Photo List

From The Knot:

No doubt there are many wedding moments you won't want to miss. The best way to ensure your photographer captures the right moments for all posterity is to provide a suggested shot list. Of course, the style and number of these images will all depend on the photographer you've chosen and how long you've hired that pro for, but a shot list of photos you'd love to have is a great way to cover your bases. Since you should count on at least five minutes per shot, it's unrealistic to expect all the photos below, but pick and choose those shots that mean most to you.


Getting Ready


Bride's clothes hanging on the wardrobe, on the bedpost, or over a chair

Bridesmaids doing bride's hair and makeup

Bride and bridesmaids getting dressed, applying makeup

Mom helping bride with one last detail, such as veil

Full-length shot of bride in gown checking herself out in mirror

Detail of clothing, shoes, garter, something borrowed, something blue

Touching shot of bride with parent/s and/or stepparent/s

Touching shot of bride with sibling/s

Bride hugging honor attendant

Bride with bridesmaids

Bride with all the women

Groom getting ready with Dad and pals (tying the tie is a classic)

Touching shot of groom with parent/s and/or stepparent/s

Touching shot of groom with sibling/s

Groom with his arm affectionately around best man

Groom with all the groomsmen

Groomsmen putting on boutonnieres or bowties

Intimate shots of bride and groom chatting with/crying with/hugging parents and siblings preceremony

Dad whispering last-minute advice to groom

Groom ready to go

Bride ready to go

Bride and groom separately making their way to the ceremony (in a limo backseat, hailing a cab, walking down the street/hall/stairs)


The Ceremony


Guests streaming into the site

Ushers escorting guests to their seats

Ushers escorting moms to their seats (Christian wedding)

Close-up of groom's adorably nervous mug waiting for his other half

Bridesmaids and groomsmen walking down the aisle

Flower girl and/or ring bearer entering

Honor attendant walking down the aisle

Grandparents walking down the aisle (Jewish wedding)

Wedding party waiting at the altar

Groom walking down the aisle

Bride and Dad/escort/parents (Jewish wedding) walking down the aisle

Close-up of bride just before she makes her entrance

Bride and groom at the altar

Altar or canopy from the back during ceremony

Wide shot of audience during ceremony, from bride and groom's point of view

Faces of bride and groom as they exchange vows

Close-up of bride's and groom's hands as they exchange rings

The kiss

Bride and groom proceeding up the aisle, guests' smiling faces at their sides

Bride and groom outside ceremony site

Congrats shots: bride and groom hugging, laughing, and crying with good friends and family

Bride and groom leaving ceremony site

Bride and groom in limo backseat


Before the Reception (During the Cocktail Hour)

Note: You can also take these before the ceremony.

Bride and groom together

Bride with her happy, proud parents and/or stepparents

Bride with her entire immediate family

Groom with his happy, proud parents and/or stepparents

Groom with his entire immediate family

Bride and groom with all parents

Bride and groom with immediate family members from both sides

Bride and groom with groomsmen

Bride and groom with bridesmaids

Bride and groom with whole wedding party


The Reception


Shot from outside reception site (to set the tone)

Reception details such as place cards, guest book, centerpieces, decorations, table settings, favors table, and champagne glasses

Bride and groom arriving (make it dramatic -- their faces through the dark limo windows, the two lovebirds atop a staircase or pushing through a curtain)

Receiving line moments

Bride and groom at head table

Parents' table

Guests' tables

Close-up of friends and family making toasts

Bride and groom sipping champagne

Bride's and groom's parents whispering to each other during dinner

Bride and groom chatting up the guests

Bride and groom's first dance (maybe with a slow shutter speed so the movement blurs the image a little)

Parents dancing

Bride and Dad dancing

Groom and Mom dancing

Wedding party dancing

Grandparents dancing

Kids playing or dancing

Musicians or DJ doing their thing

Guests going nuts on the dance floor (again, slow shutter speed could be effective)

Bride laughing with bridesmaids

Cake table

Bride and groom cutting the cake

Bride and groom feeding each other cake

Dessert table

Bouquet toss (perhaps a vertical shot from in front of the bride)

Tossing and catching of the garter

Bride and groom leaving, waving from getaway car's backseat

Rear of car departing

Here is the list that I gave my photographer

GETTING READY
Invitation and flowers together
Bride fully dressed
Bride with Mother
Bride with Father
Bride with Parents
Bride with Parents and Sister
Bride pinning on Father’s boutonniere
Bride with Sister (MOH)
Bride with each Bridesmaid
Bride with MOH and Bridesmaids
Bride, Parents & Bridesmaids outside house

THE CEREMONY
Groom & Best Man
Groom with each Groomsman
Groom with Best Man and Groomsmen
Groom waiting for Bride at alter
Father helping Bride out of the limo
Grandma & Cousins walking down the aisle
Parents of Groom walking down the aisle
Mother & Uncle of the Bride walking down the aisle
Bridal Party walking down the aisle
Maid of Honor walking down the aisle
Bridal Party waiting at the altar
Close-up of bride just before she makes her entrance
Bride & Father walking down the aisle
Father giving Bride away
Bride & Groom at the altar
Altar from the back during ceremony
Bride and Groom lighting Unity Candle
Faces of Bride & Groom as they exchange vows
Close-up of Bride's & Groom's hands as they exchange rings
The kiss
Bride & Groom proceeding up the aisle
Bridal Party proceeding up the aisle
Pictures of receiving line
Bride and Groom
Bride, Groom & Priest inside church
Bride, Groom with MOH and Best Man
Bride, Groom & Bridal Party inside & outside church
Bride, Groom, Bridal Party and all guests at church outside church
Bride & Groom exiting church
Bride & Groom outside limo
Bride & Groom getting into limo
Bride & Groom first toast in limo
Limousine as it is leaving for reception

BEFORE COCKTAIL HOUR
Bride & Groom with Bride’s Parents
Bride & Groom with Bride’s Parents & Sister
Bride & Groom with Grandma
Bride & Groom with Bride’s Aunt (reader)
Bride & Groom with Bride’s Godparents
Bride & Groom with Bride’s Extended Family (Grandma, Aunts, etc.)
Bride & Groom with Bride’s Sister & Bride’s Cousins
Bride & Groom with Bride’s Sister, Bride’s Cousins & Grandma
Bride & Groom with Bride’s Parents and Groom’s Parents
Groom with his Parents
Groom with his Parents, his Sister & his Niece
Bride & Groom with Groom’s Parents
Bride & Groom with Groom’s Parents, Groom’s Sister & Groom’s Niece
Bride & Groom with Groom’s Godfather & Aunt (reader)
Bride & Groom with Groom’s Godmother & Uncle
Bride & Groom with Groom’s Extended Family (Aunts, Cousins, etc.)
Bride & Groom with Best Man & Maid of Honor
Bride & Groom with Bridesmaids
Bride & Groom with Groomsmen
Groom with Bridesmaids
Bride with Groomsmen
Bride & Groom with Bridal Party
Bride & Groom in Reception Room

THE RECEPTION
Reception details such as bride & groom’s table, place card frames, child picture, centerpieces and table settings and menus
Introductions of Grandma & Cousins
Introductions of both sets of Parents
Introductions of Bridal Party
Introductions of Bride & Groom
Bride and Groom's first dance
Bridal party dancing
Bride & Groom at head table
Best Man giving speech
Maid of Honor giving speech
Bride & Groom at table with Maid of Honor and Best Man
Bride & Groom with champagne glasses
Bride & Groom with sipping champagne
Bride & Groom’s kissing
Cake table
Bride & Groom cutting the cake
Bride & Groom feeding each other cake
Bride & Bride’s Dad dancing
Groom & Groom’s Mom dancing
Bride & Groom’s spotlight dance
Each set of Parents dancing to their wedding song
Guests dancing