Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event, filled with special moments. A well-planned wedding photography timeline plays a vital role in ensuring that every precious moment is documented beautifully. Because of this, we take a great deal of care crafting a unique timeline for every couple who works with us.
We work with your planner to decide when, where and how we will get the specific photos you need. You should never have to make your own photo timeline when working with a professional photography and videography team.
In this article, we delve into the significance of timelines and explore the key sections of the wedding, highlighting why they are essential for creating lasting memories of your big day. Before you begin, please note that when booking photo and video together from RAA, we will shoot simultaneously. We have crafted a unique style that avoids you having to do things twice.
Getting Ready: Setting the Tone and Capturing the Excitement
We begin by capturing the excitement and anticipation as you and your loved ones prepare for the day ahead. From the moments of putting on your dress to the final touches like makeup and perfume, we document these candid behind-the-scenes shots. These add depth to your wedding album and preserve the authentic emotions that set the tone for your day.
This is also the point in the day where we will capture the flat lay detail images that we are known for. You can expect to set aside anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours for this portion in your wedding photography timeline. This will vary based on how important this is to you, how many are in your bridal party, and if you are getting ready at the same location as your ceremony or a different one.
The First Look: A Moment of Intimacy Before the Ceremony
The first look is a beautifully intimate moment where you see each other for the first time before the ceremony. As experienced photographers, we ensure that this moment is carefully captured, preserving the genuine emotions, smiles, and tears of joy. The first look provides an opportunity for you to share a private moment, creating memories that you’ll treasure forever.
Not every couple wants to do a first look with each other- but it’s extremely common to have a first look with your parents or bridal parties.
For each first look you intend to do, we will set aside roughly 15-30 minutes. Keep this in mind if you intend to have multiple.
The Ceremony: Exchanging Vows and Rings
During the wedding ceremony, we discreetly position ourselves to capture the exchange of vows, rings, and the first kiss. These images immortalize the true purpose of the day, allowing you to relive the heartfelt moments for years to come.
The ceremony generally goes much faster than couples anticipate. We will need the start time of your ceremony to figure this part out, but we let it play out as needed. If you know you’ll have a long ceremony, please let us know that way we can adjust accordingly. The average length for the ceremony portion can be anywhere from one to three hours.
Couple Portraits: Celebrating Your Love
Our dedicated time together during the couple portraits session allows us to capture your love and the unique dynamics of your relationship. We carefully compose and shoot these images, highlighting your connection and capturing the intimacy, joy, and romance shared between you.
We generally try to do three sets of these. One between your first look and ceremony, another after your ceremony, and one at sunset. This is where the bulk of the “instagram” images will come from because we aren’t working around the needs and bustle of others.
For each of these sections, we try to set apart 30 minutes or so- for a grand total of 90 minutes in the wedding photography timeline.
Bridal Party Photos: Celebrating with Your Loved Ones
We believe in celebrating the love and support of your closest friends and family. Including your bridal party in the wedding photography creates a sense of camaraderie, and we capture the bond you share. These photos are not only about documenting who was there but also about capturing the fun, laughter, and candid interactions that make your wedding day memorable. Through our lens, we freeze these moments of love and joy.
Bridal party photos are worked in organically throughout the day, but we also like to have a dedicated chunk of time for them. Generally 30 minutes to one hour.
Reception Highlights: Celebrating the Start of a New Chapter
The reception is a time of celebration, filled with heartfelt speeches, the first dance, cutting the cake, and the lively dance floor. We skillfully capture the energy and atmosphere of these moments, freezing them in time. These images encapsulate the joy and excitement that permeate the celebration.
Reception photos are another place where we work organically. We will sneak away at various points to capture the reception before the room is filled with people (we know you want shots of that cake before it’s cut!). However, you won’t find “reception photo time” on your timeline with us.
You will see “sunsets”- which is the 30 minute section previously mentioned where we will pull you away for that golden hour light.
At Rebecca Ann Aesthetic, we understand the importance of wedding photography and meticulously planned timelines. We are dedicated to capturing every precious moment and creating lasting memories of your big day. Trust us to be your storytellers, preserving your cherished memories for a lifetime.
Still trying to decide where to go from here? Check out these blogs to help you learn more about the wonderful world of wedding photography and videography with Rebecca Ann Aesthetic
