Wedding at Hackney Town Hall, wedding reception at the Elgin - Maida Vale.
One of the biggest worries couples have is this: "Are we going to spend our whole wedding being pulled away for photos?"
Short answer, definitely not. Apart from the group photos (about 15 minutes) and the couple portrait session (another 15 minutes), the rest is all observational.
This guide is a realistic look at how wedding photography fits into the day without turning it into a military operation.
First things first: your wedding is not a photoshoot
Your wedding day is about actually being there. Seeing people you love. Eating, drinking, laughing, dancing.
Photography should sit quietly alongside that.
Morning prep (optional, but lovely if it fits)
If you want getting-ready photos, I usually arrive about 1-1.5 hours before you leave for the ceremony.
This is plenty of time to capture:
• the atmosphere in the room
• details without forcing them
• nerves, laughter, and the moments in between
I’m not there to stage anything or tell people where to stand. I settle in quietly and document what’s already happening. If the morning feels rushed, we shorten this bit or skip it entirely.
The ceremony (hands off, as it should be)
This part needs very little planning from you.
I arrive early, check the light, and work unobtrusively. I won’t interrupt, I won’t direct, and I won’t turn it into a performance. My job here is to capture the real moments - reactions, emotion, and the bits you don’t see.
Group photos (15 minutes, not 45)
This is the bit people dread. It really doesn’t need to be painful.
I recommend:
• deciding your group list in advance
• keeping it to immediate family and key people
• doing it right after the ceremony if possible
I stage manage this calmly and clearly, and it usually takes about 15 minutes. I organise people, give simple direction, and keep things moving so you can get back to your guests.
Couple portraits (also about 15 minutes)
You do not need to disappear for an hour.
I usually take couples for a short walk, find good light, and let things happen naturally. No stiff posing, no performing. Just the two of you having a breather together.
About 15 minutes is all we need to get a set of relaxed, natural portraits that actually feel like you.
Drinks, mingling and real moments
This is where the day really opens up.
While you’re talking, hugging, laughing and drinking, I’m moving quietly around the space capturing:
• interactions
• reactions
• atmosphere
• small moments you’ll never remember happening
There’s no timeline pressure here. This is exactly how weddings should feel.
Food and speeches
If possible, build in a bit of space before and after speeches. It helps everything feel calmer and gives me time to capture reactions properly without rushing.
I’ll photograph speeches unobtrusively, focusing on people, not just the person talking.
Evening and dancing (energy without chaos)
Once the light drops, I use flash when it helps keep things looking clean and consistent - especially on the dance floor. It’s never harsh or distracting. It’s there to capture the energy properly.
I’m in the mix, but not taking over. The aim is photos that feel alive, not staged.
A simple example timeline
This is just a guide - every wedding day is different.
• 11:30 Photographer arrives (prep)
• 13:00 Leave for ceremony
• 13:30 Couple meet registrar, I photograph venue and guests arriving
• 14:00 Ceremony
• 14:30 Group photos (15 mins)
• 14:50 Couple portraits (15 mins)
• 15:15 Drinks, mingling, candids
• 16:30 Wedding breakfast
• 18:30 Speeches
• 19:00 Cutting cake
• 19.15 First dance
The most important thing to remember
If you’re constantly checking the time or being pulled away, something’s wrong. My approach is calm, organised and flexible. I keep things moving where needed, then disappear into the background when it matters most.
If you want photos that feel natural and editorial, and a timeline that protects your experience rather than controls it, that’s exactly how I work.