After your wedding day has passed, your photos will hold the key to reliving those cherished memories for a lifetime. Ensure all those important moments are captured throughout the day by highlighting must-take photos. Since every wedding is one-of-a-kind, only you’d know what matters to you two as a couple.
Is it the family heirloom that will be your something borrowed?
Could it be how you react on seeing the surprise gift your partner has planned for you?
Would you want a picture of the reception’s centerpieces that you spent so much time on?
You know what you need? A checklist so you can tick off each such precious moment as it takes place.
Why you need a wedding photo checklist
There’s a crap ton of information to remember when planning a wedding photoshoot. Or even bigger, the whole dang wedding! Listing out the pictures you want taken is a headache, but if it’s not done you start reviewing the pics when you return from the honeymoon for that dream shot you had in your head and…you can’t find it. Because you forgot to ask to have it taken or forgot to take it.
Uh oh.
Nobody wants that sinking disappointment, knowing that you missed your chance…forever.
If you’re a photographer or wedding planner, having a checklist (with examples!) helps you:
- narrow down your shot list
- stick to the time schedule for the post-ceremony shoot
- suggest the arrival times of the bridal party, best man, and groomsmen to the wedding location so there’s time for pictures before the ceremony
- backtiming and planning the rest of the wedding day
- helps you plan for things like props and locations within your location
If you’re planning your or a friend’s wedding, then having a checklist helps you make sure you:
- can give the wedding party details and instructions ahead of time to limit confusion and frustration
- book early enough appointments and time with hair a makeup
- suggest props or accessories that the wedding party can bring to make the shots more unique
Whichever category you fall into, a wedding photo checklist will reduce your stress and help you capture the candids, the highlights reel and everything in between of an already unforgettable moment.
How to make your own wedding shotlist (if you’re creative like that!)
Curious how we came up with this list so you can make your own?
- searched for the most common wedding themes, vibes, and trends for 2024
- found the best shot lists from the top photographers around the country
- curated them into the ones that will work for the most situations and wedding styles so you are 110% covered!
And now, dearly beloved,
The ultimate wedding photo checklist for any wedding 〰️
Want to keep it simple? You’re eloping in a foreign land? Camera shy and want to take as few photos as possible?
if you get no other photos, get these!
The Details
- Invitation, program, & special signs
- Wedding rings
- Wedding dresses/suits
- Outfit accessories like shoes, cuff links, or jewelry
- Bouquet, corsages, boutonnieres, veil, hairpiece, garter, and handkerchief
- Gifts from the guests, bride, and groom
- Family heirlooms—can include your something “borrowed”
- Handwritten notes & love letters
The Prep
- Bride(s) and bridesmaids getting their hair and makeup done
- Caffeine boost—your bridesmaids/groomsmen holding customized coffee mugs say it all
- Wedding party having fun
- Candids as y’all get ready
- Slipping on the wedding attire, shoes, and accessories
- Shots of your bridesmaids helping zip you up, etc.
- Mirror shots
- Mother and bride/groom portraits
- Father and bride/groom portraits
- Family shots
- Pet shots
- Bridesmaids/groomsmen first look
- Maid-of-honor/Best man doing a final check
- Solo shots (bride/groom)
Pre-Ceremony
- Walking up for the first look
- Couple alone for your first look
- First look for parents, grandparents, and kids
- Bride(s) and bridesmaids/flower girls
- Groom(s) and groomsmen/ring bearer
- Wedding vehicle shots
- Bridal party’s reaction if you enter together as a couple
The Ceremony
- Venue shots including venue, seating, flowers, and details (interior and exterior)
- Groom and groomsmen waiting for the bridal party
- Guests
- Readers, musicians, the officiant, and other participants
- Bridal party entrance
- Bride(s) walking down the aisle
- Groom's reaction
- Father/mother giving the bride away
- Exchanging of vows and rings
- The first kiss as a married couple and the moment after
- Signing the marriage certificate
- The recessional (couple walking back up the aisle)
- Shot of the couple in the backseat of wedding car
Group Portraits
- Couple with bridesmaids/groomsmen
- Couple with the entire wedding party
- Bride(s) with bridesmaids/maid of honor
- Groom(s) and groomsmen/best man
- Couple with any children & siblings
- Couple with each set of parents
- Couple with both sets of parents
- Couple with close family members
The Reception
- Walking into the reception for the presentation
- Detail shots, including room décor, table settings, place cards, favors, centerpieces, etc.
- Wedding cake detail shots
- Grand entrance
- Toasts/speeches
- Cake cutting
- First dance as a couple
- First dances with in-laws
- Couple mingling with guests
- Guests dancing, chatting, and eating
- Musicians, singers, DJ, etc.
- Grand exit
- The rings after the wedding
- Group with specific groups, like college friends, etc.
