The wind off the river at Kangaroo Point can nudge a veil sideways in one clean gust, and the vows still need to be heard. If you are thinking, we need photo and video, you are right to plan them together. Two crafts, one story, one timeline that actually breathes.
Right now, honest answer
Yes, book both with one team if you can. It keeps timelines tight, audio clean, and the creative approach consistent. In Brisbane, most couples land on 8 to 10 hours of coverage, which comfortably fits prep through dance floor. Combined coverage generally sits between $3,800 and $7,900 depending on hours, second shooters, and film edits. If you are comparing options, start by looking at how photo and video handle the same moments. Our work sits side by side, so you can pair frames and motion without style clashes. See our approach on wedding photography and compare it with our wedding videography options.
12 weeks out decisions
Three months before, lock the bones of the day. That is when choices about coverage hours, first look, and travel time save headaches later. Use these steps to shape your package to fit the flow, not the other way around.
- Pick your ceremony window first. Aim for a start time 2 hours before sunset if you want golden hour portraits, roughly 40 to 60 minutes after the ceremony in Brisbane from April to September.
- Choose coverage hours to your priorities. A tidy 8 hours typically covers prep from 1 pm, ceremony 30 to 45 minutes, portraits, and 2 formalities at reception. Go 10 hours if you want prep for both partners, location travel, and late-night dance floor.
- Decide on a first look. If you have a 3 pm ceremony at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, a 1 pm first look at New Farm Park can free you to join cocktail hour and still keep 45 minutes for portraits.
- Add a second shooter only if your guest count is over 120, or your day splits across multiple locations. It buys coverage of both prep locations and tightens ceremony angles for vows and reactions.
For reference, most combined collections include 1 photographer, 1 filmmaker, a highlight film of 5 to 7 minutes, and delivery of 500 to 800 edited images. If you are dreaming of Glass House Mountains light after the ceremony, have a look at our Sunshine Coast Hinterland work, then adjust your run sheet to suit. You can browse real wedding days in that region in our Sunshine Coast Hinterland galleries.
4 weeks out timeline lock
With a month to go, lock the run sheet to 15-minute blocks. This is where photo and video either trip over each other or glide. We plan lens changes and mic setups into the schedule so the day does not feel like a production.
- Prep locations 15 minutes apart or less keep travel under control. Teneriffe apartments to Howard Smith Wharves is a 7 to 10 minute drive, but allow 15 for parking.
- Ceremony audio needs 5 to 7 minutes pre-start. Lapel mic on one partner or the celebrant, plus a discreet recorder on the lectern for readers.
- Family photos work best in 20 to 30 minutes with a concise list of 8 to 12 groups. Assign one family wrangler who knows faces and names.
- Golden hour in Brisbane falls roughly 50 minutes before sunset. If November jacarandas matter to you, plan 15 extra minutes around purple-lined paths at New Farm and be aware of weekend foot traffic.
This is also when you finalise deliverables. If you want a ceremony film in full, confirm it now so we can plan camera placement. If you want a speech edit, budget 20 to 40 minutes total speech time and ask your MC to keep intros tight.
Week of gear and plans
South East Queensland weather can swing fast. Summer afternoons often bring 10 to 20 minute storms from 2 pm, then golden light after. The plan needs A and B versions, with no panic if clouds roll in.
- Pack a clear umbrella set for each couple, at least 2. They photograph cleanly and keep audio gear dry.
- Confirm travel times Monday of the wedding week. Brisbane City Council roadworks can add 5 to 12 minutes across the city centre on Fridays.
- If your portraits are at Mt Coot-tha Summit, bring walking shoes. The lookout path can be crowded at sunset, and the westerly wind makes veils lively.
- Share the final vendor list and phone numbers. Celebrant, MC, venue coordinator, florist delivery time. It saves 10-minute delays when someone is stuck at the loading dock.
If you want an album, this is also the moment to pencil options. Typical spreads run $80 to $120 per spread, with 20 to 30 spreads telling a full day cleanly. You can see how stills are curated on our wedding photography page, then match the film narrative on wedding videography.
On the day flow
A smooth day is built on small, repeatable beats. Photo frames set the pose, video keeps the breath and sound. We choreograph lightly, enough for comfort without stealing the moments.
- Prep start 2 hours before you get dressed. That window fits details, candid interactions, and a quiet read of your vows for audio.
- Ceremony runs 30 to 45 minutes on average. We place one static camera, one roaming, and a backup recorder. Two lapel mics if the celebrant allows.
- Portraits work well in 35 to 50 minutes if locations are within 5 minutes of each other. Brisbane Powerhouse boardwalks and nearby fig trees give shade at 4 pm.
- Reception coverage focuses on 3 anchor points. Entrances, speeches, and first dance. If you want sparkler exit coverage, extend by 30 to 60 minutes or stage a faux exit at 9 pm.
Wet weather backup is not defeat, it is a pivot. If rain hits the Kangaroo Point Cliffs at 3 pm, we can shift to the sheltered rotunda or a hotel lobby in 6 to 10 minutes, then circle back for twilight once the rain breaks. For more sample timelines that survived rain and still breathed, scroll our real days on complete wedding stories.
After the day delivery
Delivery times should be clear before you book. Expect a preview set of 20 to 40 images within 48 to 72 hours. Full photo galleries usually deliver in 6 to 8 weeks, and films in 8 to 12 weeks depending on the number of edits. A common edit set includes a 5 to 7 minute highlight, a 12 to 15 minute feature if chosen, plus full ceremony and speeches as add-ons. Final image counts typically land between 500 and 800, edited and ready for print. If you are ready to map this to your date, send an availability check through our enquiry form.