You’re planning your wedding, and photography is a top priority. After all, these are the memories you’ll cherish forever. But then a thought crosses your mind: “Do wedding photographers give us all the photos they take?” The short answer? No, and that’s actually a good thing but there’s a very good reason why!
In this post, I will break down why you don’t receive all the photos, how many you can actually expect, and what truly matters when it comes to your wedding gallery.
Let’s dive in!
Why Don’t Wedding Photographers Give You Every Photo?
On your big day, a photographer could snap anywhere between 2,000 to 5,000+ photos (or even more!). But you won’t get all of them. Here’s why:
Quality Over Quantity: Why More Isn’t Always Better
It might seem logical to think, the more photos, the better! But when it comes to wedding photography, quality always beats quantity. In a single second, a photographer might take several shots of the same moment, but not all of them are perfect.
❌ Some shots will be blurry (people moving, low light, fast action).
❌ Others might have bad expressions (closed eyes, mid-blink, awkward smiles).
❌ Many will be duplicates (especially with group shots or repeated moments).
❌ Too many choices can be overwhelming. Imagine sorting through 2,000 photos trying to pick your favourites! A well-curated selection makes it easier to enjoy your wedding album.
Professional photographers go through all these pictures to make sure you get only the top ones. You wouldn’t want hundreds of nearly identical photos cluttering your gallery, right? I guess not!
A Curated Gallery Tells a Better Story
A well-curated wedding album flows like a beautiful story — from getting ready to the ceremony, to the first dance, to the party. If you receive too many photos, it can feel overwhelming and repetitive. But when each image is chosen with intention, your gallery will be filled with:
✅ The most emotional moments
✅ The best angles and lighting
✅ The most flattering expressions
✅ A variety of candid and posed shots
It Takes Time to Edit and Retouch
Photography is not simply a matter of taking pictures — it’s about refining them, too. Photographers spend hours editing each photo to make sure they look stunning. Here you can see some examples.
✅ Colour correction
✅ Exposure and contrast
✅ Skin smoothing (for a natural but polished look)
✅ Background distractions removed
If they had to edit thousands of photos, you’d be waiting forever to get your final album! Instead, you get a gallery where each photo is a masterpiece.
RAW Photos
Professional photographers shoot in RAW, which captures every little detail, but might look a little naked and unedited. It is the editing that brings that colour, contrast, and warmth to your images. Because RAW files are essentially unfinished work, most photographers don’t send them to clients.
What Happens to the Photos You Don’t Get?
Not all the photos you don’t get are deleted immediately, but they aren’t kept forever. They typically don’t make it into your final gallery because they do not fit the professional standards. These might be blurry, poorly lit, or duplicates of the same moment.
Storage is expensive, and once you get the final gallery, the unused images may simply be deleted. Most photographers keep the unused raw files for a period of time (like 6-12 months) before deleting them to free up storage.
Can You Ask for the Unedited Photos (RAW Files)?
You might be wondering, “Can I get all the raw, unedited photos from my wedding?” The short answer is probably not. And here’s why.
- RAW Files Are Not the Final Product – They don’t look like the polished images you see in a photographer’s portfolio — they’re flat, dull, and unfinished.
- Editing Is Part of Their Art – Editing is part of the photographer’s signature style. RAW photos don’t reflect their work.
- RAW Files Are Huge and Hard to Open – Most people don’t have the software to open or edit RAW files properly.
- Not Every Shot Is Worth Keeping – A photographer carefully picks the best shots to tell your wedding story beautifully.
Do You Really Need Thousands of Wedding Photos?
Let’s be real — will you ever go through 3,000 photos? Probably not.
What you really want is a collection of images that:
- Tell the story of your wedding day
- Capture genuine emotions
- Highlight important times with your family and friends
A well-curated gallery of 500-800 amazing photos will feel more meaningful than scrolling through thousands of repetitive shots.
How Many Photos Should You Expect from Your Wedding?
