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Sara'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)

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 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 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!
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