As an editorial wedding photographer, I’ve seen it all—from well planned timelines that run like clockwork and factor in buffer room to those that get derailed by too much in too short of a time frame and then me having to go “Hey I’m leaving now”. Not that I ever would want to if everything isn’t done and documented but this all too often happens to couples who don’t plan out their times properly. If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to couples, it’s this: don’t overdo your wedding portrait locations. Unless you’re eloping, where the whole day (or multiple days!) can be dedicated to photography, weddings typically run on a much tighter schedule. Here’s why keeping it simple is the best approach.
Weddings Run on Timelines—And That’s Okay
A traditional wedding day is packed with moments: getting ready, the ceremony, family portraits, cocktail hour, dinner, speeches, and, of course, dancing. Between these events, there’s little room to shuttle between three or four portrait locations without sacrificing time that could be spent mingling with your guests or simply soaking in the day. And let’s not forget sunset portraits, which are often squeezed in before speeches and dinner. This golden-hour magic deserves its dedicated time slot—not something rushed because of traffic or delays.
My Recommendation: Two Locations Max
If you’re having a wedding with a structured timeline, I recommend keeping it to a maximum of 2 portrait locations. If your wedding is in the city, I’d even suggest sticking to one location to play it safe. Traffic is unpredictable, and who wants to spend their wedding day stressing in a car or waiting for everyone to arrive at the next spot? Especially if you have a videographer and content creator – as we can’t all fit into one car.
For city weddings, look for locations within walking distance of your venue. This not only minimises travel time but also keeps the day feeling relaxed and enjoyable.
I’ve had one couple plan their own timeline, and guess what? It rained. They didn’t have a backup location planned for wet weather (it’s okay, I found beautiful spots on the day), and they tried to squeeze in 3-4+ locations in the space of an hour, with no buffer room for city traffic and travel. Not ideal as we would be jumping in out of cars, and walking for most of it. Ideally, you should plan for one location per hour. This way, you can accomodate for travel, walking, getting into position, having time to relax and get comfortable, actually enjoy the day, and get beautiful portraits without feeling rushed.
Picture this: champagne in hand, laughing with your spouse, feeling so comfortable and at ease—not thinking, “Okay, we’ve got 5 minutes here because we need x amount of time to drive to x location, then we need x amount of time to walk here.” Don’t do that, its your wedding day aka it’s a marathon not a sprint.
Remember a wedding day is full of heightened emotions and the point isn’t to make you both exhausted quickly, sick of the camera or feel like it’s a photoshoot. Or worst yet imagine it’s raining you’re rushing and you slip and break your leg. Imagine you’re rushing and have a car accident. Imagine you’re rushing in the summer heat and you faint.
I like to break up couple portraits in mini parts of the day so its not as overwhelming.
A few key examples are;
30 minutes first look, 30 minutes portraits after, with a 15 minute buffer in between (freshen up, touch up makeup etc, as there will surely be tears).
Couple portraits post ceremony 45 mins, bridal party portraits 20 mins, with a buffer in-between the two of 15 mins (if all onsite and one location)
Sunset photos 20 mins (with a 10 minute buffer to relax and just relax and have a private moment the two of you (this is likely the only time you will have to yourselves the whole day and I think this is SUPER important), then with a 5 minute buffer each side before and after if onsite)
Direct flash couple portraits in the evening 5-10 mins (with a 5 minute buffer each side before and after if onsite).
This doesn’t factor in multiple locations, or travel. This is all onsite, on one location. So you can quickly skip out, grab some photos with some champagne and come right back to your guests. I’ve found this to be the most effective and still makes the day enjoyable as a whole. Also gives different looks to your couple portraits which is beautiful for your final wedding album.
Backup Plans are Key—Especially for Rainy Days
Let’s talk about the weather. Rain happens, and while I’m always prepared with umbrellas, it’s essential to have a backup indoor location ready. That way, we’re not scrambling to figure out where to go. Some of my favourite wedding portraits however have been captured on rainy days because the couple embraced the weather—and yes, your hair and makeup might not stay perfect, but that’s part of the magic. You can usually barely see rain in the photographs as well – unless it’s backlit. Those authentic, unfiltered moments are what make your wedding photographs truly special. But if you don’t want to get wet, consider indoor options like with a staircase, or beautiful building.
The Magic of Buffer Time
If there’s one wedding planning tip to take to heart, it’s building in buffer time. Add extra time between each part of the day—travel, getting ready, and group portraits. This buffer ensures that if anything runs late (and it usually does, especially with guest counts over 120), the rest of the schedule doesn’t fall apart. By accounting for potential delays, we avoid cutting into your portrait or mingling time.
Big guest lists require more time to get congratulations hugs, more time to do the group photo, more people = more time needed.
It’s also worth noting that if you have a videographer, and a content creator (and not just a photographer) you need to allow more time again per vendor because you’ll have to “re-do” moments so everyone can get in and get the shot they need.
So in each section, I would add on at-least 10 minutes per vendor. Eg a sunset shoot with just a photographer = 20 minutes. A sunset shoot with a photographer, videographer and content creator = 40 minutes.
Think of it this way: on a regular day, you’d grab your car keys and head out. But on your wedding day, you have a bridal party, a dress, flowers, and a dozen other things to coordinate. Multiply your usual prep time by at least ten—and you’ll have a better idea of what to expect per thing on the day. (Eg getting out of the house).
Trust Your Photographer—I’m Here to Help
My couples always tell me on the day that they wish they had more time with their loved ones. It’s such a rare and special moment to have everyone you care about together in one place. But a common mistake couples make during their initial planning is not realising how much they’ll want that time and thinking they can do it all.
Trust in me, your photographer. I don’t give you timings for your timeline to make more money—I give timings (which may be more than you expect, and that’s okay) for a reason. I’m a professional, and I want to make sure you two have a wonderful experience AND beautiful photographs. That’s what I’m here for—to guide you both. Remember, I know what I’m talking about, and my goal is to ensure your day feels seamless, special, and truly unforgettable.
This is also why I’ve adapted my business model over the last year and I do all my couples timelines, because at the end of the day you are hiring me. You’ve never planned a wedding before, whereas I have years of experience capturing weddings and its my job to guide you. I know it may seem easier being stubborn and “doing it all”, I give you permission to let me help plan your timeline. Don’t make the mistake of trying to cram everything into the smallest time frame possible. Let me give you the best experience possible by me designing your timeline using my experience to ensure all of your priorities are captured.
Embrace the Day, No Matter What
Ultimately, the most memorable wedding photos come from couples who fully embrace their day, rain or shine. When you’re not rushing or worrying about delays, you’re free to be present and enjoy every moment. And that’s what makes your photos stand out—authentic joy, laughter, and love.
So, when planning your wedding day, keep it simple. Choose one or two meaningful portrait locations, factor in buffer time, and trust that your day will unfold beautifully—because it will. And if an after-party is on the agenda where you dance until dawn? Even better. But for the rest of the day, let’s keep it stress-free and unforgettable. The best thing you can bring on the day its a go with the flow mindset and happy attitude. Everything is planned, everything is ok – your wedding day is about enjoying it.
If you’re searching for a editorial wedding photographer to capture your day not only beautifully but capture you two authentically with lots of time to party, then reach out today. I’d love to hear from you and design your day so it perfectly suits you two as a couple and your love story.
