As a wedding day photographer, you need to ensure that you can document each element of your clients’ wedding day photography shoot, and this includes documenting the timeline of the day. This may include documenting the arrival of the bride, groom and their respective families, and other guests. Once the bride and groom have arrived, it is vital that you photograph the entire ceremony, along with the rehearsal. You will also need to document the reception, the cake cutting and even the speeches. These photographs should be taken quickly, efficiently and in a style that reflects your own style and personality. Here we provide you with some useful tips on how you can create a wedding day photography timeline quickly and accurately.
Determine Your Skill Level as a Photographer
Before creating a wedding day photography timeline, it’s important to determine your skill level as a photographer. Are you just getting started? Or do you have years of experience under your belt? If this is your first time creating a wedding day photography timeline, then it’s important to do some research before diving into the project headfirst.
Analyze Your Client’s Needs
Once you’ve determined your skill level as a photographer, it’s time to analyze the needs of your clientele. What kind of photos are they looking for? Are they looking for traditional shots, or do they want something more unique? These questions will help determine what type of services they need from their photographer and how much time they are willing to spend with you and your service.
Talk with Your Client About Their Vision
The first thing I do when starting any new project is talk with my client about their vision for their wedding day photos. Not only does this give them an opportunity to share some ideas, but it also allows us to come up with a plan together that works best for them!
Meet With Your Client at Their Venue(s)
The second thing I do when starting any new project is meet with my client at their venue(s). This gives me a chance to walk through the space and discuss where they’d like their photos taken.
Narrow down your list of photos.
Start by making a list of all the photos you want and then narrowing that list down to your must-haves — those shots that will make your wedding album stand out from everyone else’s. If you don’t have any must-haves, consider hiring an assistant photographer to capture those special moments while you focus on being in the moment.
Choose Your Wedding Day Timeline Software
There are many different types of software available that can help create timelines for weddings. You can use Google Docs, Excel or even PowerPoint if you want something more basic. Some software has built-in templates that help make your job easier. If not, you can create your own template using images from other sources (or ones provided by your clients) that reflect their vision for their big day.
Add Details About Each Event
Once you have chosen your software, start adding details about each event in your timeline. These include things like when the bride will get ready, when guests will arrive at the venue and when the wedding starts.
You should plan all the things to make sure that you will not miss anything and cover all the details of the wedding ceremony.
A good wedding day photography timeline should include as much detail as possible, including:
The location of each event (such as getting ready, ceremony and reception). This will help you figure out where to position yourself throughout the day so that you don’t miss anything important.
The duration of each event (such as getting ready) so you know how much time there is for breaks or meal times during an extended event like a reception.
Possible locations for photos with couples before or after the ceremony or reception (such as posing on steps or an arbor). This way you won’t have to worry about rushing through these shots later in the evening when guests are tired and partying hard!
Tips: In addition to creating your own wedding day photography timeline, ask your clients if they have one already prepared that they would like you to follow along with.
Make sure it’s realistic.
Once you’ve narrowed down your must-have photos, ask yourself if each shot is realistic based on the timing of your day (if it’s too late for a certain shot, move it forward in time). You also want to consider whether your photographer can get there on time without interrupting other events happening at the same time — like getting ready or family photos — which may affect how long he has to spend setting up before shooting each shot.