The Ultimate Wedding Photography Checklist: A Comprehensive Guide for Brides and Grooms
Your wedding day is a whirlwind of emotions, excitement, and cherished moments. As a wedding photographer, I understand the importance of capturing every precious memory, from the heartfelt vows to the joyous celebrations on the dance floor. To ensure that your wedding photos are nothing short of spectacular, I've created the ultimate wedding photography checklist. Whether you're a bride, groom, or wedding planner, this comprehensive guide will help you plan and prepare for your photography needs on the big day.
The Importance of Planning Your Wedding Photography
Your wedding photos are more than just images – they're treasured memories that will last a lifetime. Planning and preparation are key to ensuring that your photographer captures every special moment and detail of your wedding day. With this wedding photography checklist, you can rest assured that nothing will be overlooked, allowing you to relax and enjoy every moment of your celebration.
Before the Wedding Day
1. Create a Shot List:
Sit down with your photographer to create a detailed shot list that includes all the must-have photos you want captured on your wedding day. This could include shots of the bride getting ready, the groomsmen sharing a laugh, and the first kiss as a married couple. Some couples apprehensive about creating a shot list and talking to their photographer about it, because they think it comes across and rude or demanding - but it’s the absolute opposite! We care about your wedding day, and the photos that will capture it forever, if you have ideas or requests, we LOVE to hear about it, because then we know what you’re going to love, or even hate. You can even just save photos you like online and send it to your photographer before the day!
2. Scout Locations:
Visit your wedding venue to scout locations for photoshoots. Identify picturesque backdrops, natural light sources, and indoor settings that will make for stunning photos. You can do this with or without the photographer - normally the photographer will be able to do this remotely, by just looking online at the venues gallery or through other photographers work, but generally if they haven’t shot there before, they’ll just arrive a little earlier on the day and take a nice lone walk around to find the spots!
3. Discuss Timelines:
Coordinate with your photographer to establish timelines for the day, including when and where specific shots will be taken. Factor in travel time between locations and any special events or traditions that you want to capture. It’s usually inevitable that weddings have delays in them, and the time is usually always taken out of the ‘photo time’ to get things back on track, which is why I have two strong recommendations when creating your timeline. Firstly, tell your hair and make-up to be 100% finished AT LEAST 1.5hrs BEFORE you’re planning to leave your prep location! Plenty of delays in the day always start with the HMU and just carry through the day, so it’s best to give yourself plenty of time. Secondly, schedule in ‘buffers’ in the day. Assume things will go for longer, assume 15min of travel is really 30min, build in times to relax with the bridal party etc, that way you can skip these if there are delays!
Delays in the mornings mean you won’t have time for some beautiful solo shots!
Playing ‘Catch-up’ during the photo shoot means your photographer won’t be able to get creative and take some of the extra shots that everyone really dreams of!
On the Wedding Day
1. Get Ready Shots:
Start the day with getting ready shots of both the bride and groom. Capture candid moments of hair and makeup preparations, as well as intimate moments with family and friends. It’s a good time to capture some flat lays and details from objects involved in your day, like the flowers, dress, suit, jewellery and presents!
2. First Look:
Consider having a first look session before the ceremony to capture the raw emotions and reactions of the bride and groom seeing each other for the first time. A first look is ideal if your ceremony is later in the day, and you won’t get any good sunlight for photographs afterwards, or if you just want to get straight into the party after the ceremony. It’s also great for us as photographers, because we can perfectly create the moment you see each other first. Usually it’s down the aisle, but with a first look we can sculpt a moment thats more ‘you’, better lit, and with less phones being held out in the aisle.
3. Ceremony Shots:
Ensure that your photographer captures all the important moments of the ceremony, from the processional and exchange of vows to the first kiss and recessional. There’s no need to go over the top here, especially if the ceremony has a mass or religious aspect - be respectful while documenting the moment! Do remember to pin-point when the first kiss is happening, i’ve had fathers/celebrants have this at completely different moments in the ceremony, so it pays to be prepared, so you’re in the right spot at the right moment.
4. Family and Group Photos:
Plan ahead for family and group photos, providing your photographer with a list of groupings and names to ensure that no one is left out. The best time for this is straight after the ceremony, while everyone is together, and before people start to wander off. Having a list of the ‘key people’ is essential, as the photographer wont know who’s who, and this way they can just yell and scream - as the Bride and Groom will be staying put during this time! You don’t need to include literally every group/friend in this list, think of this list as the ‘essentials’, the group photos that people will pull out at events for the next few decades, the photos that you know you NEED to get. You can get other friends at the reception, it’s just good to tick these ones off so you can relax, knowing they’re in the bag already.
5. Reception Details:
Capture the details of your reception, including table settings, floral arrangements, and décor elements that you've painstakingly chosen for your special day. A lot of time and money has gone into procuring the elements of the reception venue, and it’s just as important to the memory of the day. Get some before the crowd runs in, and even some with the Bride and Groom as they see it for the first time.
After the Wedding Day
Album Design:
Work with your photographer to design a custom wedding album that tells the story of your special day. Choose your favourite photos and layout options to create a beautiful keepsake that you'll cherish for years to come. Trust your photographer, they may some recommendations for design, and they’ll have an idea already of which photos best represent the day - but send them your favourite shots, and they’ll help transform it into the best wedding album possible!
Conclusion:
Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and your photos should reflect the love, joy, and happiness that you experienced on that day. With this ultimate wedding photography checklist, you can ensure that every moment is captured beautifully, allowing you to relive the magic of your wedding day for years to come.
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