Photographer takes photo of a couple on their wedding day in front of a large window in an industrial building

When you are looking for the best wedding photographer in NYC or the Hudson Valley, one thing that you’ll need to decide is the amount of coverage you need from the photo team. It can be difficult to know what is the best fit for your wedding, especially when you are still a year out and haven’t put all of the plans in motion yet and don’t have your whole wedding team onboard. I’ve been photographing NYC and Hudson Valley weddings for over 10 years, so I’ve created a guide to help you figure it out based on my previous experience.

While every wedding timeline is truly unique (travel times vary, the number of people getting hair and make-up done changes the prep times, the amount of formalities or traditions you include can alter the flow, etc), there are some general coverage recommendations that can help you determine where yours may land. Here’s a list of different wedding photography coverage options and what style of wedding or event fits well into that timeframe.

Couple tosses bean bags as they play cornhole during a weekend wedding at the Full Moon Resort

Couple sits at an outdoor table overlooking the Catskills after their wedding ceremony at Full Moon Resort

Weekend Wedding Photography Coverage

Weekend wedding coverage is excellent when you are having a destination wedding where folks are staying onsite for multiple days— like weddings at Full Moon resort, Wildflower Farms, Gather Greene, or Cedar Lake Estate. Full weekend coverage can also be nice when you are hosting multiple wedding events throughout the weekend or hosting multicultural wedding celebrations with several days of activities.

Couple gets ready together before their wedding as one partner pins on the boutonniere for their partner at Ashokan Center

Couple dances during their wedding after party at the Ashokan Center

All Day Wedding Photography Coverage

All day wedding coverage is amazing for when you don’t want to center your day around a smaller photo timeline. This is also great if you want to capture events throughout the day with your crew: like morning yoga or the afterparty. This way your day can unfold on whatever timeline feels right for you. A note that typically there are parameters in place with all day coverage to make sure your photo team is still able to create at a high level throughout their coverage.

couple holds hands at the altar during their wedding ceremony at St Johns of Larchmont

10 Hours

10 hours of coverage is great when you have a more classic wedding day timeline and are hosting events in multiple location or you are doing a church ceremony that tends to be longer than many civil ceremonies. This timeline typically allows coverage from the end of prep, through the ceremony, portraits, cocktail hour, and key moments of the reception, along with travel when the locations are within a reasonable distance.

Couple raises jeweled champagne flutes during wedding toasts at Dumbo Loft

8 Hours

8 hours of coverage is my most common wedding day package. This is great when everything is happening at only one or possibly two locations (such as a prep hotel and then the ceremony and reception taking place at the same venue). This usually allows for coverage from the tail end of prep, through portraits, ceremony, and key moments of the reception. It’s fairly common that the coverage will not go through the very end of the reception with this package, but if the final hour is something you would like to have captured, you may need to add on 1-2 hours.

guests raise a glass during toasts at a microwedding at One Hotel Central Park

6 Hours

6 hours of wedding coverage tends to be a better fit for more intimate weddings. This could be a restaurant microwedding with a short ceremony and a meal only (no dancing or additional activities); an event where you are not doing a ceremony, but want portraits and party coverage; or a City Hall elopement ceremony followed by a small reception.

Guests at a Central Park CopCot elopement wear NYC themed souvenirs

4 Hours

4 hours of coverage can work well for an extended elopement session with multiple locations or activities; or coverage for just a small ceremony and group portraits; or only party/reception coverage.

Couple cuddles on the green couches at the NYC marriage bureau before their elopement ceremony

couple poses in front of subway entrance at the Brooklyn Bridge subway station after their NYC marriage bureau ceremony

2 Hours

2 hours of coverage is great for a simple elopement and portraits in and around 1 location: City Hall/marriage bureau or a simple NYC spot like Central Park. Typically if you want to travel to multiple locations, you are going to want to have more hours of coverage.

Looking through a sliding warehouse door into a wedding reception at Greenpoint Loft

Still Feeling confused??

I’ve been photographing weddings around NYC for over 10 years, so reach out and we can talk about your wedding day and your specific needs! I can give you guidance on what is likely the best fit for your event.

One thing that I always offer my clients is the ability to pick a starter package to book and then add additional coverage later on. This way you aren’t stuck paying for hours of coverage you don’t need, and you can wait until the timeline and plans are more solidified before finalizing. Hit me up to inquire about your date and learn more.

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