Wedding Planning
Five Hours or Ten? The Truth About Wedding Coverage.
February 1, 2027 · Clearshot Productions · 1 min read
Scriptural Foundation
Psalm 90:12
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."
Here's the mistake most couples make: they book five hours because it sounds like a lot. Then the photographer leaves at 8pm and the best moments of the reception happen at 9.
Let's do the math on a real wedding day.
Getting ready: 1–2 hours. First look: 30 minutes. Ceremony: 1 hour. Family photos: 1 hour. Bridal party photos: 1 hour. Cocktail hour: 1 hour. Reception: 3–4 hours.
That's already 8–9 hours before you've touched the dance floor at the end of the night.
Five hours covers getting ready through the start of the reception. You'll miss the first dance, the toasts, the party, and the send-off. If those matter to you, five isn't enough.
Ten hours covers the full day. Start to finish. You get the morning prep, the ceremony, the portraits, the reception, and the end of the night. Most full-day weddings are built on ten hours because that's what a wedding day actually is.
How to decide:
If your wedding is short — ceremony and a two-hour reception — five might work. But that's not most weddings.
If your wedding is a full day — and most are — book ten. The cost of an extra five hours is less than the cost of missing the moments you can't recreate.
The truth: couples don't regret booking more. They regret booking less. Every time.
We charge $300 per hour, per service. Ten hours of photo is three grand. Add video and music and you've got the full day covered by one crew. That's the simple version.
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"Most couples underbook. Here's how to get the hours right."
