Wedding Checklist : Photography Shots You Don’t Want Your Photographer To Miss
This is an article meant for the bridal party but is equally important for a wedding photographer to read... Your photographer is great – he or she must be, or else why would you have chosen them? But when you want things done a certain way, you should make sure by controlling the shoot yourself. In that vein, if you know the shots you want for your wedding day, then give your photographer a list of shots you don’t want to miss. You can even get more specific and show her examples of specific photos from other weddings you’ve seen that you like. Consider these shots for your list:
Before the Wedding
Bride and bridesmaids arriving at ceremony site before getting dressed. Wedding dress on a hanger and fine details of the wedding dress. Bride getting zipped up in her dress.
Bride, bridesmaids and mothers getting dressed and getting hair and makeup done. Bride with her something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Bride’s mother helping her with her jewelry.
Close up of bride wearing her garter belt. Bride handing maid or matron of honor the wedding ring for her. Groom and groomsmen arriving at ceremony site. Groom, groomsmen and fathers getting ready in dressing room. Father of groom helping the groom straighten his tie or bow tie.
During the Wedding, Guests entering church or site of ceremony
Groom standing by altar as he waits for his bride. Bride and father hugging before he walks her down the aisle. Groomsmen and bridesmaids walking down aisle. Parents of bride and groom walking down aisle.
Grandparents of bride and groom being seated. Flower girl and ring bearer making their way down the aisle. Father of bride and bride finally making their way down the aisle.
Reaction of guests as bride walks down aisle. Groom when he first sees his bride coming down the aisle. Father of bride giving the bride away. Bride and grooms holding hands during ceremony. Bride and groom stealing glances at each other during ceremony.
Bride saying her vows and groom’s reaction Groom saying his vows and bride’s reaction. Exchanging of the rings Bride and groom’s first kiss.
Bride and groom turning to the audience for first time as man and wife. Bride and groom walking down aisle Bride and groom making their exit. out of ceremony site in a rain of rice or birdseed or butterflies.
Congratulations to new couple from guests. Exit into the getaway car. Getaway car as it is driving off. Photos of couple, Wedding Party, Family, Bride and groom. Bride and groom with bride’s family. Bride and groom with groom’s family. Bride with bridesmaids.
Groom with groomsmen Entire wedding party. Bride with groomsmen. Groom with bridesmaids. Bride and groom with both families. Reception Photos Entrance of bride and groom into reception site Close-up of Wedding cake. Close-up of Groom’s cake. Empty table with centerpiece.
Guest signing guest book. Bride and groom greeting and talking to guests. First dance between bride and groom Bride dancing with father.
Groom dancing with mother. A full dance floor. Cutting of the cake. Feeding of the cake to each other.
All toasts (best man, maid of honor, groom, bride) Bride throwing her bouquet to single women. Groom taking bride’s garter off. Groom throwing garter to single men. Bride and groom leaving reception site.
Randolph Quan specialises in reportage wedding photography, and advises people on the top 10 wedding photographers UK.
Wedding Photography Must Have List – If you are thinking of doing wedding photography professionally, you need to know about preparing invoices correctly, wedding poses or posing the bridal party and couple.
Then there are things you must know like; extended time agreements, the photographers contract, skilled thank-you letters (you want more business later from this – right?), and a tactful photographer’s deposit reminder.
It would be wise to have a better and more detailed wedding photography checklist than this helpful though basic list above. A wedding photography website is also a must and there are templates specifically for that purpose available.
*Here’s the only place we know of that can help with all the above – at least it gives an idea of what you should be looking for if you would like to charge fees like a professional wedding photographer.
