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)

 

Bridal Suite

• Group bridesmaids shot (before dressed, especially in matching attire)
• Wide room shot during getting ready time
• Makeup/hair shot of some of the girls and the bride if timeline allows candids of getting ready
• Bride's Dress
• Bride's Veil
• Getting in the dress: Wide (full length vertical), close up, with mom, and with some bridesmaids
• All bridesmaids helping with a "getting in the dress" event, organized by photographer
• Bride with mom (maybe helping with earrings, necklace, the final zip of the dress, just something with only mom, if they have a close bond and it feels appropriate
• Just the bride putting on earrings by herself! (sometimes this is fake, just to get the shot!)
• Bridal Portrait of just the bride in the bridal suite if possible! (Takes pressure off of getting it later if things are rushed!)

Bridal Detail Shots

• Jewelry (all three rings)
• Invitation Suite
• Other paper goods such as the program menu
• Perfume
• Shoes
• Anything old/heirloom/borrowed
• Hairpieces
• Additional Bride requests
• Bridesmaids dresses if this shot is a priority for the Bride
• Custom hanger (if there is one)
• Flowers if they are there in time

 

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

First Look

• Walking shot of the bride to the groom (full length)
• Groom's reaction
• Bride's reaction
• Closer up intimate/emotional shot

Portraits of Bride/Groom (after first look)

• Traditional portraits: both looking at the camera smiling, arms around the back, bouquet at waist, Groom’s hand in the pocket, both full body and cropped at the waist, (horizontal and vertical).
• Forehead to forehead (horizontal and vertical, tight and full body)
• Light kiss and smiling afterwards
• One nuzzle shot
• Flowy veil shot if possible
• Walking shot
• Bridal portrait
• Groom portrait

The goal of these first portraits is to capture the must haves and the
most expected portraits first thing, so that I can be creative the rest of the
day with the bride and groom.**

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

Full Group ShotsShots:

• 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 parents together (if still married)

Groom's parents together (if still married)

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!