Creating a comprehensive wedding photography shot list is essential for ensuring that you capture all the important moments and details during a wedding ceremony. At Martin Creates, we have experience shooting and videoing weddings from a variety of cultures and so the list would vary depending on that. However, we do have a general wedding photography shot list to help guide you through the big day. The most important thing to remember is to communicate with the couple beforehand; understand their priorities and any unique elements of their wedding.
Pre-Ceremony Shots:
Bride and Groom Getting Ready:
Usually in separate rooms and the bride will take longer to get ready so plan how much time you allocate to each accordingly.
- Individual shots of the bride and groom preparing.
- Candid moments with bridesmaids and groomsmen.
2. Detail Shots:
Think about textures, patterns, colours and how they all come together to tell an unforgettable story of love and connection.
- Wedding dress and accessories.
- Groom's attire and accessories.
- Rings, shoes, bouquets, and other details.
3. Emotional Moments:
When capturing emotional moments, care needs to be taken. At Martin Creates we use discreet tactics to not spoil the moment. Professional wedding photography means being a professional storyteller, so we recommend reading the situation and sensing the mood at all times. This will help you to know when to switch things up for the benefit of the story. In practice, for this batch of photos, this means silencing the shutter, turning off the flash and keeping a distance (use a longer focal length lens).
- Bride and groom with parents and close family.
- Nervous/excited expressions.
Ceremony Shots:
Wedding ceremonies are filled with emotional and heartfelt moments, such as the exchange of vows, rings, and the first kiss. These moments capture the essence of the couple's commitment to each other, and photographs from the ceremony often become cherished keepsakes. Wedding ceremonies are also where various traditions and nuances come into play. Weddings include symbolic rituals or traditions that hold cultural or religious significance. Photographs of these rituals, such as unity ceremonies or cultural customs, provide a visual narrative of the couple's heritage and the uniqueness of their celebration.
4. Venue Overview:
Depending on whether it’s a registry office at the local town hall or a private venue that boasts some of the best wedding facilities money can buy, it will determine how long you spend or how much attention you give the venue. Again, communicate with the couple to gauge expectations. Have a look at previous photos taken at the venues for inspiration.
- Exterior and interior shots of the ceremony venue.
5. Guests Arriving:
Communicate with the bride and groom beforehand to learn who the important guests are that the couple want photos and videos of. The last thing you want is to miss a key shot of an auntie that raised the bride as a daughter or something crucial which cannot be fixed later. Sometimes capturing this isn’t considered important and the couple or wedding planner will communicate this.
- Candid shots of guests arriving and greeting each other.
6. Bridesmaids and Groomsmen arrival:
Photographs of the groomsmen arriving are particularly important because there might be a funny entrance theme such as an old bus or tractor bringing everyone to the venue. Likewise, the bridesmaids might have their own theme in which case it would form a crucial part of the big occasion that requires capturing.
Communicate the details carefully and prepare your gear accordingly to ensure it’s captured properly e.g. a vehicle might require a polariser filter handy.
7. Ceremony Decor:
The wedding planners and venue manager will be able to guide you for the best aspects to photograph.
- Altar, aisle, and other decorative elements.
8. Processional:
You won’t have much time so scan the area so you need to be sharp on your toes for this bit. This section is where you will be capturing a potential hero shot for an album.
- Entry of the bridal party and the bride.
9. Ceremony Moments:
Stay focused and don’t rush because there is a lot to capture in a short space of time. And these are moments that are best captured first time round.
- Vows, ring exchange, and other key moments.
- Close-ups of expressions during the ceremony.
10. Unity Ceremony:
- If applicable, shots of unity candle, sand ceremony, etc.
11. First Kiss and Recessional:
- The first kiss as a married couple.
- Exiting the ceremony.
Post-Ceremony Shots:
12. Family Formals:
Take extra care around family dynamics such as divorced parents not wanting to photograph together or cultural considerations. Another example of how communication can help you achieve perfect results.
- Pre-arranged shots with various family combinations.
13. Couple Portraits:
It will be a tiring day for the couple so ensure this is enjoyable as possible. Remember the wedding photographer also relies on these images to promote their business for future enquiries too and having a reputation for amazing wedding portraits is only a good thing. Reportage only takes you so far so make sure you have everything set up and have fun as this energy will come through on the final photo.
- Romantic and creative shots of the newlyweds.
Reception Shots:
14. Venue Setup:
A lot of time, money and imagination usually goes into the wedding venue decoration and general setup. You’ll therefore need to make sure this is captured and forms part of the final wedding album. Wedding photography is generally about people and emotions and the venue is definitely something that’s worth remembering too.
- Overall shots of the reception venue including decoration, table setup, etc.
15. Entertainment:
- Musicians, dancers, magicians, DJs, etc.
16. Toasts:
Remember to be experimental with different angles e.g. in between audience members and don’t be afraid to give input on where the couple should sit and the speaker should stand. The wedding photographer is there to direct and take ownership of the photography piece.
- Candid reactions during toasts.
17. First Dance:
Again, the wedding photographer is there to guide preempt the challenges and best spots to photograph the newlywed’s first dance. Try to also thing a few steps ahead e.g. is the floor clean? Are there dirty tables/plates in the background, can the parents be at the front of the crowd so that their reaction is captured?
- Shots of the couple's first dance.
18. Parent Dances:
- Father-daughter dance, mother-son dance, etc.
19. Cake Cutting:
Martin Creates has been a wedding photographer at ceremonies where there weren’t cakes and instead there were desserts or a sweet shop concept for various reasons. Be sure to capture what is necessary and capture a variety of shots as this is a sweet memory that the couple will want to savour. Often the wedding cake supplier will ask for a photo.
- Couple cutting the wedding cake.
20. Candid Moments:
Wedding photography is a balance of being subtle and candid and immersive and creative. Knowing when to direct as a wedding photographer and when to be the fly on the wall is going to make a huge difference. At Martin Creates, we approach wedding photography from a hybrid angle; we deploy a mix of reportage style photography (also referred to as photojournalism) where moments are captured in a natural manner, and a conventional style of wedding photography where we coordinate group photos, portraits and more. This ensures a comprehensive wedding album.
- Guests dancing, laughing, and enjoying the celebration.
21. Bouquet and Garter Toss:
- Shots of these traditional activities.
22. Late-Night Moments:
Martin Creates has noticed in a lot of weddings, there’s usually not much high quality potential to capture during the late hours of a wedding party. The crowd become clumsy and very drunk. People can often feel more comfortable if the photographer were to leave at this stage. An idea worth experimenting with is leaving a disposable camera (or a few) and let the crowd have fun with it. Develop them later and they can live in either a separate album or be handed out to guests in the thank you notes if the couple are comfortable with that form of banter.
- Guests partying and enjoying the later part of the reception.
23. Exit photography (if applicable):
- Departure of the couple, capturing the final moments.
At Martin Creates, we believe that flexibility is key in wedding photography, and being ready to capture unexpected moments is crucial. This list serves as a guideline for wedding photography, but always stay attentive to the unique aspects of each wedding and ceremony associated with a special occasion.
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