After the confetti settles, your story shifts from timeline management to memory keeping. What arrives first? How do revision rounds work? When do you pick album photos? And how do you back everything up so your files are safe in ten years? At Million K Production, we believe the post-wedding phase should feel as organized as the wedding day itself. This practical guide explains what to expect—and how to make decisions quickly—so your images and films move from screens to keepsakes smoothly.
What Usually Arrives First (and Why)
Sneak peeks land early: a handful of edited photos within a few days to relive the day and share announcements. These aren’t “extras”—they set the color profile and storytelling vibe for the full gallery. For video, a short teaser may arrive first if included in your package; it’s designed for a quick emotional hit while we craft the full edits.
Full Photo Gallery: Curation and Delivery
A complete gallery typically includes hundreds of edited, high-resolution images organized by parts of the day—prep, ceremony, portraits, reception. Expect a clean online gallery with download options for social-size and full-resolution files plus a simple way to favorite images for albums or prints. We edit for true skin tones, consistent contrast, and a timeless look; duplicates and blinks are culled so your browsing feels crisp. Turnaround depends on season, but the hallmark of a strong studio is consistency—the last image looks as polished as the first.
Film Deliverables: Highlight, Ceremony, and Doc Edits
Most couples receive a highlight film (5–10 minutes), a full ceremony edit, and doc edits for toasts and first dances when included. The highlight blends licensed music with vows and speeches for emotional pacing; doc edits are faithful records with professional audio and multi-camera angles. If your package includes a longer “feature” (10–30 minutes), expect deeper storytelling with more ceremony and reception moments woven in.
Revisions: How to Make Notes That Help
Revision rounds are for tiny trims and swaps, not re-shoots. For films, we share a private link with time-coded commenting so you can request adjustments like “trim 00:45–00:50 five seconds shorter” or “swap clip at 02:11 for our parents’ reaction.” For photos, revisions usually mean a handful of additional retouches (stray hair, small distractions), not a new edit style. Consolidate notes into one list per round; it saves time and keeps the final cut cohesive.
Music Licensing and Song Expectations
Licensed tracks keep your film shareable and protected. If you have a vibe in mind—acoustic, cinematic, soul, indie—we’ll choose from our libraries to match tone with pacing. Mainstream chart songs are rarely licensable for wedding films; we’ll find tasteful alternatives that hit the same emotional notes without takedowns on social platforms.
Albums: From Favorites to Heirloom
The cleanest album process follows three steps.
- Favorites: pick 60–100 images for a 20–30 page book (more images = more spreads).
- Design: we build a first draft that balances portraits, wide scenes, and candid emotion.
- Refine: two concise rounds to swap a few images or adjust pacing.
Choose cover materials that fit your home—linen for soft texture, leather for classic durability. Parent books often mirror the main design at a smaller size; you can order them anytime once the master layout is approved.
Prints and Color That Last
Professional labs use calibrated printers and archival papers; colors stay true and blacks stay rich compared to big-box prints. If you plan a gallery wall, order one small test print first to confirm how tones look in your home’s light, then scale up to larger formats. For frames with glare-heavy glass, choose a matte or satin paper to keep reflections down.
Archiving: Make It Boring (That’s Good)
Treat backups like insurance: boring, redundant, and in two places you don’t think about. We store your edited files for a defined period; you should also:
- Download and keep two copies of the full-resolution gallery (local drive + cloud).
- Ask for your films in high-bitrate files plus a phone-friendly version.
- Every January, spot-check your drives and renew cloud links if needed.
If you’re tech-savvy, a small NAS or a solid-state drive stored off-site is ideal. Print an index page with links and passwords and place it with important documents so future-you (or family) can find everything quickly.
What to Do in the First Two Weeks
Pick favorites for thank-you cards, update a handful of profile photos, and choose a few frames for parents. If an album is part of your package, book a 30-minute selection call—decisions get easier when we curate with you. For films, watch together once without pausing, then rewatch to make a concise revision list if your package includes it.
Local Insight: DMV Timing & Venues
Downtown DC hotels and popular vineyards often host multiple events per weekend; if you need venue permission for a post-wedding portrait session (e.g., second look in quiet daylight), we can arrange it mid-week when access is easier. Maryland and Virginia labs offer fast, high-quality prints for local pickup—handy for gifting before family flies out.
The post-wedding phase should feel joyful, not confusing. With clear expectations for galleries, films, revisions, albums, and backups, your memories move from “links in an email” to heirlooms you’ll actually revisit. If you’d like a delivery checklist and archiving plan tailored to your package, Million K Production will map it step by step—so nothing gets lost and everything gets loved.
