How to Avoid DIY Wedding Timeline Mistakes – Ohio Wedding Photographer

Here’s a harsh reality of photographing beautiful wedding days: the timeline isn’t always on your side.

A beautifully photographed wedding day starts with a thoughtfully crafted timeline. When timelines are rushed or unrealistic, stress shows up… and it always shows in photos.

As your wedding photographer, I’m here to save you from the nightmare that is planning your wedding timeline too tightly (or giving too much time to certain events), from a my experience as an ohio wedding photographer with a unique perspective!

Mistake #1: Not Leaving Enough Buffer Time

Adding Buffer time during the wedding day is extremely important, no matter how detailed your timeline is written. When you’re working on the timeline, consider this: Hair and makeup almost always run later than you think. Transportation can get delayed because of traffic. Family members wander off during the family portraits, even when your officiant reminded them to stay in one place when the main event conculdes. Things happen and you need a moment to breathe between your planned wedding events.

Why is buffer time important for wedding photos?

When you plan buffer time into the schedule, you’re giving yourself the option to continue partying or break away for a moment without the timeline events running into each other and overlapping. This can reduce the pressure you’re feeling and give you space to think about how excited you’re feeling for the next big step during the wedding day.

You’re doing more than smiling for photos, you’re creating core memories of an important day in your story. Give yourself enough space to relax, drop your shoulders, and smile naturally for these moments!

Mistake #2: Underestimating a Realistic Time Window for Wedding Portraits

What are wedding portraits?

Wedding portraits are the newlyweds’ time to celebrate their wedding ceremony alone by taking photos together, after the family portraits. During the portraits, I help you pose to tell a unique experience that encapsulates your love story that focuses on the two of you.

What is the problem with wedding portraits on the timeline?

Couples often think they need “just 10 minutes” for wedding portraits. This is a common planning misconception because some couples can only squeeze in wedding portraits in a 10 minute time span but other couples want to take as much time as possible to soak in the moment. There’s nothing wrong with either approach but we have to talk about how thinking “we only need 10 minutes” can be a detriment to your wedding planning.

Photographer’s perspective:

In reality, intentional, editorial wedding portraits take time to be effective because you:

• Let your nerves settle
• Adjust to different lighting situations
• Create space for genuine moments to naturally happen

When you give yourself space on the wedding timeline to let the wedding portraits flow in the day, regardless of whether the timeline is running perfectly, you create a calm, self-paced window of time that gives you effortlessly beautiful images.

My focus for wedding portraits is capturing the way you authentically celebrate your love without anyone else around. The rest of the wedding is for celebrating with your guests. This time is specifically focused on you as a couple,

Wedding Photography Timeline Secret:

Use the light to your advantage!

Building your timeline around the best light instead of convenience is one of the biggest upgrades you can make to your photos.

When you’re planning the lighting for your wedding, especially if certain elements happen outside, research things like what time the sun sets for photos, understand where the light will be shining during the ceremony or reception, and think about what you want to happen around those key points of lighting.

By planning around the light, you can truly elevate your wedding photos because you will see a difference in how your photos are transformed in the sun, the shade, and everything inbetween. You will fall in love with your surroundings all over again when you view your gallery!

Mistake #4: Taking Formal Family Photos without a Shot List

Formal family photos feel like they take forever when they aren’t organized correctly. The easiest way to get through familywedding photos is creating a pre-determined list of which family members are needed for the photos so we can keep clear communication after the ceremony ends.

I know you love all of your close family members, and I love that for you! I want you to take photos with your loved ones while they’re present to see your special moments. In order for it to remain efficient and not turn into a headache that causes you to miss an important family photo, you should create a formal wedding family shot list.

The list should include each group you want a photo with, along with names so we can call them out and there’s no confusion. If you have this list before the wedding, I can make sure we get the shots and still have time to enjoy yourself during the reception!

As your photographer who understands a natural timeline flow, how to give you space for emotional moments, and how to utilize the light around you, I help you build your wedding photography timeline with a specific goal in mind.

Your wedding day should feel lived-in, not scheduled down to the second.

Let’s Work on Your Timeline!

If you’re ready to work with a high-energy, editorial Ohio wedding photographer, I’m ready to work with you on crafting the perfect wedding timeline for your big day!

Click the button below to get started!