estimates are a little long. But if you have a big group to herd around, and if your photographer doesn't have a lot of experience, it may take more time than normal. You could probably safely cut your 30 minute sessions down though, if that will make your FI happier.
i think what you have is fine. pre-ceremony is great for bride/groom and bridal party and perhaps immediate family. it will probably take 20 minutes, but you always want to add a small cushion for delays.
post-ceremony is probably for families, friends, larger group photos, more bride/groom (now married!!), bridal party.
i'm doing the same, pre and post. but i dont have one post-reception. but if you just want to capture photos of ppl who will be at the reception or take getaway pictures, etc, i think that's fine.
20 minutes is good, but yes, 30 min cushion works. if you end a bit earlier, i'm sure you'll be busy catching up with guests. so i think that's fine! :)
I think your FI is under estimating how long it takes for a photographer to line people up, switch out positions, etc for pictures. Especially if you have certain pictures that absolutely want taken (family, bridal party and their dates, etc..) I think 30 minutes for each set of pictures is a good estimate. If anything you might need a few extra minutes for the pictures after the ceremony. Imagine everyone chatting, trying to take their own pictures, not paying attention to the photographer.....
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I believe that my coordinator estimated the EACH shot (or each different grouping) would take between 2-3 minutes. That accounts for everything that ynichole mentioned. So, figure out how many different permutations you want with everyone (Bride and Groom, Bride with Bride's family, Bride & Groom with Bride's Family, Groom with Groom's family, etc.) and that might help you out.
I think what you have is a reasonable estimate based upon the fact that your photographer isn't pro. so there will be time needed to set you up right and herd those whom you want in the photos.
the group photos could easily go quicker, but i think you are right by adding in a cushion of time. remind him that just bc you have scheduled 30 mins blocks does not mean you will actually take the full 30 minutes.
I also think that the 2-3 mins per shot is a good estimate. sit down with your list and see how much time the session would require based upon that estimate.
GL!
Just to give an idea, we had an engagement session with our photographer, just the 2 of us. In an hour, we got about 100 pictures, and about 15 were what I consider good. With groups, the pictures will probably take longer.
I am scheduling 30 minutes before our ceremony for some bridal party / family pictures. We have 2 photographers, so one will be with the guys, and one with the girls. I also have scheduled 30 minutes post ceremony for family/group pictures, and another hour for more romantic couple photos in a few different locations (very close to each other)
Good luck!
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We did nto see each other prrior to the ceremony either, but did our individuall family and bridal party shots before and scheduled 30 minutes.
Our cocktail reception was scheduled for an hour and we were hoping to get pics done in 30 minutes so we could join the cocktails. We ended up using the full hour.
Like vnichole said, larger group photos take longer because you have to organize everyone, make them pay attention, etc. Do those first, so you can get them out of the way, and let everyone joing the cocktails, then you can do love shots of just the two of you.
A way to speed it up or try to be organized ahead of time is to assign a family member who knows everyone with the task of making sure anyone who needs to be present for family photos after the ceremony is aware of where they need to be.
This person should then coordinate with the photog to get everyone in and out. So if your shot list calls for groom's family first, they can make sure everyone is in the shot, then start rounding up the bride's family so it'll hopefulyl go as smooth as possible.
Sounds about right to me. I've been in a lot of weddongs and it takes a bout an hour for most of the pictures. The extra half hour at the end of the day would be extra but since your are splitting things up there will be more organizational confusion, especially if you are using an amature who is not used to corralling everyone. And you are going to have to do that 3 tiome so...
You can always tell him that you padded the schedule a little bit because there are always delays of some sort....and you want to be able to take advantage of any extra time before the wedding to have a quiet moment with your parents and any extra between pictures and reception for a quiet moment with him.
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This subject has become something of a sore spot between me and the FI... I've done up a preliminary timeline that has three 30 minute chunks for photography (immediately before ceremony, immediately after, and post-reception) in order to accomodate my wants for 1. not seeing each other before the ceremony (we will do family/getting ready pics, seperately), 2. the sunshine factor (wanting afternoon sun after the reception) and FI's desire to do some pictures right after the ceremony so there's no chance of mussing clothes at the reception.
However, I showed him the schedule and he said that 90 minutes was a ridiculous amount of time to spend on taking pictures. He believes that we only need 30 minutes, tops. Now, I don't want the 1000+ picture-photojournalist-style-gorgeousness ('cause I can't afford it), just a simple, beautiful record of the day. We'll probably be going semi-pro with a friend who has some equipment.
So, long post, but the question is, with these factors in mind, am I crazy? Is FI crazy? What amount of time, with those specifications, would you schedule?