How to Create a Wedding Day Photography Timeline Quickly and Effortlessly

By: Jackie Lamas 

A wedding day photography timeline can help streamline the order in which you photograph a wedding.
From when the couple is getting ready all the way until the dance party, the timeline helps to keep everyone, especially you, on top of how the day unfolds.
It doesn’t matter if the couple has a coordinator or if the venue has a planner. A wedding day photography timeline will make sure that you are ready for the next big event.

Portraits of the bride and groom at two different times during the day.

Why You Should Create Your Own Timeline

As the photographer, you need time during the wedding day to be able to capture all of the essential details, moments, and events that unfold throughout the day.
If you want to have even a little bit of control with the photography, you need to have a timeline made.

Creating the timeline gives you control over how much time you have during any part of the day.
Like the getting ready, where you can have the time to photograph the details.

Having a specific timeline for photography is priceless not only for you but the couple as well. It can help the bride to schedule her makeup and hair team.
The timeline also allows the bridal party to know where to be at what time. It also helps with family members who need to know when the extended family portraits are.

A wedding timeline can help you choose or prepare for each of the important portraits during the day.

Not only does the timeline help you anticipate what is next during the wedding day, but also makes you look more professional because you know what is coming next. You aren’t scrambling asking the couple what is next.

The wedding timeline can serve as a guideline for you during the wedding day. A directive ensures you get all the necessary photos of the day without questioning when or if you’ll have time to get them.
That way, you won’t miss the ring or shoe shot, or the photo of the bride with her favorite uncle.

The timeline lays it all out for you – the couple, the guests and the bridal party. It even outlines the other vendors who will be working alongside you, such as the videographer or planner.

Take advantage of any downtime during the day. This gives you the opportunity to create 

something unique and different.

It’s best to have the timeline made as soon as you know all of the major details of the wedding day.
Send it to your clients with at least a month in advance. Doing so gives them the time to make any last minute changes if necessary.
Confirm the wedding timeline at least a week before to make sure the day unfolds as planned.

Answer These Questions First

The following questions are important as they determine how you are going to schedule each portrait event of a wedding day.

Some of the questions will have to be answered by the couple and other questions are for you to answer.
All of them equally important to the timeline!

• Will the couple be having a ‘first look’?
• If not, will there be enough light after the ceremony to take the bride and groom portraits?
• If the couple is doing a ‘first look’, will they want bridal and family portraits following the portraits?
• If the couple is not doing a ‘first look’, then the family portraits will have to be done separately. Also, bridal party portraits may have to be done separately as well. Is the couple okay with having these portraits separate?
• Will the couple want sunset photos?
• Are the locations for the portraits far from the ceremony or reception venue?

What it comes down to is whether the couple is deciding to have a traditional wedding or a ‘first look’ (when the couple sees each other before the ceremony).
Photography timelines are vastly different for each, which I will explain in more detail below.

It Doesn’t Have to be Fancy

The wedding photography timeline doesn’t have to be made in Adobe Illustrator (although you could do that). A simple Word document, or equivalent, would work just fine.
Having this schedule gives the couple a chance to look over the timeline and if need be, make changes of their own.
The following questions are important as they determine how you are going to schedule each portrait event of the wedding day.

Also, you’ll want to create a template of some sort since you’ll be creating more timelines as you continue to grow your business. Once you get more experience creating these timelines, it will get easier and easier to fill in the details.

Traditional Wedding Day Photography Timeline

A traditional wedding means that a couple will not see one another before the ceremony and portraits get taken after the service. It usually isn’t a problem.
However, it is important to note if there will be enough light after the ceremony or if you will have to photograph the couple using artificial lighting.

This couple opted to keep their wedding day traditional. Portraits were scheduled right after the 

ceremony.

The easiest way to create the wedding photography timeline for a traditional wedding is, begin with the times of the two most important parts of the wedding day: the ceremony and the reception.
From there, you will be able to work your way back and schedule the times for the rest of the days’ essential details.

The same couple also decided to have sunset photos after dinner and toasts.

Say, for example, the ceremony begins at four o’clock in the afternoon, and the reception starts at seven o’clock. Begin with writing the ceremony time down first, and work your way backward until you reach the ‘getting ready’ part of the day.

