A wedding photography shot list. It might sound like a good idea to have one, BUT, it has to be the right shot list.
If you make a list of every single photograph you would like, then your photographer will be too busy looking at a piece of paper and operating by numbers, working of a check list. The pictures will be dull and lifeless. You can’t script the best moments, you just have to be ready for them.
I think I can safely speak for all wedding photographers when I say please don’t give us a breakdown of every single picture you’d like. Or, at least make sure your photographer is aware that is what you want when you book them.
There is no point booking a documentary wedding photographer for example, and then two weeks before the wedding giving them a three page list of all the shots you want.
What I HIGHLY recommend you do however, is bring to your photographers attention particular people or objects that have a special significance to you.
I incorporate this conversation into my pre wedding chat I have with clients a few weeks before the big day, but it’s by no means universal, so if you’re a client reading this then definitely bring up the topic when talking your day through with your photographer.
Mums, dads, grandparents etc. these family members are obviously important to you so incorporating them into your pictures is a given. Sometimes there are fringe friends, god parents or some other significant relationships that wouldn’t be immediately obvious to an outside that is definitely worth highlighting.
As a documentary wedding photographer, what we really want is as much information available to us before the day so it will allow us to predict moments much more easily. To us, complete outsiders, we don’t know if a guest is somebodies plus one, or your oldest fried from school. If we have this kind of info, we can be ready for off the cuff moments, tears during the ceremony and laughs during the speeches.
The pre wedding meetings are also an excellent way to get to know you both as a couple. Getting an understanding of your relationship also massively helps predict the best pictures.
I also quiz my clients on whether or not they’ll be wearing any significant jewellery, items of clothing or other accessories. It’s not uncommon for a bride to wear her grandmothers earrings, or ring, or even their mothers wedding dress.
With knowledge of these details I can capture the object in context and often with other guests interacting with it. It makes for much more emotive and dynamic images, rather than it just being an object static in a box.
Now then, here a shot list we do want. Group photographs.
It is unnecessarily stressful to not have a list of group photographs you would like. Not only are you put on the spot to make sure you include all your nearest and dearest, but it’s the one part of the day that the photographer is absolutely in control of, so if they’ve asked you for a list and you don’t provide one it’s only going to make your life harder on the day.
Having a clear list means the photographer can arrange on the side a bit of assistance from the groomsmen. Then when it comes time to take the group photographs, you don’t have to think about or do anything. We can take complete control and there’s no stress, no fuss, just fast efficient group pictures…and then back to drinking.
The cool thing about group photographs (I know not everyone wants to do them), is that they gather groups of people together and leaves space for moments like this:
So here’s my wedding photography shot list for you to ponder. The intention of this is not for you to give your photographer an exact list of every single picture, asking for ‘my dad seeing me in my dress whilst my bridesmaids cry’ is completely unrealistic.
Whenever I’ve had requests like this, the dad always walks in with absolutely no expression and then maybe says ‘hi..you look nice’. My point is, you can’t script these moments, we can aim for them, but you never know where the truly organic, magical, once in a lifetime shots are going to come from. To finish this story…you normally catch the ‘non-reactive dad’s’ having a little cry to one side :).
DETAILS
- Invitations/wedding stationary/layflats
- Gifts/cards
- Wedding rings
- Wedding attire/dress
- Flowers/Bouquet
Invitations/wedding stationary/layflats – get this together in a bundle with all your stationary and give a copy to your photographer, it’s not imperative that they get this picture on the say as it can be recreated later on
Gifts/cards – are you and your partner gifting each other anything? If so, this is often a great opportunity for reaction shots. The groom in particular often reveals his soft side and writes something beautiful for his wife to be. Also, tell your photographer if you’re going to be wearing any special jewellery, grandmas earrings etc. The interaction with that object becomes much more meaningful.
Wedding rings – I’ve never understood this shot, you’ll wear the rings forever, but some people like it and that’s ok too. It’s most likely that the best man will have the rings so make plans accordingly.
