Build a Timeline

Build a Timeline  - Wedding Photography

         You will be surprised at just how fast things move during a wedding. No sooner are you awake than you are being whisked away to the ceremony and before you know it, the night is over. I like to think it’s the euphoria of the day that makes it seem as though time is passing at warp speed.

         For this reason, I highly recommend sitting down with your photographer ahead of time and coming up with a detailed photography timeline—and to get you started I’ve included a timeline worksheet as an appendix at the back of this book. I often say you don’t get a second chance when it comes to your wedding photography; you either get the shot that day, or you don’t get it at all.

         When it comes to creating a photography timeline, generally the more detailed you are, the better. And when you set a schedule and share it with your photographer, he or she can help you keep the day moving. A photography timeline is also helpful for others involved in the wedding because it lets them know where they need to be at a certain time. If you are planning to have photos taken with your entire family in a nearby park following the ceremony, for example, that should be indicated on your timeline so that your family knows where they need to be—and at what time—in order to have their photo taken.

         A photography timeline should account for every minute of the day, from the time your photographer is scheduled to arrive right up until he or she leaves. If you will have multiple photographers shooting your wedding who need to be at different locations, those details should be in your timeline as well. For example, if one photographer will be with you to take pictures of you and your attendants getting ready before the wedding, and a second photographer will be with your fiancé and his groomsmen while they get ready, make sure your timeline reflects that.