You would have often heard about the term photo-journalistic shooting style which is a contrast from elaborate wedding portrait setups. It means you are relying on the photographer to get winning shots off the cuff. I am all for that and in fact I like candid people photography. However your photographer should be skilled and prepared to take important formal portraits of you and family, without the setup of a full fledged photo studio. The know how to pose singles, couples, small and large groups is essential, otherwise the photos would appear amateurish.
Particularly, there are people you always want to be photographed with on your wedding day and when things are happening fast a wedding photography shot checklist helps the photographer and the wedding coordinator(if you have one) to ensure those important shots with friends with family are not missed.
Getting Ready
- Wedding dress on a hanger
- Bride and bridesmaids’s bouquets
- Close-up of shoes, accessories and jewelries
- Bride facing mirror and checking makeup
- Maid of honor / mother helping bride with the dress
- Candid lighthearted moments between bride and bridesmaids
- Groom putting on the tie
- Father pinning boutonniere on the groom
Before bride and groom see each other
- Bride alone
- Combinations of Bride with parents / mom / dad / siblings
- Bride with grandparents
- Bride with mother-in-law / and with mom
- Bride with maid of honor
- Bride with all bridesmaids
- Bride with flower girls
- Groom alone
- Combinations of groom with parents / mom / dad / siblings
- Groom with grandparents
- Groom with father-in-law / and with dad
- Groom with best-man
- Groom with all groomsmen
- Groom with ring-bearer
The Ceremony
- Wedding party walking up the aisle (with individual shots of important persons like parents, maid of honor)
- The wedding party assembled at the alter with officiant
- Bride walking up the aisle
- The first look
- Exchange of vows
- Exchange of rings
- The first kiss as husband and wife
- Husband and wife walking down the aisle
- Family members and important guests congratulating the couple
Photo Session after Ceremony
- Formal portraits as husband and wife.
- Exchange of rings (re-enact – it is quite possible the shots during the ceremony were not perfect)
- Groom, bride with groom’s / bride’s parents
- Combinations of bride, groom with husbands’s / wife’s parents / siblings with other important members
- Flower girl and ring-bearer
- Bride, groom with bridesmaids and groomsmen
- Large group of bride, groom and whole wedding party
- Candid shots from the cocktail hour
Reception
- Seating card closeup
- Centerpieces closeup
- Bridesmaids / Groomsmen walking to the dance floor
- Parents walking to the dance floor
- Bride and groom walking to the dance floor
- First dance as husband and wife
- Bride’s parents dance
- Groom’s parents dance
- Groom’s dance with mom
- Bride’s dance with dad / brother
- Toasts
- Cake cutting
- Shots of the guests seated at the tables
- Shots from the dance floor
- Bouquet toss
- Couple leaving
Now, if the photographer has got everything you listed as important but did not capture the essence of the day, then he has has failed. Throughout the day, little things happen that stand out from the typical shots. Those are the moments that add the extra dimension to make your wedding photographs special. And you cannot follow a script for that. It is up to the alertness and skill of the photographer to capture those special moments. On one of my weddings, after the ceremony, the groomsmen decided to chase a flock of geese and so such a picture helps to make the photo collection special. Out of a number of shots I selected the one that shows the groom taking the leap and almost touching a goose flying for its life. So find the perfect wedding photographer who can demonstrate the experience of taking pictures of people in a busy setting that stand out.
Secondly, while this is a shot list for a typical American wedding, we all know America is a melting pot of all cultures. Ethic weddings are different and having a checklist is probably a necessity for a photographer covering an ethnic wedding. I would love if you respond with additions to this list or lists that apply for weddings of other cultures.
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