‘Getting ready’ photos can lead into the bridal portraits seamlessly.

Example Timeline for a Before the Traditional Ceremony

Working backward in time from the ceremony, a sample wedding day timeline may look like this:

• 04:00 pm  – BRIDE AND GROOM ARE MARRIED
• 03:00 pm – Travel time to ceremony location and allow the bride to have touch-ups and get ready for the ceremony. Photos of the ceremony location and details. Candid photos of guests arriving
• 02:45 pm – Portraits of the groom with his family
• 02:00 pm – Portraits of the groom with groomsmen
• 01:00 pm – Portraits of the bride with her family
• 12:00 pm – Portraits of the bride alone and with bridesmaids
• 11:00 am – Photography coverage starts
• 10:00 am – Getting ready

Even if you may not be photographing the ‘getting ready’, due to collection choice or otherwise, it’s good to have a general layout of the day.

This couple kept their wedding traditional. There was no more light after the ceremony and we 

prepared for that because we had a timeline.

Example Timeline for After the Traditional Ceremony

Once you have the bulk of the day laid out, it’s time to schedule all of the events after the ceremony.
It can look something like this:

• 05:00 pm – Portraits of the family with the couple after the ceremony. This can be either at the altar, ceremony location or somewhere close by.
• 05:45 pm – Portraits of the bridal party altogether with the couple.
• 06:00 pm – Bride and groom portraits
• 06:45 pm – Arrive at the reception location. Take detail photos of the reception set up.
• 07:00 pm – Reception time
• 10:00 pm – Photography coverage ends

Knowing when family portraits will be done can help keep everyone on schedule.

At the Reception

During the reception, it’s good to consult the coordinator or planner to ask what their scheduled timeline is. When there is no planner or coordinator, go to the DJ booth and consult with them.
The reception is much more relaxed than the rest of the wedding day. Here, you can follow the timeline that the other vendors provide so that you can focus on getting great photos of the dancing without the pressure.

Work with your clients to outline which portraits are the most important for them. That way, you carve out enough time for those. The remainder can be filled in throughout the day.
For example, if the couple isn’t interested in having family portraits after the ceremony, fill the time with more bridal party photos or extend the couples’ portrait time.

Ask your clients if they want sunset photos or if they will be having something special during the day. 

This way you can include it into the timeline.

Each wedding timeline can differ. Beginning with the ceremony and working in reverse will give you the quickest way to lay it all out.

‘First Look’ Wedding Day Photography Timeline

Again, even though the couple will be seeing each other before the wedding, it is quick and easy, to start with the ceremony time.
We’ll keep the same times for this example so that you can compare the two. Refer back here when you are creating your clients’ wedding timeline.

‘First look’ before the ceremony.

‘First Look’ Example Timeline for Before the Ceremony

The ceremony begins at four o’clock and the reception begins at seven o’clock.

• 04:00 pm – BRIDE AND GROOM ARE MARRIED (Ceremony)
• 02:45 pm – Bridal Party Portraits with the couple
• 02:00 pm – Bride family portraits and groom family portraits
• 12:30 pm – Bride and groom ‘First Look’ and portraits
• 10:00 am – Getting ready photos

A timeline can change somewhat depending on ‘light’ situations. The afternoon sun is very harsh, especially for outdoor photography. You’ll want to avoid setting this time for the bride and groom portraits unless necessary.
In my experience, this is more often the case.

The above is a typical wedding timeline and even with the harsh light, you can opt for a covered or 

indoor location.

‘First Look’ Example Timeline for Before the Ceremony with Formals After

When your couple chooses to only do the ‘first look’ before the ceremony, and then do the formals later in the day, the wedding day could look something like this:

• 04:00 pm – BRIDE AND GROOM ARE MARRIED (Ceremony)
• 02:00 pm – Couple portraits alone
• 01:30 pm – Bridal party portraits with the couple
• 01:00 pm – Bride family portraits and groom family portraits
• 12:30 pm – Bride and groom ‘First look’ only
• 10:00 am – Getting ready photos

This couple had their ‘first look’ and formals before the ceremony. They also had formals after 

the ceremony during sunset.

