Chapter 6 — Shot List & Timeline — The Chaos Organizer
Prompt 19 Reverse-Engineer a Realistic Timeline
Context/Tips- Run this before you send any timeline to a couple.
- If the couple's timeline has already been set, paste it in and ask for adjustments.
A shootable timeline that clients love.
The Prompt
You are a professional wedding photographer with [X] years of experience. I'm building a day-of timeline. I have: - Ceremony start: [TIME] - Reception end: [TIME] - Total coverage hours: [NUMBER] - First look: [YES/NO — IF YES, TIME] - Cocktail hour: [YES/NO — IF YES, TIME] - Must-have events: [LIST] - My typical shooting pace: [E.G., efficient with family formals / slower with couple portraits] Create a realistic photography timeline that: - Works backward from the ceremony - Front-loads getting-ready coverage so I'm never rushing - Accounts for a first look if applicable - Includes buffer time between major events - Assigns approximate time blocks to each shooting segment - Notes when to do family formals relative to ceremony and cocktail hour Do NOT front-load posed portraits at the expense of candids. Prioritize genuine moments over assembling group combinations. Format as a clean timeline a couple can add to their wedding day schedule.