How Long Does It Take To Get Your Wedding Photos Back

Now that your wedding day is over and you’re back from your honeymoon, you may be itching to see what those wedding photos reveal. If you’ve been waiting for weeks, you may have questions. Here are some answers to put you at ease.

How Long Does It Take to Get Your Wedding Photos Back and What’s the Average Turnaround Time?

The turnaround time differs from photographer to photographer. However, the average turnaround time is anywhere from a couple of weeks to 2-6 weeks, or even 12 weeks. It really depends on the photographer’s work pace and schedule. There are a variety of factors that can affect this time, such as their workload, the number of weddings they need to edit, and how fast they are at retouching and editing.

How Long Does It Take To Get Your Wedding Photos Back - Daria Koso

Should It Really Take That Long?

While 2-12 weeks may seem like a long time, it’s important to remember that creating a beautiful wedding portfolio takes time. There’s a ton of work photographers have to do to ensure your photos are ready. In addition, if you tied the knot during the popular wedding months, your photographer may be editing a few wedding photos at once. In other words, you may be waiting in line. Here’s a behind-the-scenes breakdown of the post-production process.

Gathering All the Photos

Many professional photographers hire second or even third shooters, which means more photos to sift through. So, if they shoot 1000+ photos, their second shooter and third shooters are also shooting 1000+ photos. That’s 2000-3000 photos they have to sort through. And that’s just for starters.

Organizing Them Into Folders

To streamline the post-production process, photographers will typically organize their photos into folders. Folders can be named simply as: “cutting the cake”, “dancing”, “wedding vows”, “family”, “friends”, etc. At this stage, the unusable photos will be discarded.

The Editing Starts

The editing process can take a long time. It’s not unheard of to spend one hour editing a photo, especially if you’re cleaning up a background or removing an object from the photo. Remember, most photos will need to be edited, even if it’s a simple edit like making the colors pop or bringing up the contrast.

There are creative edits, too. Do you want black and white photos? Do you prefer color? Or a mixture of both? All these editing decisions are necessary if you want a perfect wedding gallery.

Different Sizes

Photographers usually offer wedding photos in different sizes: 8 x 10 or slightly larger. This means each original photo must be cropped to this size for delivery. If you’re looking at hundreds of photos, this step alone takes time.

Will a Preview Be Available?

Because the wait time can be weeks, if not months, it’s only fair to ask for previews. Some photographers are happy to show a “sneak peek” into what you’ll be getting. It may be four or five of the best photos from your wedding day, for instance. If you haven’t heard back after two weeks, don’t hesitate to request some preview photos, even if it’s just a couple. This can tide you over until you get the full gallery. Here are some questions to ask a wedding photographer:

  • Will I get sneak peeks?
  • Will your turnaround time be weeks or months?
  • Will I get sizes large enough to blow up?

Things You Can Do While You Wait

If you have hired a professional photographer with a unique aesthetic, the long wait can be well worth it. Of course, it doesn’t make waiting easier! If you’re feeling impatient, ask friends and family to share their photos with you or post them on social media. Many have probably captured some wonderfully intimate and fun moments.

Receiving the Photos

During the initial consultation with your wedding photographer, you probably had an in-depth discussion about the packet you would receive and the specific format. If you didn’t go over this, be sure to ask. Most photographers tend to deliver standard 8 x 10 or 12 x 16 photos. And some will give you the original, high-resolution files of the best photos so you can blow them up to a larger size. It all depends on what was in your contract.

Suggestions on What You Can Do With Your Wedding Photos

Even before you receive your wedding photos, you can start planning on what to do with them. Here are a few suggestions.

Thank You Cards

One of the best ways to thank your guests is by sending out personalized thank you cards featuring your favorite wedding pictures.

Digital Gallery

Create a digital gallery that rotates the photos, and place it on your shelf, on your work desk, or anywhere else you’d like it to be. Digital galleries are great because they give you both an immersive and interactive experience.

Wedding Photo Album

Wedding photo albums are traditional, but they’re traditional for a reason: they work. Create a beautiful photo album that shows a timeline of your wedding. You’ll have stunning memories to look back on for years.

Social Media

Share a new photo of your wedding on each anniversary. Not only is it a slow reveal, but it keeps the memories of that special day alive.

Choosing a Wedding Photographer

If you like the idea of a professional photographer taking your wedding photos, read our article, “How to choose a wedding photographer.” You’ll find insightful tips on choosing the right one for both your needs and your budget.


Looking for a Miami-based professional photographer to shoot your special day? Contact Daria Koso. Let’s work together!

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