‘First Look’ Example Timeline for After the Ceremony

From here, the post-ceremony timeline would look something like this:

• 05:00 pm – Portraits of the family with the couple after the ceremony. This can be either at the altar, ceremony location or somewhere close by.
• 05:45 pm – Cocktail hour at the reception venue
• 06:00 pm – Photograph reception details and other candids during this time
• 07:00 pm – Reception time

There are many different timelines because every wedding event is unique. Depending on your style, you might schedule the portraits earlier or later in the day.
Perhaps you’re photographing on a beach and want beautiful sunset photos. You may choose to take pictures of the couple earlier, and again during sunset.

Stick to the Timeline But Also be Flexible

Keep in mind that setbacks happen more often than not during wedding days. Fortunately, you have a handy wedding timeline. Due to the way it is set up, you have the option of rearranging and moving things around if necessary.

An example of this would be if a groomsman is running late to the bridal party portraits, you can begin with the bridesmaids. Or if the bride is late for the portraits or ‘first look,’ you can switch to the pictures of the groom with his family instead.

We didn’t have time before the ceremony to take the full bridal portraits so we opted to do them at 

a later time.

Having the timeline in mind during the wedding day will make these setbacks easier to overcome. You can reassure your clients that you will still get all of the photos that are of utmost importance to them.

Template for Quick and Easy Wedding Day Photography Timeline

Creating timelines doesn’t have to be a grueling task. Use the below template to help you effortlessly create quick and easy wedding photography timelines. It works for both traditional or non-traditional weddings, and begins with the ceremony and working backward.
Once you’ve created your timeline, make sure to confirm all of the details with your couple. Sure, things can change on the day, but it is still essential for the couple to sign off on it.

Be sure to send a copy to the wedding planner or coordinator as well. That way, everyone is on the same page in regards to the timeline of how the day will unfold.

As the photographer, it’s important that you, your clients, and team, are all on the same page as the day unfolds.
Taking the time to create a timeline of each significant photographic moment during the day will save time and keep you in control of the photography.

Work with the coordinator or DJ for the reception events. Add these to the timeline, even if they 

might be changed on the day.

With time and experience, you’ll be creating wedding timelines quickly and effortlessly!
Do you have trouble with wedding day photography timelines? Are their extra things you would consider? Share with us in the comments below.

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How to Photograph Family and Bridal Party Portraits Quickly at Weddings

By: Jackie Lamas 

Wedding days are filled with details. While the bride and groom portraits are the most important pictures you’ll photograph during the day, family and bridal party portraits come at a close second.
These tips help you photograph family and bridal party portraits quickly and beautifully, giving your guests great photos without taking up valuable time.

If you have time during the bridal party photos, get creative!

Family portraits

Make use of a consultation to speak with your clients before the event to find out if any of their parents are divorced and note this down on a wedding info sheet.
I lead with this because it can change the order in which you photograph family portraits, especially if there are parents who choose not to see each other.
Unfortunately, this is a reality and should be handled with care.

Ask about divorced parents before the wedding because it can affect family portraits.

During the consultation process, you should also create an itinerary so that you have at least 30 minutes for family portraits. The more time you have, the more variety in posing you can get, however, 30 minutes is enough time to capture the family.

Both family portraits in the same location.

When photographing wedding family portraits before the ceremony, make sure you confirm if both the bride and groom families will be present or if you will be photographing them separately.
Either way, this list provides different combinations to use with each family; all achievable in under 15 minutes.

Build portraits by adding people gradually.

• Bride/Groom with parents (If they are divorced, photograph with new spouses or simply keep them separate portraits)
• Bride/Groom with entire immediate family, including brothers, sisters, including spouses and children
• If grandparents are present, take another photo of the entire family including grandparents
• Bride/Groom with mother
• Bride/Groom with father
• Bride/Groom with nieces and nephews only
• Bride/Groom with siblings
• Bride/Groom with grandparents
• Bride/Groom with important uncles/aunts/extended family

Build portraits by adding parents and without moving them, add in the rest of the family.

