Start with the moments that matter to you
One of the hardest parts of choosing a wedding photography package is figuring out how many hours you actually need. Six hours sounds like a lot, until you start building your wedding timeline and realise that getting ready starts hours before the ceremony, family portraits take longer than expected, and speeches may only happen later in the evening.
The problem is that couples are often asked to choose a package before they understand what needs to fit inside it. At Dexterous Weddings, we prefer to work the other way around: start with the moments you want captured, and let your timeline tell you how much coverage you need.
Before looking at hours, ask yourself what you actually want to see in your final gallery. Getting-ready photographs? Details such as rings, stationery, shoes and dress? A first look? Family portraits? Bridal party photographs? Couple portraits? Your full ceremony? Confetti afterwards? Reception details before guests enter? Speeches? Cake cutting? Golden-hour portraits? The first dance?
You may not care equally about all of them, and that is completely fine. The important thing is identifying your non-negotiable moments.
What can six hours of photography cover?
Our Photo Half Day package includes six hours of coverage, and often suits smaller or more compact weddings where preparation, ceremony and reception happen at the same venue or close together. A six-hour timeline could include final getting-ready moments, details and portraits, the ceremony, family and bridal party photographs, couple portraits and key early reception moments.
The package includes one photographer, an online gallery, 100 to 200 professionally edited photographs and a mini pre-wedding shoot. The key with six hours is prioritisation: if you want extensive getting-ready coverage and late-night dancing, six hours may be too short.
What does eight hours give you?
Our Photo Full Day package gives you eight hours of coverage. Those additional two hours create significantly more breathing room, usually allowing more time for preparation photographs, portraits and reception coverage, and making it easier to plan around golden hour without sacrificing another part of the wedding.
The package includes one photographer, an online gallery, professionally edited photographs, a mini pre-wedding shoot and an A2 canvas print. For many traditional wedding timelines, eight hours offers a strong balance between comprehensive coverage and keeping the package focused.
When does twelve hours make sense?
Our Photo Full Pack includes twelve hours of coverage and two photographers. This solves a different problem than simply adding more time. It works well when both partners are preparing in separate locations, your ceremony and reception are at different venues, your guest list is larger, or important moments will be happening simultaneously.
Having two photographers also means we can capture multiple perspectives at once rather than asking your timeline to pause while one photographer moves between locations or moments. The Full Pack includes 200 to 300 edited images, an online gallery, a mini pre-wedding shoot, an A2 canvas and six framed standard prints.
Don't forget travel and delays
A wedding timeline almost never runs perfectly to the minute. Hair takes longer, transport runs late, or a speech goes on fifteen minutes longer than expected. Good planning creates space for those things. If your photography schedule only works when every part of the day happens exactly on time, it probably needs more breathing room.
Let your wedding choose your package
More hours are not automatically better, and the goal is not to book the biggest package. The goal is to make sure your photographer is there when the moments you care about actually happen. Start with your ceremony time, then add your reception schedule, preparation locations and the moments you most want photographed. From there, the right level of coverage usually becomes much clearer.
Ready to plan your coverage?
If you are comparing wedding photographers and are not sure which level of coverage fits your day, get in touch with your date and rough timeline. We can help you work out what you actually need before you choose a package, and talk you through our photography packages in more detail.
