It's a good question, and it's one many brides and grooms find themselves Googling close to their wedding day. Sure, there are tons of TikToks and reels out there telling you the shots you "need" to add to your shot list. But most of those videos are coming from influencers and people who are not professionals in the wedding industry. As a wedding photographer, I think it's time I share what you really need to add to your wedding shot list.
Now, before we jump in, you can already cross some things off your list. That's right, you can remove some of those items you already wrote down. You see, some photos are already on your photographer's list. These shots are part of the regular wedding photography process and do not need to be added to your must-have shots (unless, of course, it's a photo you REALLY want and aren't sure if it's part of the photographer's regular shots). But some of these photos include:
Bride getting ready with maid of honor and bridesmaids
Groom getting ready with best man and groomsmen
Family (like mother/father/grandparents of the bride/groom) getting ready
Venue photos
Flat lay or detail shots of your invites, accessories, dress, etc.
Head table at multiple angles
Candid photos of guests
Walking down the aisle, wedding party, kiss, exiting the aisle
Speeches
First dances and guests dancing
Now, as stated above, if you are unsure whether or not your photographer captures some of those specific shots and it's very important to you, you can always check in to make sure it's on their list. Now...here are the types of shots you SHOULD add to your shot list:
Specific family groupings for family photos. For example: photo with Bride's Grandma, Bride's Mom, and Bride. Photo with Bride and Mom. Photo with Bride, Mom, and siblings. You get the idea. Writing out the specific family group photos ensures that none of them are missed, and that your photographer can organize the list so the family photos go smoothly and quickly.
Specific friend or coworker group photos. Same as above.
Specific bride and groom portraits. For example, if you want to duck out of your reception for 20 minutes to get golden hour photos (although most photographers already plan for this) or if you want to incorporate something in your portraits (your dog, car, something from your first date, etc.). You should also save any poses or photos that give a certain vibe that you wish to capture (i.e., enjoying a drink at the hotel bar, Bride sitting on the swing and Groom standing behind, and so on). Now, your photographer will already have a list of poses and prompts in mind, but it is good to save any that you are certain you'd like to get. *I love when my clients send me their Pinterest boards!
Unique details and items for the flat lay/detail shots. This mostly applies if you did not put all the items into a box for detail photos, or if it's an oddly unique item.
Any out of the ordinary shots that you don't typically see in wedding albums. For example, if you are getting married by the lake and want a few shots of the wildlife, or want to try a fun idea with your wedding guests.
So, no need to overwhelm your photographer with a 3-page list (seriously, don't do that). Instead, you can touch base with them to see what their normal shots are and prepare a list to go over with them of specific and unique shots that will help you remember your special day forever.
Typically, I meet with my clients in person in the weeks leading up to their wedding day. This is where we go over the shot list, itinerary, and final details for their day. You've seen my shot list, so you have an idea of what I typically capture. You can also ask your photographer to look at a full gallery so you can get an idea of what they capture. Although, you can probably get a good idea by looking at their website and their social media. In the end, you should curate a list of your must-have unique shots, typically half a page to one page long for all the specific shots.
Or, if you trust your photographer and love their style, you can give them free reign and trust they'll get the shots. :)
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