Wedding Time Frame?

[E3_Photo_Studio]

How long do you stay to take pics for a wedding? On average?

And

Do you charge by the hour?

I've noticed that we've been staying 8 1/2 hours...:( Makes for a VERY long day. :rolleyes:

[liza]

My packages are all for 6 hours with $50 per hour for additional time.

[PIXI_666]

My usual wedding is 12 hours, just state on your packages certain times that you do stay and charge adequately for extra hours. Sometiems i have started at 9am and stayed until 12pm! That's a 15hr day - but i have learnt since then LOL
These days i am only needed at the reception for 2hrs, by then the cake has been cut, the speech's are clapped for, garter and bouquet sorted and the bridal waltz is underway.
2hrs reception seems to be the best bet, and if you start at 9am that makes for a 12 hr day for me 9-9 basically.
I am beginning to start later though - at 9am it's really not necessary for me to be there, but if i am requested then that's what i do. So my start's are about 11-noon. And i have rbeak's in between it's not necessary for me to be there the whole time...

Del

[ssim]

On average I would guess that it is somewhere from 8-9 hours. Most people that I talk with buy the full day coverage that I offer and that is from the time the girls start to get ready to shortly into the dance. This is dependant on the time of the wedding and in some cases I even have time to take a short break in there after the group shots and before the reception.

They are long days and you are certainly tired after. I used to do alot of them by myself but I have now got someone to help me. They will do some shooting but not very much. Mostly they are there to lug gear around.

[jj1987]

8-12 hours.

[tim]

8 hours in typical package, a little more done on the day if I need to, but contract says I charge an hourly rate if I stay a minute longer than 8 hours - which I often don't charge.

[Rhinotherunt]

Mine are usually 4 hours...

[kampphoto]

Whatever the day requires... 1hr - 12hr's

[sapearl]

I seem to be running 8 - 12 hours these days. I once tried charging by the hour but it became a bookkeeping headache and I'd hate to tell people they owed me more because things ran late, not through any fault of their own. A lot of my clients are nice young couples just starting out on a shoe string and they need to look at every penny. I figure these could be my own kids some day soon.

For years my album packages have been flat fee for the "all-day" gigs. Clients like knowing all their contracted costs up front, and exactly what they'll be getting for their money. I've had to do this to stay competitive with the other hungry guys in the area.

I look at it this way: some days are short and I make out, others are long ones and the B&G get a super deal - but by the end of the year it's a wash and I don't aggravate myself sweating the small stuff. Whatever I promise, I always deliver more either in service or number of proofs - it keeps the referrals coming. :D - Stu

[sapearl]

That's a nice approach Tim... your generosity gives them an extra level of service they thought they'd have to pay for; it's extra value for them, plus very likely more than one referral for you in the future. - Stu

8.....contract says I charge an hourly rate if I stay a minute longer than 8 hours - which I often don't charge.

[E3_Photo_Studio]

I seem to be running 8 - 12 hours these days. I once tried charging by the hour but it became a bookkeeping headache and I'd hate to tell people they owed me more because things ran late, not through any fault of their own. A lot of my clients are nice young couples just starting out on a shoe string and they need to look at every penny. I figure these could be my own kids some day soon.

For years my album packages have been flat fee for the "all-day" gigs. Clients like knowing all their contracted costs up front, and exactly what they'll be getting for their money. I've had to do this to stay competitive with the other hungry guys in the area.

I look at it this way: some days are short and I make out, others are long ones and the B&G get a super deal - but by the end of the year it's a wash and I don't aggravate myself sweating the small stuff. Whatever I promise, I always deliver more either in service or number of proofs - it keeps the referrals coming. :D - Stu

That's an excellent philosophy Stu!!

[sapearl]

Thanks E3 - just observation of cause and effect; over the years it gets pretty easy to see what makes people happy, as well as less than pleased. ;)

That's an excellent philosophy Stu!!

[sapearl]

Also....I forgot to mention one of the most important aspects of wedding photography: Listen. LISTEN to what your clients have to say, and what they want.

People may gripe, moan, suggest and flatter, but they say things for a reason. This is a PEOPLE business. The better the listener we are, the better the photographer we can be. - Stu

That's an excellent philosophy Stu!!

[E3_Photo_Studio]

Also....I forgot to mention one of the most important aspects of wedding photography: Listen. LISTEN to what your clients have to say, and what they want.

People may gripe, moan, suggest and flatter, but they say things for a reason. This is a PEOPLE business. The better the listener we are, the better the photographer we can be. - Stu

Man...You just get better and better with each comment! Where were you when I was getting married? LOL :lol:

[Wilt]

How long do you stay to take pics for a wedding? On average?

And

Do you charge by the hour?

I've noticed that we've been staying 8 1/2 hours...:( Makes for a VERY long day. :rolleyes:

If you arrive at 9am to take photos in preparation of the 11am wedding, then you have 1 hour for the ceremony til 12pm , add 1 hr. for the altar shots takes you to 1pm, then drive to the reception location, and have the reception run from 2:30-6pm (which is not all that long) you have 9 hours invested there alone. I have spent 9-12 hours on a job, and the time is merely factored into the quote after discussing the timetable with the bride and mother, they don't see the higher cost of more time on the job. The higher charge is not calculated on a time-per-cost basis, though, but merely reflects earning 'a bit more' for more hours on the job.

[dsze]

4-12 hours; just depends on what they want and what they pay for. I'm getting better about actually packing up when time is up though. I usually will stay another 20 minutes past time to leave and then inform them that their paid time has elapsed. I give them the option of hiring us for additional time/per hour. We typically leave about 1/2 way through the reception.

[sapearl]

Where was I? probably somewhere around Item #4 of the "Honey-Do" List :D . My better and prettier half has tried to teach me a thing or two about listening over the past 28 years. I actually have become a better listener in spite of myself ;) . Thank you for your kind comments Erika. - Stu

Man...You just get better and better with each comment! Where were you when I was getting married? LOL :lol:

[E3_Photo_Studio]

Where was I? probably somewhere around Item #4 of the "Honey-Do" List :D . My better and prettier half has tried to teach me a thing or two about listening over the past 28 years. I actually have become a better listener in spite of myself ;) . Thank you for your kind comments Erika. - Stu

WOW! 28 years huh? Well, maybe there's hope that someday my husband will listen to me...3 years down....another 50+ to go, right. :rolleyes: HA! But seriously, what you said is true...the customer's happiness is what matters, and listening to them is the best way to make them happy...which ultimately makes you(the photographer) happy b/c they usually buy more pics when they're happy. :lol: