Wedding Photography “must have” Shot List

Any good wedding photographer will know what kind of shots they must take on the big day to capture for each part of wedding photography, which can be divided into 3 or 4 parts depending on style of photography. For non-intrusive photojournalistic photography, there are preparation, ceremony, and reception. Each wedding is not one-size-fits-all. To ensure that your wedding is told your way, it is a great idea for a couple to include things that are unique to their wedding, things that the photographer wouldn’t know were important to capture otherwise. Your wedding photography will be unique, one-of-a-kind, and complete. That being said, here is a “must have” shot list for each part, add or take out to your liking.

Preparation:

• Bride getting dressed
• Groom getting dressed
• Wedding dress
• Shoes & Jewelry
• Photo of the bouquets
• Bride with the attendants
• Groom with the attendants
• Bride arriving at the ceremony site
• Special guests getting seated at the ceremony

• Bride walking down aisle
• Spontaneous moments during the ceremony
• Reaction & expressions of parents
• Ring exchange
• Shots of guests
• The wedding kiss

Recception:

• Bride and groom leaving the ceremony
• Guests throwing birdseed or blowing bubbles
• Bride and groom stepping into the car
• Bride and groom driving away from the ceremony
• Wedding party arriving at the reception
• Reception area
• Close-up of wedding decorations
• Cake
• Bride and groom cutting the cake
• The first dance
• Bride/Groom dance with parents
• Wedding toasts
• The bouquet toss
• Bride and groom saying goodbye to the guests
• Bride and groom exiting the reception or driving away

Aiden Rhaa is a Boston Wedding Photographer specializing in contemporary photojournalistic approach.