Keep the portraits of the extended family until the end.
They may be eager to get family portraits after the ceremony but make sure that you express to them that the most important photos are of the immediate family.
Of course, make sure to ask the bride and groom if there is anyone in the extended family that is a must-have during the family portraits.
At small weddings, you might have a chance to photograph all of the guests with the bride and groom.

Take photos of each family individually and don’t forget to add the bride or groom.

The family portrait formula

To do this and all of the family portraits quickly, follow this formula:

1. Find a big space with a neutral or pleasing background, like pretty landscaping, an interesting building, or a clearing in the venue/location. One great option is to photograph close to the ceremony where family members are all together and present. This helps keep people from wandering off and missing out on the portraits.
2. Begin with the family that is present. For example, if the groom’s family is ready, begin with them so that you don’t waste time waiting. Set up the bride and groom in the center, tummy to tummy, holding the bouquet. From here, build out until you get the entire family in the photo. Remember to also take photos of the bride and groom with their respective families alone.
3. From there, it is easier to keep the bride or groom in the center and add or remove people as needed.
4. Always show a connection by having people put their hands on the arm of the person next to them or if they are spouses, holding hands. Putting hands on the shoulders of children or holding their hands also helps. 
5. For babies and children under 3, they are best when being held as sometimes they might be too small if they are standing in the portrait. If you have time, photograph both options.

Both families are in one portrait.

Family portraits are the ones that guests always download the most as many family members do not live nearby. Weddings act as a mini-reunion for families, which is why it’s important to get solid portraits of them.

Grandparents are very important guests, make sure to take portraits when they are present.

Taking family portraits using the formula above ensures that you can work quickly and not take up time from the cocktail hour or even the bride and groom’s portraits!

Connect family with hands to arms or on shoulders.

Once you take the solid portrait of the family, if you have time, get creative or have fun with it.
Get a photo of the family hugging or siblings doing something funny.
Doing this also helps keep the mood light and ensures that everyone has fun during the family portraits.

Bridal party portraits

Bridal party photos should take anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour to photograph to get as much variety as possible. Begin photographing the entire bridal party together to ensure that no one is missing and everyone is present.

Begin with photographing the entire bridal party together.

A few quick tips for bridal party portraits

Make sure that all boutonnières and bouquets are ready and each person has their flowers pinned or in hand. Place bouquets at belly button height because this keeps the arms slightly bent, and the flowers visible without being too high or too low.
For the groomsmen, ask them to take out all of their belongings from their pockets as this can create hard to edit shadows on the pants. If there is something special, like a gift from the bride or groom to their bridal party, take a photograph of that too.

Take the following series of photos for the entire bridal party portraits:

• Bridal party standing in line – placing bridesmaids on bride’s side and groomsmen on the groom’s side is a classic and sure portrait of the entire bridal party. Place the tallest people on the outside as they can distract from the bride and groom if they are shorter. Then line them up according to height.
• Create a ‘u’ shape forward or try to use a ‘v’ shape to create more depth.
• Stagger the bridal party and turn some people away from the center, creating more depth in the portrait. You can sometimes have the bridesmaids interlocking arms or the groomsmen holding shoulders or leaning against each other. Try different ideas with them standing.
• If you have access to chairs, place a couple in front to create differences in height and create a similar portrait but with a few people sitting. It makes a much more interesting photo.
• If there are steps, use them to stagger the bridal party across, keeping the bride and groom center.
• Get a photo of the bridal party walking toward the camera having fun.
• Ask the bridal party to mix and get a group photo of them having fun.
• Get a group hug if the bridal party isn’t too large. Doing so creates authentic smiles and breaks-up the stiffness or seriousness of the portraits.

Bridal party portraits should be fun and keeping the mood light always helps.
If you find yourself having a hard time getting them to focus, try letting them know that the faster you photograph the portraits, the faster they can get to the party.
This usually motivates them to cooperate faster.

Once you have the entire bridal party portraits, take photos of the groomsmen. The bride can take a break to touch up makeup, take a sip of water, or rest for a moment.
Groomsmen usually want to get the portraits over as quickly as possible so beginning with them makes everything run smoothly. If you have a second photographer, ask them to take the groomsmen aside and photograph them while you focus on the bride to cut time as well.

