Post Wedding Workflow
So, you’re a photographer + you just photographed a really fabulous wedding. Now what?
Back those babies up
Put all of your images on your computer AND your external hard-drive the night of the wedding when you get home or wherever you are staying. I have a folder on my computer for ‘Photography’ then inside that I have folders labeled by years so all 2020 sessions + weddings go in the 2020 folder. I title those folders using the client’s name + date of the session or wedding (i.e., ‘Williams Wedding 3/4’ or ‘Wynne Family 5/5’). Everything is easy to find. The folders are organized the exact same way on my external hard drives.
Select images for your sneak peek
As I’m shooting throughout the day, I mentally flag certain moments/times/images throughout the day that I think are worthy of being in the sneak peek.
If it’s not 1 a.m. when I get home + get all of this accomplished, I will pick my favorite portrait of the couple + text it over to them. If it is way late, I will usually do this first thing in the morning. I also use that text as a way to remind them to watch their email for the sneak peek that will be coming soon in the next 24 hours.
I usually include 30-40 images in my sneak peek. This number varies from photographer to photographer and I think it just comes down to preference. I think it’s also important to note that some photographers don’t include sneak peeks at all in their work flow. I just believe it’s incredibly important + helps with your client experience. I try to make the sneak peek a good recap of the day as a whole, not just focusing on one part of the day. I will email these over in their online gallery, usually, the morning after the wedding, but never more than 48 hours after the wedding.
I order the sneak peek images from Mpix in 4x6 prints to gift the couple with the USB at the completion of their gallery.
This is usually the time that I will use the sneak peek images (usually 20-25 images) to create slides using the UnFold App for my Instagram story. I will create + schedule my Instagram feed post at this time too.
Organize + Cull
I start organizing and culling the images the Monday after a Saturday wedding. Inside their folder titled with their name + date, I will add more folders to further organize the day. For example, one for ceremony, getting ready, first looks, wedding party photos, family photos, couple photos, etc. Once they’re all sorted, I start at the top of the day and begin culling through those folders.
Editing
Again, I start editing at the top of the day with the ‘getting ready’ folder and work my way through. As I finish each section of the day, I will rename the images starting with ‘wilsonwedding_BC001’ and they will be numbered 1 through xxx.
Upload to Gallery
After each section individual section of the day is edited + renamed, I will begin uploading to the specific folder I create in their online gallery. It’s important to note here many photographers will wait until the entire completion of the wedding before they begin uploading images. For a number of reasons, I don’t wait to do this. It is another way to insure the edited images are backed up, it speeds up the upload process by doing two things at once (uploading that selection while editing the next), and helps me know where I’m at in the completion of the entire day.
Delivery of images
Once all sections of the day are uploaded, I will send an email to the couple to let them know their gallery is ready for viewing + downloading. I encourage them to download the images immediately + to save them to their phone, computer + Google Drive or Dropbox, which they can do directly from their gallery.
When all images are edited, I will put their ‘Wilson Wedding 5/5’ folder on a custom wooden USB.
The USB + 4x6 prints I previously ordered will be mailed to the couple with a thank you card. This entire process from wedding day to this package going in the mail usually takes 3-4 weeks.
I take pride in a quick turn around time. That isn’t the process for everyone, but that is what works for me. My contracted time is 4-6 weeks just to be safe, but I always try to deliver even earlier than that if possible.
After delivery
After all images are edited, I will save their edited folder to my two hard drives in their specific folders.
This is usually when I will make a Facebook post with my fav 30-50 images from their wedding day. I try to tag the couple and as many vendors in the Facebook post as I can. This helps the photos to be seen more and shared more, therefore exposing my page to more people.
After the images are delivered is when I will build + schedule the blog post. This is a newer step in my workflow + I don’t blog every wedding. I use Narrative to create the blog. 50-60 images is usually my happy number for blog posts. Many photographers will say 100, but again, it just comes down to preference.
Now is the time for me to say that workflow looks differently for every photographer. This is what works for me and I truly believe all of these steps are what help me deliver a speedy timeline without sacrificing quality! I hope this can help your find your groove + stay organized. What tips + tricks have worked for you? Share with me in the comments! Happy editing!!
