How Long Does It Take to Edit Wedding Photos? (And Why It’s Worth the Wait)
Discover how long it takes a professional wedding photographer to edit your photos, why the process matters, and why the wait is worth it.
The Hidden Hours Behind Wedding Photography
When couples think of wedding photography, they picture the big day itself — vows, laughter, dancing, and endless camera clicks. But what many don’t realise is that the wedding day is only half the story. The other half happens behind the scenes: editing.
So, how long does it take to edit wedding photos? On average, two to three hours of editing are needed for every hour of shooting. That’s why it takes weeks, not days, for your final gallery to arrive.
Why Editing Wedding Photos Takes Time
1. Selecting the Best Shots - A professional photographer may take thousands of photos, but you’ll only receive the very best. Culling ensures your gallery tells a story, without duplicates or less flattering images.
2. Colour and Light Correction - From dark barns to bright gardens, every venue is different. Editing balances colours, corrects lighting, and keeps your gallery consistent so it reflects the day as you remember it.
3. Adding Style and Creativity - This is where your photographer’s artistic style comes in. Editing enhances tones, mood, and atmosphere while keeping everything natural and timeless.
4. Retouching the Key Moments - Couple portraits and group photos often receive extra care. Professional editing keeps the look real while making sure you feel confident and radiant.
5. Delivering the Final Wedding Gallery - The last step is exporting, backing up, and organising your images into an online gallery you can easily share with family and friends.
Edited vs. Unedited Wedding Photos: What’s the Difference?
One of the biggest reasons editing takes time is because of the huge difference between raw, unedited files and a finished gallery.
Unedited photos (RAW files):
These are straight out of the camera. They often look flat, with dull colours, odd lighting, and the occasional closed eye or awkward expression. Professional cameras are designed this way to preserve maximum detail, but to the untrained eye, they can look disappointing.Edited photos (final gallery):
This is where the magic happens. Colours are vibrant but natural, the lighting is balanced, and distracting elements are minimised. Edited galleries tell a cohesive story that flows from start to finish, reflecting the atmosphere and emotions of your wedding day.
To put it simply, unedited photos show what happened; edited photos show how it felt.
This is why hiring a professional who invests time in editing is so important — because you don’t just want thousands of untouched files, you want memories polished to perfection.
The Overall Time Commitment
When you add it all up, editing can easily take 20–40+ hours depending on the length of your wedding day. In short, for every hour I spend shooting at your event, I’ll spend around two to three hours editing.
This is why professional photographers take weeks to deliver a polished gallery rather than rushing it in just a few days.
Why This Matters for Couples
Hiring a professional isn’t just about getting someone with a camera. It’s about trusting that your memories will be treated with care.
While a cheap photographer might hand over thousands of unedited files, a professional will deliver a curated, polished story. This saves you time, stress, and disappointment — leaving you free to simply enjoy your memories.
How Long Will You Wait for Wedding Photos?
Every photographer’s workflow is different, but most couples can expect:
Sneak peeks within a few days
Full wedding gallery in 4–8 weeks*
*However, I totally undertand that times are changing and in today’s world, waiting 6-8 weeks for images is an eternity. I’ve now streamlimed by workflow so that my clients generally receive their images in 2 weeks of the wedding.
My Final Thoughts
So, how long does it take to edit wedding photos? Much longer than you might expect — but for good reason.
Editing is where your love story is refined into timeless memories. It’s not just about pictures; it’s about creating a gallery that reflects the joy, atmosphere, and emotion of your day.
That’s why choosing a professional photographer is so important. You’re not just investing in photos — you’re investing in peace of mind, artistry, and a finished gallery that’s worth the wait.