Now, let’s talk numbers. A good estimate is 50 to 100 high-quality edited photos per hour of coverage. This means:
| Photography Session Time | Estimated Edited Photos |
| 4 hours | 200 – 400 photos |
| 6 hours | 300 – 600 photos |
| 8 hours | 400 – 800 photos |
| 10-12 hours | 600 – 1,200 photos |
But keep in mind, it’s not just about the numbers — it’s about the story.
What Affects the Final Photo Count?
Several factors can increase or decrease the number of photos you receive:
Wedding Size: More guests = more interactions, more moments, and naturally, more photos. A big 300-person wedding will have more photos than an intimate elopement.
Events Covered: Are you getting full-day coverage (getting ready, ceremony, reception) or just a few hours? More events = more photos.
Photographer’s Shooting Style: If your photographer shoots in a more candid/documentary style, they are likely to deliver more images. Others concentrate only on fine art compositions, so fewer photos but higher quality.
Second Shooter: Typically, when you add the second photographer, you can get around 20-30% more photos as they capture different perspectives of the event.
Your Wedding Day Schedule: A jam-packed schedule with lots of activities (first look, dance performances, fireworks, etc), will naturally lead to more photos than a simple ceremony and dinner reception.
How to Make Sure You Get the Best Wedding Photos
Below are listed some tips you can follow to increase the number of great photos you can get.
Book Enough Coverage Time
This is huge! The longer your photographer has, the more awesome moments they can snap. If you only book 4 hours, you might miss out on getting-ready shots, family portraits, or those late-night dance floor vibes.
Here is a breakdown of what each photography session time can include.
| Photography Session Time | What You’ll Get |
| 4 Hours | Ceremony, couple portraits, family photos, and a bit of reception. |
| 6 Hours | Add in getting ready, more couple shots, and more of the reception. |
| 8 Hours | Full coverage, getting ready, ceremony, portraits, reception, and dancing. |
| 10+ Hours | Everything from pre-ceremony details to the party vibes at the end of the night. |
Pro Tip: If you don’t want to rush, plan for at least 8 hours. It gives your photographer time to capture the full spectrum of emotions and not miss anything important.
Create Your Must-Have Shot List
If there are specific moments, people or details that matter most to you, let your photographer know. A shot list helps them prioritise.
How to do it right:
- Create a short list only with the most important moments.
- Share the list with the photographer before the wedding so you won’t have any last-minute hassle.
- Leave the rest to your photographer and trust them to capture your day naturally as it goes.
Pro Tip: Assign a friend or family member to gather people for group shots. It makes things way faster and very easy.
Trust the Expertise of Your Photographer!
You hired a pro for a reason! The best wedding photographers know how to capture real and emotional moments. Rather than stressing out over every detail, allow your photographer to do what they do best. Relax, be present, and let the magic happen!
Pro Tip: Do you want candid shots? Forget the camera is there! Laugh, dance, and enjoy yourself. Those raw moments make the best wedding photos!
Think about Having a Second Photographer
A second photographer = more angles, more moments, and more variety!
- While the main photographer is capturing your first look, the second photographer can be snapping your partner’s reaction.
- One photographer can shoot the ceremony, and the other can take photos of your guests’ emotions.
- More angles = a richer wedding album!
Not every wedding needs a second shooter, but if you’re having a big wedding (100+ guests) or want more coverage, it’s a great investment. Check out here if you will need a second photographer for your wedding.
Can You Request More Photos?
Yes! If you feel like something is missing, just ask! Some photographers could charge a little bit extra for more photos, but some may just give you all the best shots. Always keep in mind — quality over quantity. You don’t need 1,000 extra shots of the same dance move. Your gallery is already complete with the best memories, each one perfectly captured and edited.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, wedding photography isn’t about getting the most photos — it’s about getting the best ones.
Would you rather have:
- 2,000 random, unedited, repetitive photos? OR
- 500 stunning, storytelling, emotive images?
The choice is easy. Your wedding day is once-in-a-lifetime, and your photos should reflect that in the most beautiful way possible. So, trust your photographer, focus on the memories, and get excited for a wedding gallery that will make you relive your special day for years to come!
Planning Your Wedding?
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