The date is locked in. Your top vendors are booked. And now you need to know what exactly you want out of your wedding photography. You’re probably asking yourself: what are the must have wedding photos? This is a question we get ALL the time. So I put together this comprehensive shot list for your wedding photos that you can use with your photographer. Or just for yourself!

WHAT ARE THE MUST HAVE WEDDING PHOTOS

Before we go any further I do want to encourage you… ultimately let your photographer do their job. And try not to micromanage too much. When you invest in a great wedding photographer then a shot list isn’t always necessary. So actually this list of what are the must have wedding photos I’m going to share with you is a MENTAL shot list that we keep for every wedding. You can use this as a reference when working with your wedding photographer.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOT LIST

Here is our mental list of what are the must have wedding photos that we aim to achieve at every wedding. And it’s important to remember that weddings are inherently unpredictable. Even with a timeline and a tight run ship things can be missed or changed at the last second. So without further ado, here is our list:

BEGINNING OF YOUR WEDDING DAY

• Couple’s Details: dress, rings, shoes, jewelry, complete invitation suite with envelopes, etc.
• Candid photos of couple and their VIPs getting ready (I.e. makeup being applied, bow tie straightened, etc.)
• Formal artistic photos of you in your getting ready outfit admiring your dress
• Group photos of you in your getting ready outfit with your VIPs (I.e. in robes on a bed, with a glass of whiskey, etc.)
• A VIP helping you get dressed (variety of wide, medium and close shots; this includes getting your fashion on as well as any accessories)
• Artistic photos of each partner putting their shoes on
• Informal fun group photos in your wedding day fashion with your VIPs

FIRST LOOK WEDDING PHOTOS

• First Look – the approach, the reaction, the hugs, the tears, the love
• Couple Portraits: formal smiles at the camera, variety of poses with wide, medium and close shots

WEDDING PARTY

• Partner 1’s Wedding Party Portraits: variety of group poses including one that shows off your fashion + individual portraits with each of your wedding party members on your side
• Full Wedding Party Portraits: a variety of group photos with each side separated as well as mixed
• Partner 2’s Wedding Party Portraits: variety of group poses including one that shows off your fashion + individual portraits with each of your wedding party members on your side
• Individual portraits of each partner: formal poses as well as artistic poses with a variety of wide, medium and close shots

CEREMONY + RECEPTION

• Ceremony details: wide shot of your ceremony space plus detail photos of your florals, arch/altar, venue details (I.e. catholic church architecture)
• Reception details: wide shot of your reception space plus detail photos of your tables capes, centerpieces, flatware, dishes, linens, glasses, sweetheart table or head table
• Ceremony: processional (everyone walking down the aisle), your partner’s reaction to you, a wide shot from behind the processional, the hand off, wide shot of everyone seated, various candid photos of your guests (including your wedding party and VIPs) reacting, close ups of you and your partner, any unity rituals, your first kiss, the recessional
• Epic aisle kiss: stop halfway down your aisle and share an epic fairytale kiss with your guests clapping in the background
• Candid photos during cocktail hour including detail photos of your food and drink
• Sunset photos: same approach as couple portraits from earlier but also include a fun photo at the end of you showing off your rings
• Grand entrance: you entering plus your guests cheering for you
• Toasts: variety of shots of your speakers plus your guests reacting; one of our must haves is a cheers photo at one of your tables and one of the whole room
• Cake cutting: formal smile photo next to your cake and candid photos of you cutting and feeding cake to one another, also gotta have that post-cake kiss photo
• Special dances: variety of photos of the people dancing as well as your close VIPs reacting
• Dance party: action shots of you and your guests on the dance floor
• Group + grins: various smile photos of groups of your guests who know one another (bonus if you’re around to be in them!)
• Grand exit: photos of you exiting plus one more grand kiss photo to end the night

WHAT ARE THE MUST HAVE WEDDING PHOTOS

And there you have it, babe! This is our running mental list of what are the must have wedding photos. There is always room for additional photos and sometimes we don’t get to some of these. So we always do our best to get everything important to you. That’s why we ask in our pre-wedding questionnaire if there is anything specific that you want us to be on the lookout for. And that’s how we get you all your must have wedding photos.

CALIFORNIA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Hey there! I am Angela, and I am a California wedding photographer. This is my 10th year in business and I am so thrilled to be here with you. So how did you like the what are the must have wedding photos list I made for you? I also have some really pretty California wedding inspiration to show you. Do you like surprise proposals? Check out RJ + Nicole’s Carmel Highlands proposal from last summer! And you will also love Paul + Tiffany’s Make It Pink Make It Blue Sequoyah Country Club wedding with all the fairytale details. Interested in working with us for your Bay Area wedding or Central Valley wedding? Click here to inquire.