Ryan's Wedding Checklist

Exterior Shot of Venue

• Empty shot of location Bride/Groom are getting ready
• Ceremony Venue
• Reception Venue (Can be the sign out front if not ideal)

Details/Setting Shots

• Photogenic details of the scenery/architecture/clouds/greenery
• Shots of details not planned by the couple/wedding team but are a part of the permanent setting (should not include people)

Ceremony Details

• Wide shot of the ceremony location (vertical & horizontal)

• Close up of details of the ceremony (floral arrangements, communion setup, etc)

• Aisle florals or entry decor (signs, runners, program display, etc)

• Close up of any instrumentalists

Reception Details

• Big room shot (vertical & horizontal)

• Shots of all different styles of centerpieces

• Overhead shot of place setting

• Close up verticals of place setting details, glassware, place cards, etc.

• Seating Chart Display (wide and tight detail shots)

• Any ceiling decor

• Sweetheart or Head table decor

• Cake Table

• Dessert bars/ snack bars

• Memory stations (photo displays, personalized decor displays, etc)

Groomsmen Suite

• Candids of guys getting dressed
• Groom getting dressed with best man or dad helping him
• Close up of groom buttoning sleeve/cufflinks and adjusting tie
• Groom portrait in chair (smiling and modeling shot)
• Toasting or cheers shot if opportunity presents itself

Groomsmen Detail Shots

• Tie or Bowtie

• Groom's shoes
• Cufflinks if possible
• Any special alcohol
• Watch
• Belt
• Specialty socks

Ceremony

• Parents and grandparents being seated

• Groomsmen entering, bridesmaids entering

• Any children in the ceremony

• Pastor/Officiant

• Bride coming down the aisle from front and from the back (full length, then closer)

• Groom's reaction to seeing his bride
• Parent's reaction if possible

• Any readers, soloist, special guests involved in the ceremony

• Wide shot of the entire ceremony

• Groom looking at bride, Bride looking at groom during vows

• Close up of the exchange of rings (especially the bride putting his ring on because

  she will face outward more than he will)

• Parents watching, emotional moments

• Candids of flower girls or ring bearers

• First kiss, pronouncement, recessional

• Recessional of all Bridal party and parents

• Main shooter follows bride and groom for first moments married

Bridal Party Shots

Bride and Groom:

• Bride and Groom together by the arch
• In several shaded spots
• Individual pictures of each

Full Group Shots:

• Guys on one side, girls on other side
• Intermingled formal shot smiling at camera (vertical and horizontal) laughing at one another
• Model shot
• Walking/spread out a little (vertical and horizontal)
• Extra: Staged sitting shot with a few chairs if time allows

Bridesmaids:

• Full group, smiling at camera (vertical & horizontal)
• Tighter horizontal, girls closer to each other and laughing at the camera
• Girls walking and laughing (vertical & horizontal)
• Model shot of the whole group

• Bouquet shot (vertical & horizontal, no spaces in the background between

  bridesmaids dresses)

• Single bouquet shot with a bridesmaid
• Individual shots with each bridesmaid and the bride

Groomsmen:

• Full group, smiling at camera (vertical & horizontal)
• Tighter horizontal, bro hug, arms around neck (unbuttoned jackets to avoid pulling)
• Guys walking and laughing (vertical & horizontal)
• Model shot of the whole group
• Close up of the boutonniere (if possible)

• Individual shots with each groomsmen and the groom

I only take “groomsmen with bride” and “bridesmaids with groom” shots if they are requested

Family Formals

• We follow the bride and groom's questionnaire list of family formals exactly,
  but we also have some shots we always want to make sure that we take!

• Bride's mom/pop together (Chris and Connie Cuellar)

• Groom's parents together (Jonathan and Denise Vallis)
• Groom's sister and brother-in-law (Rosie and Nick Karliss)
• Groomsmen (Brandon, Jerrad, Phil, David, Nick) w/ Groom
• Bridespeeps (Erika, Kyle, Erica, Rosie, Ashley) w/ Bride
• Ushers (Anthony, Adam, Ben, Greg)
• Officiant (Beth)
• Grandma Kathy
• Grandma Pat
• Aunts/Uncles/Cousins

• Grandparents (separately if they are single, together if they are a couple)

Cocktail Hour

• 10-20 Group shots of guests while they are mingling (depends on the guest count)

• Any passed hors d’oeuvres

• Speciality drinks
• Wide overall shot

• Looking for who parents are talking to, ask for group photos of those friends

• Additional bride & groom portraits

Reception

• Table group shots (I will not do every single table unless specifically asked by the bride and groom)

All Special Events:

• Dances (wide & tight shots of each dance unless it is a fast choreographed dance

  or too fancy for close shots)

• Toasts (shots of the bride & groom, those who are toasting and guests' reactions

• Cake cutting
• Bouquet toss and garter

• Party dancing
• Shot of us with the couple
• Candids of mingling
• Any speciality stations for food
• Any special/unique event
• Bride and Groom sunset portraits
• The Exit!