Wedding Photography Check List

by www.californiaphotographer.com

Wedding Date ____/____/____ Photographer Start Time __________

__ Mother/Maid of Honor adjusting veil
__ Bride putting on garter with bridesmaids looking on
or Brides father putting on garter
__ Bride in dressing room with mirror
__ Corsage being pinned on mother
__ Corsage being pinned on father
__ Portrait of mother and bride
__ Portrait of father and bride
__ Brothers and sisters and bride
__ Group Shot of Bride and bridesmaids
__ Individual shots of Bride with each bridesmaids
__ Bride leaving house with parents and bridesmaids
__ Father helping bride into car

AT THE CHURCH PRIOR TO CEREMONY

__ Groom and groomsmen photographs
__ Best man adjusting groom's tie
__ Groom and best man handshaking
__ Groom and groomsmen handshaking
__ Groom with father
__ Bride and matron of honor
__ Bride with parents
__ Bride and mother
__ Bride and father
__ Bride kissing father on the cheek
__ Bride and mother with father looking on
__ Bride and bridesmaids group pose in vestibule or dressing room
__ Bride's mother on usher's arm
__ Groom's mother on usher's arm
__ Grandparents accompanied down the aisle
__ Other people accompanied down aisle

DURING THE CEREMONY

__ Bridal party coming down the aisle
__ Bridesmaids, flower girls, and ring bearer coming down the aisle
__ Bride being taken down aisle by father
__ Father giving away bride
__ Shots during the ceremony itself (Pre-approved by officiator)
(These can also be taken as setup shots after ceremony)
__ Time exposure of overall area during ceremony

AFTER THE CEREMONY AT CHURCH

__ Bride and groom coming down the aisle
__ Receiving line right after ceremony
__ Best man signing certificate with bride and groom looking on
__ Matron of honor signing certificate with bride and groom looking on

SETUP POSES IN THE CHURCH

With most of your formal poses 2-4 shots should taken to help eliminate blinking and assure a good smile.

__ Groom kissing bride at the altar full length
__ Groom kissing bride at the altar 3/4 pose
__ Groom kissing bride at the altar tight head shot pose
__ Groom putting ring on bride's finger
__ Bride putting ring on groom's finger
__ Bride and groom lighting candles, full length
__ Bride and groom lighting candles, 3/4 pose
__ Bride and groom's hands with rings and flowers
__ Bride and groom with officiator
__ Bride and groom and bridal party with officiator
__ Other missed shots during ceremony
__ Bride with bridemaids flowers around her
__ Bride and groomsmen
__ Groom with bridesmaids
__ Bride and groom at church door (or stained glass window) in silhouette
__ Bride and groom on the steps of church
__ Bride and bridemaids on the steps of the church
__ Groom and groomsmen on the steps of the church
__ Group shots back inside church
(Use church altar/steps, etc. as a studio)
__ Bride and groom with bridal party standing
__ Bride and groom with bridal party sitting
__ Bride and groom with bridal party
(alternating male and female)
__ Bride and groom with all of the Brides family
(as big as the bride would like to go)
__ Bride and groom with brides immediate family
__ Bride and groom with bride's parents
__ Bride with her parents
__ Bride with her mother
__ Bride with her father

__ Bride and groom with all of the groom's family
(as big as the bride would like to go)
__ Bride and groom with groom's immediate family
__ Bride and groom with groom's parents
__ Groom with his parents
__ Groom with his mother
__ Groom with his father
__ Bride and groom with both sets of parents
__ Bride and/or groom with special family members
(e.g. favorite uncle, best friend, generations photograph, etc)
__ Bride and groom leaving inside of church
__ Getting into car or limo
__ Shot through the sun roof of the limo
__ Shot while seated in limo
__ Wide shot of church/ceremony site and limo
__ Mood shots in and around the church/grounds and/or
on the way to the weddings reception site.

OUTSIDE SHOTS

__ Outdoor shots of bride and groom
__ Outdoor shots of wedding party
__ Shots of groom and best man
__ Shots of groom and groomsmen
__ Shots of bride and maid of honor
__ Shots of bride and bridesmaids

AT THE RECEPTION

__ Receiving line (If not taken earlier)
__ Wedding cake (prior to being cut)
__ Guest book
__ Guests signing book
__ Wedding Favors
__ Gift table
__ Introduction of the wedding party
__ Wedding party toasting bride and groom
__ Close up of bride and groom toasting
__ Close up of bride and groom at head table kissing
__ Group shots of guests at their table during the meal
__ First dance
__ Parent dance
__ Bride and father dance
__ Groom and mother dance
__ Parents dancing
__ Bridal party dancing
__ Guest dancing
__ Bride showing rings to bridesmaids
__ General dancing shots (wide and close up)
__ Flower girl and ring bearer together
__ Candids of guests and bridal party as conditions permit
__ Bride and groom posed in front of the cake
__ Cutting the cake
__ Bride and groom feeding cake to one another
__ Bride faking the bouquet toss
__ Bride throwing the bouquet
__ The catch of the bouquet
__ Groom taking off garter
__ Groom and garter
__ Groom throwing the garter
__ The catch of the garter
__ Group shot of bride and groom with the recipients of the
bouquet and garter
__ Guest leaving
__ Posed departure shot of bride and groom
(kissing, waving, etc.)
__ Getaway car
__ Bride and groom leaving reception area (birdseed, rose pedals)
__ Bride and groom in car as it goes in to the distance.

Remember - all weddings are unique. Our wedding list is meant to be used only as a guide, not the rule. Many of the above shots are not needed by some couples, yet others want many more! You and your photographer should decide this as your wedding date approaches.