Wedding Photos

Whilethe most amazing wedding photosmay look effortless, there is a good deal of time that goes into creating those incredible images. Therefore, creating a wedding photography timeline is an absolute must. But how much time do you really need to reserve totake your photos? And what does a wedding dayphotography timeline actually look like?

We spoke to wedding photographers Christin Berry ofBlue Martini Photographyin Toledo, Ohio, Jasmine Norris ofJasmine Norris Photographyin Lafayette, Indiana, Kelly Vasami ofKelly Vasami Photographyin Scarsdale, New York, Nick Gillespie ofBlue Bend Photographyin Asheville, North Carolina, and David Stephen Kalonick ofDavid Stephen Photographyin Cincinnati, Ohio to find out the answers. Here's the best way to plan your own (stress-free!) wedding photography timeline.

While the main focus of your wedding portrait session will be you and your spouse, you will probably want family and wedding party photos, too. Most photographers provide a “suggested formals list” of portrait groupings that you can refer to and edit based on your needs. While your parents may try to insist take formal portraits with all of your distant relatives, remember that the more portraits you take, the more time you will spend away from your big day. Try to keep your formal portraits to a minimum (Jasmine suggests 15 groupings for family portraits) and include only your wedding party, immediate familymembers, and perhaps a few special relatives.

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Now that you’ve decided who will be included in your wedding portraits, it’s time to figure outwhere you’ll be taking the photos. The easiest locations are your weddingceremony location and/or reception venue, of course, but the hotel where you’re getting ready can also be a good spot. If there’s a particular location where you’ve always dreamed of taking your wedding photos (a local beach or park, a neighborhood in your city, etc.) or you want to take photos at different locations, you’ll have to factor the travel time into your weddingphotography timeline—and plan for transportation so that all of your VIPs get there safely and on time.

Choosingwhether or not to do a “first look”is a personal decision. Many photographers thinkit’s a good ideabecause it allows you to take many of your wedding photos before your ceremony so that you can enjoy your cocktail hour with your guests. If you decide to stick with tradition and wait until the ceremony to see your partner, you can expect to spend your entire cocktail hour (and possibly more) taking portraits. Be sure to decide which path you prefer to take before creating your wedding photography timeline.

Talk to yourwedding photographerabout how long he or she will need to take the different types of wedding portraits. For the best results, photographers agree thatwedding party portraitstake about 30 minutes, family portraits take about 30 minutes (if you’re sticking with only photographing close family), and couple portraits take between 45 minutes to an hour. If you’re having a “first look, ” all of these can be completed before the ceremony. If you’re not having a “first look, ” you can still take separate family formals, and photos of the wedding party before the ceremony, but any portraits with the couple together will be taken during cocktail hour.

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Work with your wedding planner to create afully written-out scheduleof your wedding day, including the wedding photography timeline. Add five minutes of “buffer” time throughout the day to account for any hiccups, and don’t forget to factor in travel time if you’re moving between different locations. Be sure that all of your VIPs are aware of this schedule, and know where to be at what time. Even if you’re the “always early” type, weddings have a funny way of running late—so encourage your loved ones to stick to the schedule so you'll have plenty of time.

(Note, if you’re having a second shooter present at your wedding, wedding party portraits may be taken at the same time at separate locations.)

There's a lot more that goes into your wedding photos than standing in front of a camera and smiling. Here are the types of wedding photography to know before starting your search.

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Ready to make things official with your dream photog? Not so fast. Make sure to read that wedding photography contract before taking this big step.

We completely understand that videography is an added expense, but if it's within your budget, it's worth the splurge. Here are the five biggest benefits of wedding videography.When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.

All know that wedding photos are one of the most important parts of the wedding day, so coming up with a must-have wedding photo list should be high on your wedding planning priorities. These are the memories you'll cherish forever and even look back on the very next day (It goes by in a flash, they all say). That's why you want to make sure your photographer nails every photo-op, starting with the getting ready photos all the way through to your (sparkler) exit.

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Step one to checking off this to-do list is to hire a wedding photographer you're excited about—and put your trust in the professional. You are hiring just that—a

—who should know what they're doing, after all. They'll have an idea of the must-have wedding shots, but even so, it's nice to have some general knowledge of wedding photography yourself. As your 101 guide, we put together a wedding photo list of the must-have moments to capture—from the pretty detailed shot of your wedding day jewels to the table settings and invitation suite.

Of these wedding photos in order to create the perfect album, but it's nice to think about them. (Either way, they'll put you in the detail mindset at least as you buy those special bridal shoes and design your custom invitations). So before you get shopping and pinning away, scroll down to see some of our favorite images from real weddings on

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Some photographers shoot the invitation suite on the wedding day, while others do it afterward in a studio. Talk to your photographer about what you're looking for in this photo moment and be direct about whether or not you want extra details (like these flowers) in the shot.

Invite your photographer to the bridal suite to capture the beauty moments, like actress Carlson Young did to get a shot of her pretty braid. Give them a timeline before the big day, and don't forget to include your partner's getting ready moments as well!

You spend time handpicking your wedding day accessories and making sure they're special, so be sure to capture that. And if you're wearing something old, new, borrowed, and blue get a shot of everything together!

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After all that wedding dress shopping, you're going to want to document the big reveal. Snap a quick photo of your mom or Maid of Honor zipping you in.

This is your time to shine in the spotlight and really show off that dress! Don't shy away from the camera, and make sure your photographer sets some time aside to capture your bridal portrait.

With a wedding bouquet this gorgeous, you'd better hold on tight and pose! Opt for shots while holding your bouquet, or let your photographer capture it in different locations for the perfect shot.

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We love this bridal party picture because it’s natural and candid. Copy it with your squad—and make sure you get some laughing ones while you're at it. You'll cherish these shots with your closest friends for years to come.

How brilliant are these calligraphed name tags? They tell you who gets which flower—and makes for one pretty photo-op. Be sure to include every little detail like this in your shot list.

It’s his turn to play model! Make sure to tell your groom how dapper he looks before he hops in front of the camera.

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Some couples are 100 percent sure they want a first look, while others would rather wait for the aisle moment, it's all up to you! If you do decide to see your groom before the ceremony, document it. You’ll cherish his reaction on film forever—we promise.

Wedding candids are our favorite moments. Be yourselves as your photographer snaps pics of the two of you. We especially love this photo of a bride reading her groom a love note before walking down the aisle.

Make sure your photographer knows you want them to capture those authentic moments beforehand so you can completely get lost in the moment.

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After you and your partner say I do, sneak away with your photographer for photos, just the two of you. It’s a nice moment to spend