Short answer: yes, I think getting ready photos are worth it for almost every couple, and I say that after 17 years and 500-plus weddings shot across Los Angeles. But I don't want to just hand you a yes and walk away. Whether getting ready photos actually earn their place on your wedding day depends on your timeline, your budget, and honestly, how much of the day you want to remember beyond the ceremony and the dance floor. So let me talk you through it the way I would over coffee at a consultation.

What "getting ready" actually looks like on camera

People hear "getting ready photos" and picture a bride staring into a mirror while someone dabs on lipstick. That's part of it. But the real value is everything around that moment. The dress hanging in the window light. Your mom zipping you up and getting emotional about it. Your best friend handing you a mimosa. The groom's hands shaking a little while he ties his tie. The rings, the invitation suite, the shoes, the note you wrote each other.

These are the quiet, human minutes before the day gets loud. Once the ceremony starts, you're on. You're being watched, you're moving fast, you're on a schedule. The getting ready window is the last calm you'll have, and I've found it's where some of the most honest photos of the whole day happen.

I'll be blunt: the getting ready room is where the day is won or lost

Most photographers won't tell you this, but the location you get ready in matters more than almost anything else in that first hour. I've walked into gorgeous suites at the Hotel Bel-Air and the Beverly Wilshire with huge windows and soft, even light, and I've also walked into windowless Airbnb bedrooms with a ceiling fan, three lamps, and a mountain of empty Starbucks cups on the bed.

Guess which one photographs beautifully with zero effort.

If getting ready photos matter to you, book a room with real windows. Natural light does more for these images than any piece of gear in my bag. When I'm shooting a bride prepping near a north-facing window around 10 or 11 in the morning, the light is so clean I barely have to touch it. Cram everyone into a dark back bedroom and I'm fighting orange lamp light and clutter the entire time. Same photographer, same camera, completely different photos.

The one thing that quietly ruins these photos

Mess. That's it. The number one killer of great getting ready shots is a chaotic room. Water bottles, garment bags, hair tools, snack wrappers, phone chargers, someone's roller bag spilling open in the corner. I'll clear what I can, but I'm there to document your day, not to be a maid, and a cluttered room reads as clutter in every frame.

My advice: designate one clean corner near the best window. Keep the dress, the florals, the rings, and the key details staged there. Ask everyone to shove their bags into a closet or bathroom. Ten minutes of tidying gives you an hour of clean, editorial-looking photos.

How much time and coverage this actually takes

For a typical Los Angeles wedding, I plan on 45 minutes to an hour for getting ready coverage per side. If I'm covering both partners getting ready in separate spots, that's more like 90 minutes to two hours, sometimes with my second shooter splitting off so we get both at once. This is exactly why I often talk couples through whether they need a second photographer for their wedding oward the front of the day rather than saving both shooters for the reception.

Time-wise, here's the honest math: if you want detail shots, candids, both of you getting ready, and a relaxed first look, that all lives inside your first two hours of coverage. If you're only booking six hours total, getting ready is going to compete with couples portraits and family formals. This is where thinking through how many hours of coverage you actually need pays off, because getting ready is usually the first thing that gets cut when the clock is tight, and it shouldn't be.

When you probably don't need full getting ready coverage

I'm not going to pretend it's mandatory for everyone. If any of these sound like you, I'd tell you it's fine to keep it light:

  • You're doing a small courthouse-style or elopement wedding and every hour of coverage counts elsewhere.
  • You genuinely don't care about the prep and would rather spend the budget on more reception time or a wedding videographer.
  • You're getting ready in a truly ugly, dark room with no better option, and moving isn't possible.

Even then, I'd argue for a stripped-down version: 20 minutes for detail shots and a few candids of the final touches. You still walk away with the rings, the dress, and that moment your parent sees you dressed. That's a small ask that pays off for decades.

Why detail shots matter more than people think

Couples spend months choosing invitations, rings, shoes, cufflinks, heirloom jewelry, the whole thing. Getting ready is the only window where those details are all in one place, unworn and pristine. Once the day starts, the flowers wilt, the shoes get scuffed on a rooftop in DTLA, the invitation suite goes home in a box. I shoot these in the morning light while everything is still perfect, and those frames become the opening pages of your album and the establishing shots of your film.

