Wedding photography is an incredibly important aspect of any wedding day, as it allows couples to look back on one of the most special and memorable days of their lives. The wedding day is a complex and intricate event full of many different details that need to be carefully captured in order to create a complete record. When we first started doing photography, we created this wedding photography shot checklist to help us ensure we do not miss a single shot.
A wedding photography shot checklist is a great tool to help ensure that you don’t miss out on any important photos on your big day. By having a list of the must-have shots, you can ensure that your photographer captures all of the memories you want to remember.
Capturing wedding details is such an important part of the day. These little details are truly what make a wedding unique and personal. You won’t want to miss out on capturing these parts of the wedding day. Here are the things you will want to ensure you capture:
Each wedding is so different when it comes to how people prepare and get ready. When planning your day, consider getting ready in a place with a lot of natural light (which is great for makeup artists) and also has a lot of space for you and your girls. Ask your venue if the space is heated or has air conditioning – you want to make sure you are comfortable. Also, if there is a fridge or place to store food that is a huge bonus! Here are the general things you will want captured for the bride getting ready:
Unlike the bride and bridesmaids, the guys don’t take as long to get ready *Typically* which may leave some extra time for something fun. Some guys might go out to brunch for a bit or maybe play a round of golf. Depending on the logistics, the photographer may or may not be able to join for some of that but overall, the getting ready for the guys is a lot more simple. Here are the general things that you will want captured when it comes to groom getting ready photos:
Family photos are always going to look different depending on the family structure and dynamics. So, this is just a general list for including immediate family plus grandparents. Things can get a lot more complex when cousins and kids are involved and so make sure you work with your photographer on ensuring the timeline has enough time slotted for the photos you wish to have captured for family photos. You can see that even with just immediate family and grandparents, the list can get long pretty fast! We usually recommend prioritizing the “family photos” that are most likely to make it on a holiday card or be printed and framed. Remember too that your photographer will be walking around with a camera the whole day, so you can always take photos with your extended family or guests at the reception or cocktail hour.
Depending on the type of ceremony you are having, there may be other elements added to your wedding photography shot checklist Be sure to communicate with your photographer which moments are going to be key for them to capture. Here is a general list of what one can usually expect to see.
Cocktail hour looks very different from one wedding to another. Some venues are flipping the ceremony space into the reception space during this time. Sometimes, guests go straight to the reception from the ceremony. Knowing ahead of time the logistics and communicating that with your photographer will be important. If you want to get a shot of the reception space fully decorated (with candles lit) before the guests start moving in you will want to ensure that your coordinator blocks off the space until the photographer is done with those photos. In recent years, a first look with the bride and groom getting to see the fully set up reception space has become more popular as well. Get creative, work with your venue, and have a solid plan in place to ensure things are ready to go. Here are the photos that are typically taken during cocktail hour:
These are just a few examples of the many important moments that should be captured on your big day. By having a wedding photography shot checklist prepared, you can be sure that your photographer won’t miss a beat and that you’ll have beautiful photos to cherish for a lifetime.
We are a husband and wife photography and videography team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We have shot over 100 weddings and have a ton of experience when it comes to capturing wedding days. We know what it’s like to be on the other side of planning a wedding and so that’s where we are able to jump in and support our couples. We do so much more than just take beautiful photos. If you are looking for someone who is fun, adventurous, and will serve you well on your wedding day, we would love to connect!
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It's about helping you remember not only what it looked like, but also what it felt like through authentic and candid memories documented.
We value relationship with you above all else. We won't just show up as those people with the cameras "stalking you" all day.
Let us take you on a double date, support you throughout the planning season, and help you intentionally craft a day that doesn't just feel like one long photoshoot.
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