Ultimate Wedding Shot List: What photos do I want on my day?
You’ve put an incredible amount of work into planning your wedding. So, you obviously want to capture it in the best way possible. And while you trust your photographer, it’s always smart to map out the pictures you especially want of your wedding. Creating a shot list and sharing a checklist of must have photos with your photographer is a win-win: it enables you to be certain that you’ll get the specific pictures you’ve imagined, and it makes your photographer’s job a little easier because they have pre-planned instructions to work with. Not to mention, it gives them peace of mind knowing you’ll be a happy client as long as the shot list is followed.
How to use a wedding photo shot list?
Select half a dozen photos that you must have and share them with my in advance of your wedding day. That way they can make a note to be creative and capture the organic and fun scenes as they develop, while also making time for the images that you especially want.
Regardless of what you tell me, you’ll still get plenty of shots over the course of your day. But if there’s anything, in particular, you’ve envisioned, then it’s important to communicate that. Use the example shot list below as a general outline – and build off of it!
Details
- Invitation, special signs, & gifts etc.
- Wedding rings
- Wedding dresses/suits
- Outfit accessories like shoes, cuff links, or jewellery
- Bouquet, flowers
Getting Ready
- Bride(s) and bridesmaids getting their hair and makeup done
- Wedding party having fun
- Mother and bride/groom portraits
- Father and bride/groom portraits
- Family shots
Pre-Ceremony
- Couple alone for your first look
- Bride(s) and bridesmaids/flower girls
- Groom(s) and groomsmen/ring bearer
Ceremony
- Venue shots including ceremony site, flowers, interior, and exterior details
- Groom and groomsmen waiting inside the venue
- Guests
- Bridal party entrance
- Bride(s) walking down the aisle
- Groom’s reaction
- Father/mother giving the bride away
- Exchanging of vows
- Exchanging the rings
- The first kiss as a married couple and the moment after
- Signing the marriage certificate
- The recessional (couple walking back up the aisle)
Group Portraits
- Couple with bridesmaids/groomsmen
- Couple with the entire wedding party
- Bride(s) with bridesmaids/maid of honor
- Groom(s) and groomsmen/best man
- Couple with any children
- Couple with each set of parents
- Couple with both sets of parents
- Couple with siblings
- Couple with close family members
Reception
- Details and room décor shots, including table settings, place cards, favors, centerpieces, etc.
- Wedding cake detail shots
- Grand entrance
- Toasts and speeches
- Cake cutting
- The first dance
- Bride(s) dancing with father/groom(s) dancing with mother
- Couple mingling with guests
- Guests dancing
- Musicians, singers, DJ
- Grand exit
It’s important to know that your wedding shot list is only a guideline. Everyone’s wedding day unfolds a little differently, so you might end up with slightly different (and lots more!) than what you imagine. But that’s the beauty of what makes your day unique!
If you like the look of this list, then I would love to hear from you. Please get in contact, here