Wedding shot list: 20 Important photos to take at a wedding

A wedding ceremony is one of the most sacred days of your clients life. It is a celebration of love and couples go above and beyond to make the day memorable. This is where you come in. Wedding photography is no easy task; it comes with an immense amount of responsibility and pressure to capture the day perfectly.

Time flies! You’ve got a million places to be and only a few hours to take as many photos as possible! If you’re a seasoned wedding photographer you’ve already mastered the art of being everywhere at once, capturing every detail of the big day… if you’re just starting out, it may be a bit overwhelming though. That’s why we decided to make a list of photo’s you should take of the big day to avoid disappointing the couple.

It’s in the details

1. Dress

You can play around with angles, photographing the dress on the hanger against the wall, in a window frame, laid down on the bed, or while the bride puts on the dress.

2. Rings

A very important detail to capture. Incorporate other accessories from the wedding, like the bouquet, to tell a story. Some photographers drop the rings into some champagne, which makes for a creative take, while others balance the rings in the bible or another special book which create heart shaped shadows. You can really play around with the wedding bands to create something true to your couple.

3. Bouquet

An important element of any wedding, the bouquet makes for beautiful closeup photographs. You can ask the bride to hold the bouquet or arrange it with other wedding details on the bed or a counter. Playing around with depth of field can take your photo up a notch.

4. Venue

From wide angle shots to close-up details on the tables, capturing the venue is crucial. This includes wedding favours as well as the cake and any other venue details. Remember that the couple won’t be seeing the details, they will enter the venue once everyone is already there, so this is your way to make sure the bridal couple gets to see the decor.

Getting ready (Bride & Groom)

5. Groom portraits

Take a variety of photographs of the groom getting ready; closeups of him putting on his shoes or watch for example, is very popular. You can also incorporate and use elements of the venue to really make the portraits pop. These photographs give you the opportunity to have the groom get comfortable being in front of the camera and break the ice for the upcoming couple’s portrait sessions.

6. Groomsmen

Really bring out the personality of the groom and his entourage… Do your research and find out what he wants out of the session. Some grooms like a photo of with his groomsmen smoking a cigar while enjoying a whiskey for example, while other grooms prefer a documentary approach, capturing candid moments of the men getting ready, making jokes etc.

7. Bridal portraits

These portraits range from the bride’s makeup getting done to photographs of her when she’s dressed. The whole process should be captured and you can play around and get really creative in doing so. Some popular shots are closeups of the makeup artists applying makeup with the powder seeping through a backlit room, or the bride looking into a mirror, fixing her hair or putting on lipstick. You can ask the bride if there are any specific portraits that she wants you to photograph, and make sure you do so.

8. Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids usually go above and beyond to make the getting ready experience an enjoyable one, which can make for an incredibly fun session. Capture candid moments of the bridal party in their gowns sipping champagne, doing their nails and getting ready. You can ask each bridesmaid to help the bride put on a different accessory and capture those intimate moments while the bride gets ready. Photographing behind the scene shots of all of the women waiting excitedly to enter the church can also make for special memories.

9. Dress reveal

Meticulously selected months in advance, the dress is one of the most important details at any wedding and needs to be highlighted throughout the day. Many brides hold off putting on the dress until right at the end and make a very big deal about revealing it to their mothers’ and/or bridesmaids. Therefore it’s very important to capture the magnitude of that moment. For the dress reveal, be sure the lighting is good and that the background is free of clutter. You want the focus to be on the bride, her dress and the reaction of the mother and/or bridesmaids.

The ceremony

10. First look with father or groom

Before the “first look” of bride and groom was a trend, it was usually the first look between father and daughter, right before they walk down the aisle. Discuss with your couple beforehand what they have planned for the day, either way, whether it’s between father and daughter or future husband and wife, you have to be ready to capture this momentace moment.

11. Bride entrance

A very special moment at any wedding. Countless hours of preparation come together for this one moment – the bride entering the church, walking down the aisle. Take a wide angle photograph that captures the whole scene.

12. Grooms reaction

For a second, you want to shift your focus from the bride to the groom and his reaction to seeing his bride for the first time. Because of the raw emotion you get, this shot has become all the more popular with wedding photography and you will be expected to capture it. Crop it tight so that you can clearly see his expressions.

13. Vows

(Just about the only time that everything is calm at a wedding.) You can experiment with individual portraits and wide angle shots that include the couple.

14. Ring exchange

Be sure to take both wide-angle en closeup photographs of the ring exchange. It happens so quickly so anticipate the moment and make sure you get the shot.

15. First kiss

The deal is sealed! The first kiss can make for a powerful image which symbolises the start of a new chapter for the couple. You can speak to the couple ahead of time and ask them to kiss just a bit longer to ensure you capture the moment.

16. Confetti

All the guests gather outside to “bless” the newlyweds. Ask the couple beforehand and find out what they are using as confetti. Flower petals might be traditional, but makes for beautiful photographs, and leaves also look nice in pictures. Popcorn and rice for example can be very difficult to capture and has a tendency to get stuck in the bride’s hair and is hard to get out. So be sure to find out what they are using so that you can prepare accordingly. Ask the guests to stand in two rows or two sides so that you get the shot of the couple, surrounded by guests, capturing the whole scene. Pro tip: Request that the guests put away their phones at this time so that you get a nice shot without phones popping out everywhere.

Group shots

17. Guests

Depending on the bridal couples’ (and your) style, there are a few ways to creatively capture the guests at a wedding. Traditionally, either the bridal couple makes turns photographing at each table, or the table guests make turns to visit the bridal table to take photos, but these days couples opt for a more natural, documentary-styled approach. Ask your couple which they prefer.

18. Bridal party

You have to capture the groomsmen and bridesmaids, even if it’s just a few photographs. This is where you can have a lot of fun creating “out-there” photos, but you don’t want to deviate from the look your couple expects from you. Some couples love the “cheesy” bridal party photos where other couples cringe at their site! If you stay true to your look and feel as a photographer, you’re sure to own this part.

19. Couples portraits

This is the make or break session of the day. The couple is on an absolute “high” and it’s your job to capture intimate moments that they will treasure forever. Make sure you capture wide angles in both landscapes and portrait format, classic portraits as well as creative closeups. There are a few go-to’s for couples portraits that you can use as a start before branching out to more creative photographs. Make sure your couple is comfortable to ensure you get the best from the shoot.

Reception

20. First dance

Most of the formalities are over and it’s time for everyone to relax and enjoy the night. There are many ways to do a creative first dance shoot – having guests stand in a circle around the dance floor holding sparkles, using a smoke machine to create fairytale photos or playing around with camera settings to get creative variety… the opportunities are endless. Make sure you keep up with the dance and anticipate the next moves.

Additional images for the bride and groom

Other requests may include photographs of the father-daughter dance, the garter and bouquet toss etc. Discuss before-hand which moments are important for your bridal couple to avoid disappointment and disputes in the future. They spend a lot of money on the shoot, so you want to deliver your best, and you are investing a lot of time in the shoot, so you want good feedback and happy clients. In the end, it’s an absolute honour sharing this day with the happy couple.

Pro tip: Pinterest is a wonderful source of inspiration! Create moodboards with images you can reference back to you just in case you get stuck on a point.