There are so many different questions that we receive from our inquiries. We have found that we attract less and less clients with differing views on coverage when we blog and share about what is truly an ideal wedding day. We believe that eight hours of coverage is ideal for a perfect day. We won’t shoot weddings for less than 8 hours unless it’s a VERY specific situation (like a destination wedding or elopement). We need that 8 hours to truly tell the story of the day and after 7 years in business, we’ve realized that this is the only way we want to shoot a wedding.
(Please note: This is just OUR opinion, not every photographer will have this same approach to a wedding day and thats ok!)
Not only do we want to have more time to tell the story, we also want to give our couples a stress free wedding day. Photographers always ask us “How do you consistently shoot the same amount of portraits at EVERY wedding?”… Well, we require the same experience!
When we receive an email from a bride and groom and they share that they only want 4 hours of coverage, I have one of two options. 1. I can educate them about our Wedding Experience and why we need a minimum of 8 hours or 2. I can refer them to a friend whose still only requires 3-4 hours of coverage.
Normally we can tell whether or not the couple just needs to be educated about the timeline of the wedding day or if photography isn’t a priority for them. If photography isn’t a high priority, they would be better served by someone else. We work with couples who put a HIGH value on their pictures and so if I want to maintain my ability to shoot a ton of portraits, great details and still have time for candids, I need to continue to work with photo-loving clients that invest in ample coverage! (please note: There are some exceptions to this. If you’re a bride who loves photography but had an abnormally short wedding day, that’s awesome! … But you may not be the best fit for us.)
So, if you’re a photographer that needs to explain to clients why 4 hours isn’t the best option for wedding day coverage OR if you’re a bride that has never heard this explained, here are a few things we share when we educate about the wedding day timeline:
- If you want to receive an experience like what you have seen in our wedding blog posts, you will need a minimum of eight hours of coverage.
- Our WEDDING EXPERIENCE includes eight hours of coverage because after shooting over 150 weddings, we’ve realized that we do our BEST work in an 8 hours timeframe!
- Your timeline needs to be written realistically. If you cram everything into 4-6 hours because you want to save money, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. You’re ASKING for a stressful day. Build your timeline realistically and allow your photographer to have adequate time for each part of the day.
- If you’re sharing a FIRST LOOK (which we HIGLY recommend), we’ll be starting approximately 3 hours before the ceremony. While this extends the amount of coverage you’ll need, you will have more time with guests, more time with just each other and 40% more portraits! It’s a win-win-win!
- As a photographer, I want the best for you. I also want to maintain my consistent style and serve my clients well and I know that I cannot accomplish that within confines of 4 hours of coverage.
- Last but not least, if you want creative images, that requires time! The following images were captured because we had time to be artistic!! :
Thanks for reading!
— Katelyn
MORE RECENT POSTS
Have you ever started a session, camera in hand, and suddenly felt stuck? Your couple is standing there, looking at you, waiting for direction… and your mind goes blank.
Have you ever tried to sit down with your spouse to talk about dreams, goals, and vision—only for it to turn into frustration or misalignment? If so, you’re not alone. Vision casting in marriage is hard because it brings up deeper fears, beliefs, and unspoken dynamics that many couples don’t even realize are at play.
Success—it’s a word we hear all the time. But what does it really mean? Is it about financial security? Status? Owning a dream home or taking extravagant vacations?
When you think about your business, do you see it as simply a job—or something more?
Today, I’m diving into an experience that was nothing like I anticipated: my digital detox in December. If you’ve ever considered taking a break from the noise of the online world, you might relate to my journey—the good, the surprising, and the, well, completely unplanned.
The wedding industry has faced unique challenges recently, with inflation affecting budgets and couples cutting costs. If you’re a wedding photographer feeling the pinch, don’t worry—2025 doesn’t have to be a slow year.
Top Personal Posts
Have a little time to read?
"Best money I have EVER spent on education! ... and I've spent a lot!”
"I love all the lessons I'm learning from KJ All Access! Thanks Katelyn!”
"I find very few educational resources worth it ... this one is!”
"Being able to see behind-the-scenes of Katelyn interacting with her clients has been SO impactful!”
"SO worth it! It's amazing the amount of knowledge you get out of them!”
"I learned just as much in one All Access as I did in a whole course! SO GOOD!"
The KJ blog
must-reads
YOUTUBE
The KJ Learning roadmap