Worried about looking your best self in the pictures? This guide should help!
Examples & Tips
Details
You can include everything from your invitations to your gown—anything that’s precious and meaningful to you as a couple.
Tips to nail it:
- It’s best to take these shots before getting into the swing of things or you may miss out on taking them later!
- Make a list of all the items (bride’s and groom’s) that you’ll want in the shot and place them in a box. Keep the box close to your wedding dress, so it won’t be misplaced.
- Use vintage items, such as lace, or antiques, such as mirrors.
Prep
There are two main reasons why the getting ready photos are so important. One, they document how those closest to you showered you with love on your special day. Two, you’d be able to relive the entire day when you go through these pictures later on as a couple!
Tips to nail it:
- This will be when the significance of the Big Day will really start to sink in. Relax and stick to your plans for the shoot.
- Soak in the love for those touching candids.
- Don’t forget to have fun. Getting before and after pictures like the ones below is just one fun way to capture this part of your day.
Pre-Ceremony
The first look photo will remind you both of that butterflies-in-your-tummy feeling and be a lifelong memory you cherish.
Tips to nail it:
- Since the groom will face away from you, decide which shoulder you’ll tap on beforehand
- Make sure they face the camera when they turn to you
- Focus on each and not on the camera!
Ceremony
Your first kiss as a couple will be one of the most important moments of the wedding ceremony. Think of everything that came before as the drum roll leading to it!
Tips to nail it:
- Keeping it PG-rated is in good taste, but don’t be afraid to hold each other!
- If you’re feeling nervous, focus only on each other.
- Have the photographer capture the moment from different angles.
Group Photos
Being surrounded by your most favorite people will result in precious photos you wouldn’t want to miss taking on your wedding day. You can have various groups for this part, such as all college friends in one, yours and theirs immediate families in another, and so on.
Tips to nail it:
- If you’re posing with family, remember to have similar heighted people stand apart
- Have bridesmaids and groomsmen stand alternate
- Go for fun, lighthearted poses like the one below
Reception
Description
Your wedding reception is the occasion to bring in elements that showcase your couple personality. Have your photograph capture the venue, wedding decorations, favors, and cake, and guests celebrating your union.
Tips to nail it
- Of course, your entrance and exit as a couple are important shots to take
- You’ll have chosen the venue for its architecture, art, or landscape. Use that!
- Don’t forget to take pictures of the guests during toasts, dances, etc.
The creative ones 〰️
These are the part of the wedding photo poses checklist you saved to your Pinterest board 5 years ago, swore you’d remember about, and promptly forgot. We got you.
- backlit kiss
- lift kiss
- dance floor
- the shoes
- holding hands with the rings
- first bite of cake
- dance dip
- first dance closing move
- neck kiss
- aerial kiss
- success!
- power couple
- the spinout
- forehead kiss
- forehead touch
- stairway kiss
- kiss under the veil
- slowdance hug
- head on shoulder
- hidden kiss (hide the faces with a hat)
- laughing together
- the smile
- with your pets
Tick these off your must-take wedding photo checklist by taking them at any time during the big day -or- night!
Use our Pinterest board to discover even more unique ideas. Or check out this blog for tips.
The tearjerkers
These are the ones that your parent(s) are gonna frame on their mantle and are gonna make you tear up at on your 30 year anniversary.
- generations of married couples (grandparents, parents, and the newly married)
- groom’s reaction as the bride walks down the aisle to him
- close embraces
- father-daughter hug
- mother-son hug
- touching wedding speeches and toasts
- bride’s departure (South Asian weddings)
- heartfelt vow exchanges
Download your ultimate wedding photo checklist here!
How to make one if you want to go the DIY route
What’s the vibe you want to go with? Here are several that fit the top five 2023 wedding vibes:
Bonus: wedding video clips!
Everyone talks about wedding photos, but some of the best moments are more than a camera-click-second long! Here are some video clips you’re gonna want to have.
Everything that was a picture can be a video, here are some particularly memorable ones!
The Basics
Details
Prep
Pre-Ceremony
Ceremony
Group
Reception
The Creative Ones
Dance-offs
The Kiss
Funny, unplanned, cutesy moments
Reveals and Surprises
The Tear Jerkers
Cuteness of flower girls
Wedding highlights
Farewells
Conclusion
As we come to the end of the only photo checklist for wedding you’ll need, we’ll leave you with one last recommendation. DropEvent offers limitless space for you to store all the wedding photos and videos from every angle and of every guest—but not drunk uncle Larry. His stay out. What’s great about this event photo storage platform is that it makes both sharing wedding photos and wedding photo upload so much easier. It keeps your pictures private and lets you add to your collection via to guest photo sharing. All your contributors would need is a QR code.
