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On the few occasions that I’ve been asked to photograph weddings by friends I always found it helpful to create a list of shots that I wanted to take on the day. I found that setting out a list with the couple of not only ‘WHERE’ they wanted shots but also some of the different combinations of WHO they wanted IN the shots was helpful.
There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of the day and realizing that no one took a picture of Aunt Mildred or that you only got shots of one set of parents with the bride and groom and not the other side of the family!
Earlier in the week Brian Delia from The New Jersey Wedding Photographer sent me a list of 50 ‘must have shots’ for weddings (although many of them are actually multiple shots so taking them all will leave you with potentially hundreds).
While I highly recommend adjusting and customizing it for the couple whose wedding you are photographing (if this is all you took you could end up with a somewhat cliched album) it certainly makes a worthwhile starting point for the type of shots you might want to capture on the day.
Here are the ‘must have’ shots:
Wedding Photography Shot List
- Prep Shots – Bride & Groom
- The Dress – Hanging or Draped
- The North Window Shot – Bride facing out northern most window
- Bride walking down stairs
- Bride looking out (window or door)
- Maid of Honor & Brides Mom – Zipping Dress
- Bride Applying Make Up
- Groom Fixing Hair
- Grooms Father & Best Man – Attaching Boutonnière to grooms lapel
- Groom Checking the Time
- Groom with Grooms Men & Fathers
- Bride with Bridesmaids & Mothers
- Bride with Mother & Father (also grandparents)
- Groom with Mother & Father (also grandparents)
- Bride Limo – Groom Limo
- Bride & Groom – Exiting Limo (Bride being helped out)
- Groom waiting at altar
- Church Wide Shot (with & without guests)
- Bride walking down aisle ( Side Profile & Front )
- Father giving away bride
- Groom over the shoulder shot of bride ( & Vis Versa)
- Holding hands – Bride and Groom
- Bride & Groom Kiss
- Bride & Groom Leaving Church ( Receiving Line)
- Bride & Groom – Inside Limo Shot
- Reception/Banquet Hall Outside shot
- Food Shots (Cocktail Hour, Drinks, etc.)
- Shot of each table full of guests
- Shots of Bride & Groom with & without family
- Bride and Groom Portraits
- Bride & Groom with Bridesmaids & Groomsmen
- Bride and Groom Hand & Ring Portraits
- First Dance
- Bride & Father Dance
- Groom & Mother Dance
- Bouquet Toss
- Guarder Belt Toss
- Cake Cutting, Bride and Groom Feeding each other
- Misc. Guests Dancing
- Bride & Groom Eating
- Best Man & Maid of Honor Toast/Speeches
- Bride & Groom Toast/Speeches
- Centerpieces & Flower/Decorations
- Guestbook Signatures
- Small Children Dancing with Bride & Groom
- Bride & Groom’s Parents Dancing (Plus Grandparents)
- Venetian Hour Photos (Coffee, Ice Cream, Etc)
- Bride & Groom giving away wedding favors
- Groom Giving Coat to Bride
- Bride & Groom “Just Married” Vehicle – Driving Away
What other ‘must have’ wedding shots would you add to the list? I’m sure between us we could add another 50 or so!
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Table of contents
Wedding Photography
- GENERAL
- 50 ‘Must Have’ Wedding Photography Shots
- 12 Tips for Overcoming Common Wedding Day Setbacks
- 1. Running short on time
- 2. Having too much downtime
- 3. The bride is full of emotions
- 4. Family telling you how to do your job
- 5. When there is no planner or coordinator
- 6. Vendor Meals
- 7. Little time with bride and groom
- 8. Rain
- 9. Drunken guests
- 10. Clashing with the wedding coordinator/planner
- 11. Other photographers/weddings at the same portrait location
- 12. Guests taking photos during the ceremony
- In Conclusion
- PREPARATION
- How to Create a Wedding Day Photography Timeline Quickly and Effortlessly
- Why You Should Create Your Own Timeline
- Answer These Questions First
- It Doesn't Have to be Fancy
- Traditional Wedding Day Photography Timeline
- Example Timeline for a Before the Traditional Ceremony
- Example Timeline for After the Traditional Ceremony
- At the Reception
- 'First Look' Wedding Day Photography Timeline
- 'First Look' Example Timeline for Before the Ceremony
- 'First Look' Example Timeline for Before the Ceremony with Formals After
- 'First Look' Example Timeline for After the Ceremony
- Stick to the Timeline But Also be Flexible
- Template for Quick and Easy Wedding Day Photography Timeline
- Conclusion
- 12 Tips for Practicing Good Camera Etiquette When Photographing Events
- #1 - Is it appropriate?
- #2 - Use discretion in your approach
- #3 - Get permission
- #4 - Flash is rarely a good idea
- #5 - Avoid conflict
- #6 - Participate and be present
- #7 - Personal security
- #8 - Don't waste people's time
- #9 - Engage your subject
- #10 - Don't compete for attention
- #11 - Take no for an answer
- #12 - Act professional even if you aren't a pro
- Conclusion
- LIGHTING
- How to Use a Speedlight at Wedding Receptions and Events
- My first speedlight
- Research the venue ahead of time
- Please the clients
- Here are three ways you can use a speedlight at events or wedding receptions
- #1 - On-camera speedlight
- Shooting candids
- #2 - Off-camera speedlight
- Great for detail shots
- With an assistant
- Speeches
- Sparklers
- #3 - Dragging the shutter
- Conclusion
- COMPOSITION
- GEAR
- Mirrorless Cameras and Wedding Photography – A Match Made in Heaven?
- Switching over to mirrorless
- What is different?
- What really changed?
- Why or why not to use mirrorless cameras for wedding photography
- Clients might think you look unprofessional with a mirrorless camera
- You can be less intrusive or conspicuous
- Getting used to the mirrorless platform before using it for a wedding
- Conclusion
- ADVANCED GUIDES
- CREATIVE TECHNIQUES
- POST-PROCESSING
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