THE ESSENTIAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOT LIST: MUST-HAVES FOR EVERY BRIDE AND PHOTOGRAPHER

Written By Anastasia Kircheva

This is a long one! Grab a drink and a snack for this ride!

Being a Bride or a Groom, you may experience stress on your wedding day. I am here to lend a helping hand in your journey and, hopefully, in the journey of fellow photographers to capture the most during this important day!

Getting Ready: The Bride

  • The Wedding Dress (in full and with close detail shots: front + back)

  • Bride's Shoes (entire side and overhead view and with closeups)

  • Bride's shoes & Dress (in full and with close shots)

  • Bride's Accessories (bracelets/earrings/necklace)

  • Wedding Rings (bring a macro lens and a mirror/glass to make it creative)

  • Invitation & Vows (if written)

  • Florals (bouquet & boutonniere with closeups and overall shot)

  • Bride's perfume of the day

  • A combination shot of rings/invite/florals/shoes/accessories (get creative, overhead shots look stunning a lot of the time)

  • Group photo of Bridesmaid's dresses

  • Mother of the bride outfit

  • Candid shots of the Bride, bridesmaids and family getting ready (hair & makeup is done)

  • Bride putting on jewellery (use the mirror for the photos)

  • Bride looking at her wedding gown (wide shot and a closeup of her hands)

  • Individual pictures of bridesmaids and parents, if present

  • Bride putting on the gown (wide shot and a closeup on the back of the Dress as it is being tied on)

  • Bride putting on shoes

  • Parents/family/bridesmaids seeing Bride for the first time

Getting Ready: The Groom

  • Shot of groom's tux

  • Groom's shoes

  • Groom's accessories (handkerchief, socks, tie/bow, cufflinks, watch and others)

  • Groom's perfume of the day

  • A creative shot with all items (try to have it overhead to match their partner's photo)

  • Groom with groomsmen celebrating (with a drink, games or food)

  • Candid of groom interacting with groomsmen/family

  • The groom puts on his tux, and the groomsmen assist him with details like the cufflinks or centring his tie

  • Headshots of all groomsmen and parents, if present

  • Group shot with the groom with groomsmen (use negative space to position them or have them pick him up for fun)



The Ceremony

  • Ceremony venue shot to show the aisle (inside and outside)

  • Ceremony Arch shot

  • Detail shots of ceremony décor

  • Portrait of flower girls and ring bearers if present

  • Guests arriving

  • Groomsmen procession

  • Groom with parent (if present)

  • Ring Bearer

  • Bridesmaids

  • Flower Girl

  • Reactions of Groom

  • The Bride enters with her parents (if present)

  • Groom's reaction to seeing his partner for the first time

  • Bride walking down

  • Parents handing over Bride to Groom

  • Photo of Bride and Groom jointed at the altar (wide shot at the back, mid and close up of the couple and their hands)

  • Reaction shots of parents, family and guests

  • Portrait of Bride (over groom's shoulder)

  • Picture of Groom (over Bride's shoulder)

  • Photo of Groomsmen (mid and wide shot)

  • Photo of Bridesmaids (mid and wide shot)

  • Reading Vows (reactions from each one and their families, stand by the officiant to get their direct reactions and get creative with your angles)

  • An aisle view of the couple as they read vows

  • Ring Bearer provides rings

  • Ring exchange (position yourself in the aisle or over the shoulder of the person giving a ring to their partner, capture a closeup and a mid shot of the exchange)

  • Wide shot of the ring exchange

  • Paperwork being signed by the Bride, groom, both witnesses and officiant

  • Bride and Groom seal the deal with a kiss on the aisle

  • Walking down the aisle (consider doing an extra kiss halfway down)

  • Bride and Groom exit and get ready for a congratulatory lineup

  • Capture guests congratulating the newlyweds




Post-Ceremony Formals

Here are the combos I usually use (feel free to make modifications as every family is different)

  • Bride and Groom with Bride's Family

  • Bride with her family

  • Groom with Bride's Family

  • Bride with only mom

  • Bride with only dad

  • Bride with each sibling

  • Bride with all siblings

  • Bride with only parents

  • Bride with both moms

  • Bride with both dads

  • Bride with Groom's Siblings

  • Bride with uncles and aunties

  • Bride and Groom with uncles and aunties

  • Bride with grandparents

  • Bride and groom with grandparents

  • Bride with mom and grandma (generation photo if you would like)

  • Bride and Groom with both of their immediate families

  • Groom with his family

  • Bride with Groom's Family

  • Groom with only mom

  • Groom with only dad

  • Groom with each sibling

  • Groom with all siblings

  • Groom with only parents

  • Groom with both moms

  • Groom with both dads

  • Groom with Bride's Siblings

  • Bride and Groom with their parents

  • Bride and Groom with siblings (families can leave and join the cocktail hour and relax)

  • Bride with Bridesmaids

  • Bride with each Bridesmaid

  • Bride with Groomsmen

  • Groom with Groomsmen

  • Groom with each Groomsmen

  • Groom with Bridesmaids

  • Solo photos of each Bridesmaid

  • Solo photos of each Groomsmen (bridal party can leave to tend to guests if they would like)

  • Solo photos of the Bride (wide shot, mid and close up of bouquet, accessories, gown, shoes, makeup, hair, back of Dress, and ring)

  • Solo Photos of Groom (wide shot, mid and close up of boutonniere, accessories, tux, shoes, and ring)

  • Photos of both Groom and Bride

The Reception

  • Candid shots of guests interacting

  • Table décor

  • Venue wide shot

  • Signing table

  • Signs welcoming guests

  • Seating Chart

  • Guests looking at the seating chart

  • Guests signing the guest book

  • Head Table set up

  • Bride and Groom making an entrance (tip: consider having your first dance with your entrance if you are under a time constraint with your photographer)

  • MC introductions

  • Photos of the Bride & Groom at each table (good to do it before dinner so you don't have messy tables in the pictures)

  • Wedding games (typically after dinner)

  • Cake Cutting

  • Bouquet Toss

  • Garter Toss

  • First Dance

  • Parent dance (either together or with separate songs)

  • Sunset Photos (see if you have time to do some romantic sunset photos while the dancefloor is getting warmed up for you)

  • Dance Party and Mingling

Phew, you did it! You are hitched!

Always remember to chat with your photographer about your must-haves and the critical moments you want to capture! Your photographer should support, honour and collaborate with your ideas! It is your wedding day, after all! It's a BIG deal!

Extra Tips

  • Have water with you, always and all-day

  • Have someone be your designated carry-on person for your belongings/documents

  • Have backup slippers/shoes

  • Bring oil blotting paper for touch up

  • Extra Bobby pins and pins for accidents

  • Bring your perfume/wet wipes to freshen up

  • Tide spot treatment brush for any accidents

  • Band-Aid for those blisters from new shoes

  • Mints

  • And most importantly, breathe! Always account for a 30 min delay on your wedding day! Things happen, and carry on with your wedding!

Anastasia Kircheva
Previous

Capturing Confidence: Empowering Women Through Boudoir Photography in Calgary