Wedding photography coverage is not just the hours your photographer spends with a camera in hand. Those are the visible part. Before them come the calls, the schedule and the scouting; after them come the selection, the editing, the gallery and the album.
Here I explain what wedding photography in Italy includes, how long it lasts, how many photographs you receive and how soon, and what to check before you sign. It is the way I work, but it also serves as a guide for reading any quote.
What wedding photography coverage includes
Before the wedding
- An introductory call. It is how we get to know each other: how you picture the day, what moves you, what you would rather not see in your photographs.
- The contract. Dates, hours of coverage, delivery times, usage rights, all in writing. With the contract and the deposit, the date is yours.
- Help with the schedule. The time of the ceremony, the moment for portraits, the light at your venue in that season. Half an hour's difference in the schedule changes your photographs more than any piece of equipment.
On the wedding day
Coverage usually runs from getting ready to the cutting of the cake or the first dances. The hours depend on the collection: eight are enough for an intimate ceremony, ten or twelve are needed when you get ready in two different places or the party runs late.
After the wedding
- The selection. Out of thousands of frames, what remains are the images that tell the day, with no duplicates.
- The editing. Colour and light worked by hand on every photograph delivered, with finer retouching on the main portraits.
- The private online gallery. Password-protected, with high-resolution images to download and share.
- The album, when the collection includes it. I cover it in my guide to the wedding album.
How long it lasts
| Moment | Indicative duration |
|---|---|
| Getting ready | 1.5 – 2 hours |
| Ceremony | 30 minutes – 1 hour 15 |
| Greetings and group photographs | 20 – 30 minutes |
| Couple portraits | 20 – 30 minutes |
| Aperitivo | 1 hour |
| Dinner, speeches, cake, first dance | 3 – 4 hours |
Add the transfers and you easily reach ten hours. If budget is a concern, my advice is to drop an extra before cutting hours: a photograph that was never taken cannot be recovered. To build your timings, see my wedding day timeline.
How many photographs you receive
For a full day I deliver on average between 500 and 800 final images, each chosen and edited individually. The number of frames does not matter: what matters is the photographs that deserve to stay. Anyone promising "thousands of photos" is usually delivering the archive, not the story.
Delivery times
A preview arrives in the days straight after the wedding, in the collections that include it. The full gallery arrives within 60-90 days; in high season it can take a little longer.
Always ask for a date in writing. "As soon as they are ready" is not a delivery time.
One photographer or two
A second photographer is useful in three cases: when you get ready in two places far apart, when there are many guests, and when you want two points of view on the ceremony, for example the entrance of the one arriving and the face of the one waiting. For an intimate wedding or an elopement, one person is often the better choice, because it is less noticeable.
Photography and video
They are two separate services. I do photography and, when video is needed too, I work alongside videographers I trust. What matters is that the photographer and the videographer know each other or speak beforehand: during the ceremony they need to move without getting in each other's way, and without standing between you and your guests.
What it costs
Prices for a destination wedding in Italy, what they depend on and how VAT and travel work are in my guide to what a wedding photographer costs in Italy. My collections are on the pricing page.
What to check before you sign
- The hours of coverage, with a start and an end time.
- Who is coming on the day: the photographer you spoke to, or an associate.
- The approximate number of photographs and the delivery date.
- How the files are stored and for how long. I keep a backup for twelve months.
- Usage rights: prints, social media, sharing with family.
- Travel: how far it is included, and what it costs beyond that.
- What happens if the date changes.
And ask to see a whole wedding, not a selection of the best moments. In my wedding stories you will find several, from getting ready to the party.
Frequently asked questions
What does wedding photography coverage include?
The calls before the wedding, coverage of the day for the agreed hours, selection and editing of the images, and delivery in a high-resolution online gallery. Album, second photographer and drone footage depend on the collection.
How many hours of wedding photography do we need?
Eight to twelve hours for a full day, from getting ready to the cutting of the cake. For an intimate ceremony or an elopement, fewer can be enough.
How many photos do you receive?
On average between 500 and 800 images for a full wedding, all selected and edited. The number depends on the hours of coverage and the number of guests.
How long does it take to receive wedding photos?
A preview in the first few days, where included, and the full gallery within 60-90 days. It is best to have the date written into the contract.
Do we need a second photographer?
You do when the two of you get ready in distant places, when there are many guests, or when you want two points of view on the ceremony. For small weddings it is often unnecessary.
Is the album included?
It depends on the collection: in some it is included, in others it can be added once you have seen the photographs.
Can we book a wedding photographer in Italy from abroad?
Yes. Everything is done remotely: a video call, the contract and the deposit. I speak English, and I help with the schedule and the light at your venue well before you arrive.
I live in Terni and photograph weddings in Umbria, Tuscany and the rest of Italy. If you would like to know how I would plan the photography for your wedding, look at the portfolio or write to me: I answer every message personally.
