How Long Do You Need a Wedding Photographer? Part-Day vs Full-Day

It's one of the first questions couples ask me, and the honest answer is: it depends on how much of the day you want to remember in photographs. Here's how I think about it, and how to work out which suits you.

The two options
 
 Part-Day
Full-Day
Coverage
Up to 5 hours
Up to 10 hours
2026 price
£800
£1,600
Typically covers
Ceremony, drinks reception, couple portraits, family photos
Getting ready through to the evening party
Online gallery and full printing rights
Included
Included
All prices and extras are on the packages page.

When part-day works well
Five hours is plenty for smaller and simpler weddings. If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, and you're not too worried about the morning or the dancefloor, part-day covers the moments most couples care about most: walking in, the vows, confetti, time with your family and a relaxed portrait session.

It also suits register office weddings followed by a meal. For a Lichfield Register Office ceremony, I also offer shorter two-to-three-hour sessions, so just ask.

When full-day is worth it
Full-day is for couples who want the whole story. That means the quiet build-up in the morning, the nerves and the hugs, the speeches, the first dance and the party. Those are often the photos couples tell me they love most afterwards, because they didn't see half of it happen.

A full day usually gives you around 1,000 photographs.

Three questions to help you decide
Do you want the morning? If getting ready with your people matters to you, you'll need full-day.
When is your first dance? If it's more than about five hours after your ceremony starts, part-day won't reach it.
Is everything in one place? Travelling between a church and a venue eats into a shorter booking.
Still not sure? Tell me your rough timings when you check your date and I'll suggest what fits. There's no pressure, just an honest opinion.

Post 3 — Getting Married at Lichfield Register Office: A Couple's Guide
Lichfield Register Office is just down the road from me, and it's one of my favourite places to photograph a wedding. You get a beautiful old building, and within a few minutes' walk some of the prettiest backdrops in Staffordshire, all without needing a car or a long day.

Where it is
The Register Office is in the Old Library Building on Bird Street (WS13 6PN), right in the city centre beside the Museum Gardens. It was built in the 1850s as Lichfield's Free Library and Museum, and has been the city's register office since 2003. Staffordshire County Council describes the ceremony room as lit with crystal chandeliers, seating up to 50 guests.

Ceremonies are booked through Staffordshire Registration Service, so check the latest rooms, guest numbers and availability with them directly.

How long do you need?
A couple of hours is plenty for the ceremony, confetti, family photos and a relaxed walk around the city for portraits. I offer shorter sessions especially for Lichfield Register Office weddings, so you don't need to book a part-day or full-day package.

The best photo spots nearby
Confetti on the path outside. Ask your guests to wait with confetti as you come out. It's a lovely first photo as a married couple.
The Museum Gardens. Right next door and nicely shady, a gentle place to start your portraits.
The Cathedral and the Close. Lichfield Cathedral is the only medieval cathedral in England with three spires. Allow twenty minutes or so to make the most of them.
Minster Pool. Water, benches and the spires reflected in the pool. Perfect for relaxed photos of the two of you.
The old streets. Timber-framed shops and Georgian frontages make a charming backdrop. Weekday afternoons are quieter.
A few tips
Plan your walking route before the day. Everything is close, but it helps to know the order.
Have a plan B for rain. The cathedral porch and the covered shopfronts make great shelter.
Book a table nearby for afterwards. Lichfield has plenty of restaurants within a few minutes' walk.
See how it all comes together in Aleks & Jamie's Lichfield Register Office wedding, or ask me about a register office session.

Sources
Lichfield Registration Office — Staffordshire County Council: address, chandeliers, up to 50 guests
Two buildings side-by-side on Bird Street — Patrick Comerford: built 1856–59 as the Free Library and Museum; register office since 2003