Photo and film together: why this hour especially benefits from one team

Here's something I care about a lot. Getting ready is a tight, small space, and the last thing you want is a photo team and a separate video team bumping elbows, both trying to grab the same mirror moment, both asking your bridesmaids to move. I've watched two-vendor setups turn a peaceful morning into a traffic jam.

At ConneryFilm we run photography and cinematic video under one roof, one team, one plan for the day. That matters most in the getting ready room, because my shooters already know where each other will be standing, who's grabbing the ring shot and who's filming the tie. You get both the still images and the film footage of that same emotional moment without anyone stepping on toes. If you're weighing whether to have both photo and video at all, the getting ready hour is one of the strongest arguments for keeping them together.

What I'd do if it were my own wedding

I'd book a hotel suite or an estate room with big windows, no question. I'd have my whole crew on both partners for the morning. I'd tidy the room, stage the details in the light, and give myself a full hour so nothing felt rushed. Then I'd build in a realistic timeline so getting ready flows straight into a first look instead of colliding with the ceremony. That's the version I've seen produce the best galleries, over and over.

FAQ

How long before the ceremony should getting ready photos start?

I usually arrive about two to two and a half hours before the ceremony. That gives me time for details, candids of the final glam, the dress, and the actual moment you put it on, without anyone panicking about the clock.

Should both partners have getting ready photos?

If it matters to you, yes. Groom or partner prep is often shorter, 30 to 45 minutes, but those shaking-hands, buttoning-the-jacket, sharing-a-drink-with-the-guys moments balance out the story. A second shooter makes covering both easy.

What should I have ready when the photographer arrives?

Have your details in one spot: rings, invitation suite, florals, shoes, jewelry, perfume, any heirlooms. Keep the room tidy near the best window. That prep alone dramatically improves the photos.

Do getting ready photos add to the cost?

Not as a separate line item usually, they're part of your total coverage hours. The real cost is time. If your package is short, getting ready competes with portraits, so plan your hours with that in mind.

Are getting ready photos worth it for a small or backyard wedding?

Often yes, because the prep is where the intimacy of a smaller wedding really shows. Even 20 to 30 minutes of coverage captures the calm and the details beautifully.

If you're planning a Los Angeles wedding and you want getting ready photos and film that actually feel like your morning, not a staged reenactment, I'd love to hear about your day. Call or text 818.749.7039 or reach out through ConneryFilm.com and let's map out a timeline that gives those quiet early moments the room they deserve.

Meet the Author: Connery Davoodian Hello, I'm Connery Davoodian, the visionary behind ConneryFilm, and I'm thrilled to share insights from my 17-year journey through the world of wedding photography and videography. My passion extends beyond simply capturing images; it's about artfully weaving your unique love story into a timeless, cinematic masterpiece. My artistic path began long before I ever picked up a camera, deeply rooted in music as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. This diverse background in directing, producing, and editing has cultivated a unique perspective, allowing me to approach each wedding not just as an event, but as a dynamic narrative waiting to be beautifully told. This blend of technical mastery and creative storytelling is the heartbeat of ConneryFilm, ensuring that every frame, every shot, and every film is infused with depth, emotion, and unparalleled artistic integrity. At ConneryFilm, we believe your wedding memories deserve nothing less than bespoke luxury. My philosophy centers on capturing the authentic, unscripted moments – the genuine smiles, the tender glances, the joyful laughter – that truly define your day. While we obsess over exquisite details and sophisticated aesthetics, our true joy comes from making you feel completely at ease, like a "friendor" who genuinely celebrates alongside you. This calm, organized presence allows your true personalities to shine, resulting in images and films that are as real and vibrant as your love itself. Based in the heart of Los Angeles, California, my team and I are privileged to serve couples across the globe, bringing our signature high-end wedding photography and videography to destination weddings worldwide. Through these blog posts, I aim to share invaluable insights, luxurious inspiration, and practical, fun advice to guide you through your wedding planning journey, helping you make informed decisions about preserving your most cherished moments. Thank you for trusting ConneryFilm to be a part of your extraordinary adventure. I'm excited to share my knowledge and passion with you, helping you create memories that will last forever.