Wedding attire/dress – ask your maid of honour or bridesmaid to be in charge of this. If wearing a white dress you’ll want the dress to be covered whilst you’re getting ready, foundation, hairspray and breakfast flying around means you’ll want to keep it safely tucked away somewhere. If you do want a shot of it hanging up, ask one of your must trusted people to be in charge of picking it up and moving it. Whilst we want to get you the shots you want, being in charge of the wedding dress is a big responsibility.
Flowers/Bouquet – the florist typically arrives mid getting ready and then puts them in water. Plenty of time to take a few pictures of it on it’s own, just remember to task someone with taking it out of the water and drying it before you’re ready to leave.
GETTING READY
This is a typical getting ready shot list:
- Hair and makeup done
- Candid pictures
- Any family photographs you’d like
Your photographer will take these shots anyway so I think there’s no need to include this, only include very specific shots that you would like, remember, nothing is guaranteed. For example, word your requests like this – ‘my mum has never had her makeup done, so it would be really lovely if you could get some great pictures of her’ or ‘my dad never cries, so if you manage to capture that on the the day that would be amazing’
If you do want family shots once everyone is ready, again, be specific, make a list of the different combinations.
PRE-CEREMONY
- First look (if you’re doing one)
- Groom looking nervous
- Guests entering the venue
There’s going to be a lot of hugging and hand shaking here, lots of opportunities to capture the people reuniting, they may not have seen each other for some time. Also an opportunity to focus on grandparents, sometimes they don’t last the whole day so this is an opportunity to get some candids of them before they head home after the ceremony.
CEREMONY
- Details at venue -the building and architecture/flowers/aisle/Chuppah/
- Groom looking more nervous
- Wedding guests arriving and being greeted by groom
- Bridesmaids and flower girls entrance
- Aisle walk
- Interaction between parents and the couple
- Vows
- Guests reactions
- Exchange of rings
- Kiss
- Signing the marriage certificate
- Exit
Ask the officiant before the wedding day where your photographer is allowed to stand. This will help you better appreciate the limitations of shooting the ceremony and help to set expectations on the final result. Some officiants do not allow the photographer to stand at the front of the ceremony and that massively limits what we’re able to do. You can’t get a first look shot, close up of the rings or shoot any guest reactions if you have to stand right at the back of the venue.
Most officiants are completely fine with photographers being up the front and near the action, but always ask, best to be safe than sorry.
GROUP PORTRAITS
- Couple and both crews together
- Partner one and their crew
- Partner two and their crew
- The couple with their children (if they have any)
- Partner one with their parents
- Partner two with their parents
- The couple with both sets of parents
- The couple with siblings
- The couple with close family members
- The couple with grandparents
- With individual parents (mums particularly want this)
This is a loose list of the key group pictures you might want to get, I highly recommend you sort your group pictures from biggest to smallest, something like this:
(I’m all for inclusivity, but for clarity I’m just going to use Bride)
- The couple + all of brides extended family (aunts uncles, godparents, nieces and nephews)
- The couple + brides immediate family
- The couple + brides parents
- Bride + Brides parents
In my experience it is MUCH quicker to take away, than to add in. Assemble everyone needed for the biggest group, then you can strip away to get through your group pictures much quicker and more efficiently.
DRINKS RECEPTION
- Table setups/dining room
- Flowers/centrepieces
- Wedding cake
Fairly standard stuff here. The photographer is looking to capture how lovely the room was before everyone descends upon it.
Top Tip: Ask your wedding planner or your venue co-ordinator to stop guests from getting access to the dining room in advance. Otherwise they find their place and dump all of their stuff on it. Keys, wallets, handbags, jackets, coats…it just looks a mess and makes it harder for us to photograph.
DINNER/SPEECHES/DANCING
- Couples entrance
- Speeches
- Cake cutting
- The first dance
- The band/DJ
- Awesome dance moves
So there you have it, the most comprehensive wedding photography shot list ever conceived. I hope you’ve found it useful.
If you have more questions feel free to reach out on my website https://liamsmithphotography.com or feel free to DM me on Instagram.