How Long Does It Take to Get Wedding Photos Back?

Everything about the wedding is over. You are already back from your honeymoon, you have stored your wedding dress and things are so close to returning to normalcy. However, there is one important thing that you do not have yet: the wedding photos!

The only way to relive your big day is through the wedding photos, but where exactly are they? How long does it take to get wedding photos back? 

While patience is a crucial virtue to have, it is so hard to keep your cool when waiting for something as exhilarating as your big day’s photos. In this article, we’ll take you through everything you need to know in regards to managing your anxiety, expectations and anticipation.

So, How Long Does it Take to Get Wedding Photos Back?

On average, it takes between two to six weeks. Most professional photographers will try their best to deliver the photos within the shortest time possible. Some are even kind enough to send some sneak peeks of the edited pics just so you can have a clue of what to expect. However, for the entire album or complete gallery, you might need to wait for at least 5 weeks. Here, patience is key. 

The truth is, however, that times may vary depending on your photographer and their timeline.

The time it takes to get back your wedding photos is dependent on several factors. First, each professional works differently, and the time he or she will take is dependent on their individual schedule.

Secondly, the time taken to complete the entire task will vary depending on what time or season of the year it is, how many photos were taken, and also on the overall length of the coverage that you booked initially. It is also important to consider whether or not your photographer will be outsourcing the editing services. 

What causes the holdup? 

Most people believe that taking the photos is where most work lies, and everything else afterwards should be pretty easy and straightforward. However, this is a somewhat misguided approach; after your photographer has taken the photos, he or she is just getting started on the rest of the project. 

When it comes to wedding photos, you want them to look impeccable! As such, they will need a lot of post-production and editing work. Your wedding photographer will need to browse through over 1,000 photos, selecting the very best. After this, they will then go into detailed editing to get rid of any imperfections. This can be quite a daunting and time-consuming process, especially if the photographer is working alone.

In addition to super-meticulous editing, it takes a lot of time to actually upload all the images to your preferred platform. This is all dependent on the software that your photographer is using, as well as the overall image quality. It is also important to keep in mind that yours may not necessarily be the only project they are working on, especially during the peak wedding season.

For these reasons, getting a hold of the final product requires that you manage your excitement and give your pro of choice ample time to deliver the very best! 

How to Stay Patient While Waiting for Wedding Photos

Waiting for photos can be difficult – you want to relive every moment of your wedding day. Take these steps to help alleviate the waiting time.

Ask Your Photographer about Timing in Advance

Before you hire your wedding photographer, make sure that you go through their entire contract keenly, just to see what information they have provided in regards to the expected turnaround time. Usually, professional photographers stipulate a range of time within which to expect your completely edited photos in their contract.

If this is not clearly stated, be sure to bring up this discussion with them. If you need for them to make some clarifications in person, book that appointment and ask everything you need to. 

Request a Sneak Peek of the Photos

Many professional wedding shooters are always happy and more than willing to send in a few edited pictures just days after your wedding. If your hired wedding photographer goes overly quiet, you could always ask them to send you a sneak peek of some images even before the entire project is complete. There is nothing wrong with this. As a matter of fact, it can be a great opportunity to change a few things that you might not like. A preview goes a long way to helping you cope with all the anxiety. 

Transparency

One other highly important thing is honesty from your photographer. We are all human, and sometimes we fall behind on work. If editing is likely to take longer than initially stated, your photographer should be transparent and communicate this to you. On your end, you have the right to know too.

Do not shy away from asking if you have not heard from your professional photographer within the previously agreed time frame. 

How Long is Too Long to Wait?

It has been about four weeks since your wedding day, and there is nothing from your wedding photographer. Is that normal? Just how long should you wait for before concluding that the wedding vendor is taking too long?

To answer this, you will need to have a look at what the agreed contract states. If days have elapsed since the expected turnaround time and you still have not heard from your wedding photographer, it’s probably time to speak up. It is up to you to be proactive in asking them about the expected timing as well as deliverables. 

This is where a signed contract comes in handy, so be sure to do your due diligence and ask for this before you even hire your wedding photographer of choice.

Wedding Photos are Worth the Wait

The thing about wedding photos is that they tend to test our patience. You want to see what the day was like, and even catch up on some missed moments. It is only natural for you to get impatient, especially if delivery is taking longer than expected. However, exercising patience has its rewards; after all, patience pays, they say.

Once you have the full album at hand, you will appreciate the effort it has taken your photographer to deliver on your expectations. At the end of it all, there will be ear to ear smiles and happy tears as you relive each moment of your big day!