Must-Have Wedding Photos Checklist for Your Big Day
2023-02-20
Professional wedding photographers are adept at capturing the unique moments and intricacies of your big day. Yet, to ensure your favourite shots make it to your album, it's crucial to clearly communicate your must-have wedding photos. One of the top tips for wedding photography is to create a checklist and share it with your photographer. To assist you in this, we've designed a free, printable wedding photography checklist. This ensures you get the specific photos you envision and makes your photographer's job smoother.
How Many Photos Do You Need for a Wedding?
Couples planning for their wedding may wonder how many photos they can expect to receive from their photographer. The answer depends on multiple factors, such as
the photographer's experience,
the size of the event,
the length of the photo shoot,
the number of guests,
the availability of wedding photo props,
the number of photographers in the team,
and the activities that take place during the wedding.
On average, a wedding photographer should be able to produce roughly fifty to one hundred quality photos an hour. This works out to between 400 and 800 images in an 8-hour period.
The wedding photographer will take a large number of photos, typically ranging from 1,000 to 2,000. However, only a small portion of these photos will be provided as the final delivery. Generally, only 200 of them will be included. For example, to create a 20-page album with 40 sides, you need to take 80-120 good quality pictures.
Have a discussion with your photographer before the wedding day to determine what types of shots you want, and how many you need. Make sure the photographer understands your expectations for the day.
Must-Have Wedding Photos
Use this wedding photography checklist as a starting point and customise it as you wish. Create a personalised photo list to capture on your special day.
Think about who, what, and where you want to remember. Outline any key elements or people you want to get a shot of. Feel free to share your wedding photo ideas with your photographer. Ask them for the photos that will add an extra special touch to your wedding album.
Pre-wedding Shots
Getting Ready Photos
A photographer must take a variety of pre-wedding shots to capture the essence of the couple getting ready for their big day. A professional wedding photographer can capture the story of your day with a series of stunning pictures.
This includes photos of the bride and groom getting ready for the wedding and their first look. The photographer should capture the emotions and excitement of the couple before their wedding. They should also capture the special intimate moments that make each wedding unique.
Bride and Groom Portraits
Ensure you put in the necessary time to take stunning photos to proudly display in your home for the years to come. Your photographer should take many pictures of you as a couple in different locations and poses. Capturing the details of your outfits and accessories is essential.
The photographer should use both documentary photography and posing techniques to capture pictures of you. They should take these pictures when you look happy and in love. The goal is to create genuine and emotional photos.
Capturing Your Wedding’s Settings
In wedding photography, capturing not only the couple and guests but also the venue and atmosphere is crucial. Another essential tip for wedding photography is to ask your photographer to focus on the venue, decorations, and details that contribute to your special day's atmosphere. Request stunning shots of arrangements and details important to you, both pre ceremony and during the celebration.
Wedding Ceremony
The Bride and Groom at the Altar
The wedding ceremony is the highlight of the wedding day. Photographs taken during the ceremony will help to immortalise this special moment. This includes the bride and groom's entrance, the exchange of vows and rings, the kiss, and the moment they proclaim their love to each other. These photographs will also capture the joy on the faces of family and friends, and the beauty of the ceremony venue.
Wedding Party and Family Photos
The wedding party and family photos taken before the recessional are a great way to capture the celebratory mood of the wedding. The wedding party and your family can take nice group photos to remember the special occasion. These group shots will be a permanent reminder of the special people who were there to celebrate your big day. Don’t forget to take photos of your beloved pets, if you have any.
Wedding Reception Photos
The Cocktail Hour
At the cocktail hour, your guests can socialise and enjoy their drinks while the photographer captures the special, unplanned moments of the day. These shots can show the candid moments and true emotions of your wedding. Not only are these photos more genuine, but they also bring a unique energy to your wedding album. You can also invite your wedding party and close family to take formal pictures with you.
Newlyweds Arriving at the Venue
The couple arriving at the venue is a happy moment, filled with joy and excitement for the night ahead. Capturing the emotion of this moment in all its glory is one of the key items on the wedding photography checklist. A professional photographer must capture the joy on the faces of the newlyweds, and the excitement of their loved ones.
