How to avoid disappointment and take the wedding photos you really want!
I know what you're thinking-"Do I really need a wedding photo checklist? "The answer is a resounding yes, but you don't need to stash your pocket and repeatedly pull it out and tick things off during the day! You give your wedding photo checklist to your photographer, so they know exactly what you're hoping to see in your wedding photos. That way, you'll avoid a trap that many couples fall into where, six months after the wedding, they're thinking, "I wish I had a picture of me and my Aunty Mary / Pal Jen / Grandad etc." And, to make things even easier, we've made a free checklist for you to download and print!
Of course, every good wedding photographer (we can recommend a bunch of them!) will have their own list of important moments to capture, but it's still a good idea to make your own, especially if there are key elements or people you want to take a shot of. Talk to your photographer about whether or not they take a list of shots, depending on their style, some prefer to take them on the fly, while others may have their own template.
We've put together a handy list of our own to use as a starting point, but it's worth thinking about any extra shots you might want to add. For example, you might want a group portrait with your college pals, a photo of the amazing signage your bridesmaid made, a snapshot of the mischief going on in the DIY photo booth, or a picture of the table plan you've been working on for hours!
Of course, you probably won't want all of these, and many of them apply to you and your other half (you might be a same sex couple, or you might not have a wedding party, for example). This list is really a template for you to expand and edit as you see fit!
Before the Big Day Commitment Shoot / Love Shoot-this is a great opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera and get to know your photographer.
Wedding Day: Pre-Ceremony Wedding Photo Checklist Getting Ready Shot of wedding invitation Bride(s) and bridesmaids get their hair and makeup done Dress up, jewelry set up, shoes etc. Bouquets and buttonholes / corsages Bride(s) put on dress / veil with the help of bride mother or bridesmaids Bridal party having fun Close up of dress details Check out our First Look Photos post for the full lowdown.
Couple alone for the first look Bridal party reaction when couples enter together The Trip to the Ceremony / Venue Bride(s) and Father / Mother Bride(s) and Bridesmaids / Flower Groom(s) and Groomsmen / Page Boys Shot of the Wedding Car Wedding Day: Wedding Ceremony Photo Checklist Some churches prefer not to have photos during the ceremony, especially during the mass, so check out wit. Either way, your portrait session will probably take between 40 minutes and two hours depending on the location and the shots you need. If time is a priority for you, talk to your photographer. Make sure you prepare a list of all the people you want in the portraits, as well as the specific combinations you need. It's also a good idea to ask a close friend outside the wedding party to work with a photographer to round people up.
Couple Shots Portraits of the couple alone Portraits of the bride / groom on their own Bridal Party Couple with the bridesmaids / groomsmen Couple with the whole wedding party Bride(s) with the bridesmaids / maid of honor Groom(s) and groomsmen / bestman Couple with any children at the wedding party Family Couple with each set of parents Couple with both sets of parents College pals, school mates, teammates Wedding Day: Wedding Reception Photo Checklist If someone did something for your reception-like a friend who baked a cake or an aunt who stitched a bunting-it's a good idea to add that to the list you can give them a photo of their handy work!
The reception area set up, before the room fills up Details and room decor shots, including table settings, place cards, favorites, centerpieces etc. Wedding cake detail shots Couple arriving Toasts and speeches Cut the cake First dance Bride(s) dancing with father / girlroom(s) dancing with mother Couple mingling with guests Guests dancing Musicians, singers,
The reception area set up, before the room fills up Details and room decor shots, including table settings, place cards, favors, centerpieces etc. Wedding cake detail shots Couple arriving Toasts and speeches Cut the cake First dance Bride(s) dancing with father / girlroom(s) dancing with mother Couple mingling with guests Guests dancing Musicians, singers,
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