SHOT LIST

It is very important to recognize that every wedding is unique. The weather, time of day, moving from venue to venue, the size of your families & bridal party, one versus two photographers, etc., all very much dictate how your day will progress. Because of this, I obsess over the timeline of your wedding day to ensure that we have maximized our time together, & along the way, I’ll give you plenty of pointers for how to stay ahead of schedule. But, even after all of that, weddings still have a mind of their own & we can’t always plan for when disaster may strike, like the cake falling over.

For the record, I’ve never had a cake fall over.

But, I have had a train break down close to the venue causing the limo to get stuck on the other side & we were forced to do the send off in a suburban that just circled the parking lot.

Things happen, & you have to go with the flow. 

But, that doesn’t mean I won’t try my hardest to make sure you get as many action & detail photos as possible.

Below is my standard mental checklist of photos
that I aim to get at every wedding. 

Note the word “mental.” I do not have this list below printed out, nor do I walk around with a pencil checking things off. Earrings? Check. Moving on to…let’s see…the bracelet… That’s just silly & takes time. Rest assured, I have done this enough times to know what to look for, what to ask for if something seems missing, what is special, & what needs documenting. Which is everything.

The only physical list I carry with me is the formal family photo list complete with names & a specific order.

Have something unique?

If there is something that is not on this list that is unique to you & your wedding, please please please let me know. If your future husband’s grandmother is flying in from Mexico & he isn’t going to find out until she walks down the aisle at the ceremony, please tell me so I don’t miss that reaction. If your school mascot is making an appearance & it’s a surprise to your new spouse, tell me! Did your grandmother hand stitch the handkerchief that’s wrapped around your bouquet? Tell me!

BRIDE'S GETTING READY ROOM

BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES

• earrings

• bracelet

• necklace

• wedding rings

• garters

• shoes

• veil

• wedding dress

OTHER DETAIL ITEMS

• wedding invitation suite

• bridesmaids’ dresses

• flower girl dresses

• flower girl baskets or other items

• bride’s bouquet

• bridesmaids’ bouquets

ACTION

• bride’s hair styling

• bride’s makeup application

• bride getting dressed (buttoned, zipped, laced, shoed, etc)

• bride & bridesmaids hanging out

groom's getting ready room

GROOM’S ACCESSORIES

• shoes

• bowtie/necktie

• suspenders

• pocket square

• belt

• wedding rings

OTHER DETAILS

• matching socks, pocket squares, cufflinks, etc.

• ring bearer pillows or other items

• boutonnieres

ACTION

• groom tying tie, putting on jacket, etc.

• groom & groomsmen hanging out

CEREMONY

DETAILS

• ceremony space as a whole

• aisle markers/flowers

• altar arch, cross, etc.

• altar flowers

• unity candle/sand

• Lord’s supper/Communion items

• programs

• guest sign-in table

ACTIONS

• guests arriving

• crowd shots of guests

• ushers/groomsmen seating guests

• honored guests passing out programs

• parents, grandparents, & honored guests being seated

• parents lighting unity candle

• bridal party entering (pastor, groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearers)

• bride walking down the aisle (front view, back view)

• groom’s reaction to bride

• giving away of the bride

• close ups of bride, groom, officiant, other special ceremony participants*

• exchanging vows

• exchanging rings

• lighting the unity candle, pouring sand, etc.

• the kiss

• bride & groom walking up aisle

• bridal party exiting ceremony (family, bridal party, etc)

* Check with your venue for any ceremony restrictions. Some churches do not allow the photographers to go up past a certain pew, to use the middle aisle at all, or are restricted to the balcony only. 

bridal party PORTRAITS

BRIDE & GROOM

• individuals of each

• first look (before ceremony)

• husband & wife (after ceremony)

BRIDAL PARTY

• bride & all bridesmaids

• bride with each bridesmaid

• bride with flower girl(s)

• groom & all groomsmen

• groom with each groomsmen

• groom with ring bearer(s)

• bride & groom with flower girl(s) & ring bearer(s)

• bride & groom with all bridesmaids, all groomsmen, all flower girl(s), & all ring bearer(s)

• ushers & house party

FORMAL FAMILY PORTRAITS

Please note that this is NOT the order I go in. You & I will work together to come up the specific names of those you want included. From there, I will be put everything into a master shot list that is the most efficient way possible to get every combination you would want.

BRIDE’S FAMILY

• bride, mother

• bride, father

• bride, parents

• bride, siblings

• bride, parents, siblings

• bride & groom, parents

• bride & groom, siblings

• bride & groom, grandparents

• bride & groom, parents, siblings

• bride & groom, parents, siblings, siblings’ families

• bride & groom, parents, siblings, siblings’ families, grandparents

• bride & groom with extended & immediate family (maternal)

• bride & groom with extended & immediate family (paternal)

GROOM’S FAMILY

• groom, mother

• groom, father

• groom, parents

• groom, siblings

• groom, parents, siblings

• bride & groom, parents

• bride & groom, siblings

• bride & groom, grandparents

• bride & groom, parents, siblings

• bride & groom, parents, siblings, siblings’ families

• bride & groom, parents, siblings, siblings’ families, grandparents

• bride & groom with extended & immediate family (maternal)

• bride & groom with extended & immediate family (paternal)

BOTH FAMILIES

• bride & groom with all parents

• bride & groom with all siblings

• bride & groom with all parents & all siblings

RECEPTION

DETAILS

• reception space as a whole

• table decor & table-scapes

• centerpieces

• place settings

• namecards

• cake table

• cake

• cake topper

• serving utensils

• champagne glasses

• drink station

• family wedding photos & heirlooms

• guest book & sign-in table

• gift table

• favors

• send off items (sparklers, bubbles, etc)

• getaway vehicle

ACTIONS

• cocktail hour/guests mingling

• bridal party entrance

• bride & groom entrance

• special dances

  • bride & groom

  • father & daughter

  • mother & groom

• toasts

• cake cutting

• bouquet & garter toss

• guests mingling with each other

• bride & groom mingling with guests

• dance floor

• send off