Your First Dance
A special moment on your wedding day is when you and your partner have your first dance together. Capture this moment with a few photos of you and your partner, encircled in love and happiness. Don't forget to take some photos of your parents dancing with each other, as well as you and your parents dancing together.
Cake-Cutting Ceremony and Other Traditions
At weddings, the cake-cutting ceremony is a special event that marks the start of the newlyweds' life together. This gesture symbolises the couple's love and commitment.
Your photographer should capture other traditional reception activities such as the bouquet toss and garter toss. Additionally, they should also capture this moment. To create a lasting memory, have your photographer stay until the last moments. Ask them to take a last kiss or a photo of you and your partner leaving in your wedding vehicle.
Conclusion
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and it's essential to capture as many memories as possible. Most photo pros maintain a standard wedding photography shot list that includes all the basic pictures you'll want to capture. A good tip for wedding photography is to make a checklist. This way, you won't forget to take pictures with important people at the wedding.
Give your photographer a list of your must-have wedding photos. This way, you can relax and enjoy your day without worrying about capturing the moments you want.
Checklist: Must-Have Photos for Your Wedding Day
Pre-wedding Shots
Getting Ready
- Wedding dress/suits hanging
Wedding rings and jewellery laid out
Bouquets, cufflinks, boutonnieres
Wedding shoes
Bride getting her hair and makeup done
Bridesmaids getting their makeup done
Bridal party helping the bride get dressed
Bride putting her jewellery on
Wedding party having fun while getting ready
Groom getting ready
Mother and bride/groom portraits
Father and bride/groom portraits
Close-up of wedding dress details
Groom’s outfit details
Bride/groom ready to go
Couple’s first look
Bride and Groom Portraits
- Couple together for a portrait
Couple looking at each other
Couple hugging or kissing
Couple holding hands
Capturing Your Wedding’s Settings
- Exterior shot of the ceremony/reception venue
Interior decorations (flowers, table settings, guest book, place cards, centrepieces, etc.)
Exterior details
Reception room before the guests’ arrival
Ceremony site before the guests’ arrival
Invitations
Program, stationeries and special signs
Favours
Wedding Ceremony
The Bride and Groom at the Altar
- Guests entering the ceremony venue
Bridal party entrance
Ushers leading the guests to their places
Groom waiting for the bride
Wedding party waiting at the altar
Bride before her grand entrance
Bride walking down the aisle
Wedding party coming down the aisle
Flower girl, the page boy and the ring bearer walking down the aisle
Groom meeting the bride at the end of the aisle
Bride and groom at the altar
Wedding guests from the couple's view
Exchange of vows
Exchanging the rings
Close-up of the rings
The first kiss as a married couple
Signing the marriage certificate
Witnesses signing the register
Couple walking back up the aisle
Couple leaving the ceremony site
Shots of sparkles outside the venue
Family and Wedding Party
- Couple with each set of parents
Couple with both sets of parents
Couple with siblings
Couple with both immediate families
Bride and bridesmaids/flower girl/maid of honour
Groom and groomsmen/ring bearer/best man
Couple with the entire wedding party
Couple with children of the family
Wedding Reception
The Cocktail Hour
- Guests arriving at the wedding venue
Guests sipping their drinks and mingling
Newlyweds arriving at the venue
- Couple arriving at the reception site
Couple at head table
Parents' table
Guests' tables
Couple's parents talking to each other during dinner
Couple chatting up with the guests/couple mingling with guests
Speeches
Guests and the couple during the speeches
Friends and family making toasts
Detail shot of food
Your First Dance
- Couple's first dance
Parents/grandparents dancing
Bride and parents dancing
Groom and parents dancing
Wedding party dancing
Kids playing or dancing
Musicians, singers, DJs
Guests enjoying the party
Couple laughing with guests on dance floor
Couple and all their guests
Cake-Cutting Ceremony and Other Traditions
- Wedding cake or dessert table detail shots
Couple cutting the cake
Couple feeding each other cake
Last kiss
Couple leaving reception
Couple waving from their car
