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Behind the Scenes

What Goes Into Photographing a 10-Hour Wedding Day

By Flash Lens Photography 10 min read
Behind the scenes wedding photography

A 10-hour wedding day is a marathon, not a sprint. From the quiet moments of getting ready to the final dance floor celebrations, we're capturing over 600 minutes of love, laughter, and once-in-a-lifetime moments.

But what actually goes into a full day of wedding coverage? Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how we approach these incredible days.

Pre-Wedding Preparation

The day actually starts weeks before. We study the timeline, scout locations when possible, coordinate with vendors, and plan our shot list. We check weather forecasts obsessively and have backup plans for our backup plans.

The night before, we charge batteries (all 12 of them), format memory cards, pack backup equipment, and get to bed early. A wedding day demands peak physical and creative energy.

Getting Ready (Hours 1-3)

We typically arrive 3-4 hours before the ceremony. These quiet morning hours are some of our favorites. We capture the details—the dress hanging in window light, the rings, the invitation suite—while hair and makeup are being finished.

With two photographers, we can cover both getting-ready locations simultaneously. Those stolen moments between parent and child, the nervous laughter with bridesmaids, the groom seeing himself in his suit for the first time—these images often become the most treasured.

First Look & Portraits (Hours 3-5)

If you've opted for a first look, this is when the magic happens. We guide you to a beautiful location, position you for the best light, then step back and let the moment unfold. Real reactions, real tears, real joy.

Following the first look, we move through wedding party portraits and family formals efficiently. Our approach is to capture genuine interactions rather than stiff poses—we might have the bridal party walking and laughing rather than standing in a line.

The Ceremony (Hours 5-6)

This is where our documentary approach truly shines. We position ourselves to capture multiple angles without being intrusive. One photographer focuses on the couple while the other captures guest reactions, wide venue shots, and details.

The ceremony is sacred, and we treat it that way. No directing, no interfering—just quietly documenting the most important moments of your commitment to each other.

Cocktail Hour & Reception Setup (Hours 6-7)

While guests enjoy cocktails, we're capturing candid conversations, documenting the reception details before guests disturb them, and sneaking the couple away for golden hour portraits if timing allows.

Those tablescapes, the floral arrangements, the carefully chosen place cards—we photograph everything before guests arrive so you have images of the space exactly as your designer intended.

Reception Coverage (Hours 7-10)

The reception is where we capture the celebration in full swing. Toasts, first dances, parent dances, cake cutting, bouquet toss—we're constantly moving, anticipating moments, and adjusting to changing light conditions.

When the dance floor opens up, we switch to a more dynamic shooting style. We're often down low, using creative lighting techniques, and capturing the pure joy of your guests celebrating your love.

By hour 10, we've taken thousands of images, walked miles around your venue, and poured every ounce of creative energy into documenting your day.

What's In Our Bags

Camera Bodies

  • • 4 professional camera bodies
  • • 2 backup bodies

Lenses

  • • 24-70mm f/2.8
  • • 70-200mm f/2.8
  • • 35mm f/1.4
  • • 85mm f/1.4

Lighting

  • • 4 speedlights
  • • Light stands & modifiers
  • • Video lights for receptions

Backup & Storage

  • • 12+ batteries
  • • Dual card slots (redundancy)
  • • 20+ memory cards

After the Wedding

The work doesn't end when the last dance finishes. Back home, we immediately backup all images to multiple drives. Then comes the culling process—going through thousands of images to select the best moments.

Finally, each selected image is individually edited for color, exposure, and tone to create a cohesive collection that tells the complete story of your day.

A 10-hour wedding day is demanding, exhilarating, and deeply rewarding. We pour our hearts into every wedding because we know how much this day means to you. Ready to have us document your story?

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