Photographing the bridesmaids and groomsmen separately is much more fluid and can be more fun. Have them line up, hug, do something funny, and take individual photos of the bride or groom with each person.

Have fun during bridal party portraits.

Take individual photos with each person in the bridal party.

Make sure to take waist-high portraits as well as full-length with enough room around the frame just in case they print the photo at different sizes that may crop the image.


Try and keep the bridal party photos in one location so that you don’t have to move so many people around.
Another tip is to photograph the bridesmaids and groomsmen separately earlier in the day and come together after the ceremony for the larger portrait.
Sometimes this can save time as well.

Extended family bridal party portraits

After the ceremony, as guests congratulate the couple, do not get caught in the trap of photographing extended family portraits. Make sure to let the guests know that during cocktail hour or the reception, you will have more time to photograph guests with the couple.

Extended family photos during cocktail hour saves time from the bride and groom portraits or 

other events during the wedding day.

The reason for this is because taking portraits of guests with the couple immediately after the ceremony, or while the guests are congratulating the couple, can cut time from the family portraits.
It is okay to get candid/photojournalistic photos during this time of the couple with the guests.

Photos during the reception for extended family is very ideal.

However, make sure to get a few before heading to the location where you are taking the family portraits. This gives you time to set up and get your camera ready for the quick family portraits.

Keep a checklist

Use the Notes app on your phone or carry a printout of a checklist with all the combinations to use to photograph the family and bridal party portraits. Doing so helps you keep track of what you’ve already photographed and what you need to do, so you don’t waste time wondering what comes next.

Weddings are all about the guests, and the guest list is meticulously planned, so make sure you take the extra step and ask the bride and groom if there are any guests they specifically want photographing.
Doing so makes all the difference when they look through their final images. Make sure to include these VIP guests in your checklist and note when would be a good time during the day to get their portrait.

Once you have more wedding experience, these portraits become easier and quicker to set up, photograph and pose. Soon you’ll be doing them in under 15 minutes, giving you more time to experiment and get creative!

Put a family member or someone close in charge

It can be stressful making sure all the family members and bridal party are present where and when they need to be. This stress should not fall on either the bride or groom.
On the day of the wedding, find someone who is a family member or bridal party member who is familiar with both sides of the family be in charge of making sure that all family members and bridal party are where they need to be during the portraits.
Since they know who the key players are, this helper can cut time by making sure everyone who needs to be in the portraits is present, making the portrait time more fluid.

Take photos of gifts the bridal party receives from the couple.

Keep the portraits moving 

Sometimes, you’ll have to wait on a family member or bridal party member, and that is okay. You always want to make sure the bride and groom stay as calm and stress-free as possible. When this happens, keep the portraits moving.

For example, if the groom’s family isn’t ready, then begin with the bride’s family. If you’re waiting for a bridesmaid, take individual shots first and then move on to the groomsmen.
Making sure the portraits continue allows the person who is missing to arrive, all the while you are still creating beautiful portraits for the bride and groom.

Allow the bridal party to have fun.

If there is a circumstance where someone essential is missing or unavailable for the photos, ask the bride and groom to move the portrait session to a different time.
Perhaps you can do the bridal party portraits during the cocktail hour or carve out some time during the reception to get family portraits.

If you have access to chairs use them to pose the bridal party or family.

Make sure to note any changes to the portrait sessions and anyone still to be photographed. Ensure that you get the photo during the day to help the bride and groom feel less stressed and more confident in you to achieve all the crucial portraits.

Family photos and bridal party photos are a huge part of every wedding day and can be stressful when trying to pose large groups of people.
Using these tips can help these portraits to be more streamlined so that the guests, as well as the bride and groom, can enjoy the party.
You’ll get fabulous portraits that everyone loves without having to take up too much time.
Do you have any wedding portrait tips you’d like to share? If so, leave them in a comment below.
For more information on wedding photography, read this article on What Are the Real Responsibilities of a Wedding Photographer or What to Bring to Photograph a Wedding Besides Your Photo Gear

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