A great photographer will know what and where to shoot, but if you want to make sure ‘everything’ is covered off, print out our checklist so you are both on the same page...
PRE-CEREMONY SHOT LIST
Bride and bridesmaids having their hair and makeup done
Bride putting on dress/veil with help from mother of the bride or bridesmaids
Bridal party having fun
Close up of dress details
Close up of the bride holding the bouquet
Mother and bride portrait
Father and bride portrait
Family shots
Bride spending moment alone/putting on lipstick or earrings
Bridal party leaving the house
Bride and father in wedding car/walking to the ceremony
Groom and groomsmen getting ready
Groom waiting for his bride
STILL-LIFE SHOTS:
Wedding invitation
Dress {and veil} hanging up
Jewellery laid out, shoes etc.
Bouquets and buttonholes/corsages
Wedding rings
CEREMONY SHOT LIST
Shots of empty venue/church, including altar, flowers, interior and exterior details
Groom and groomsmen waiting inside venue/church
Guests outside and inside the church
Bride arriving in the wedding car, and stepping out of the car
Bride and bridesmaids waiting at the back of venue/church
Bridal party entrance
Guests reactions
Bride walking up the aisle
Groom's reaction
Father/mother giving the bride away
Exchanging of vows
Exchanging of the rings
The first kiss as a married couple, and the moment after
Signing the register
The recessional/couple walking back down the aisle
Newlywedded shot
Confetti/rice throwing
Greeting guests outside the venue
Couple in the back seat of wedding car
POST-CEREMONY SHOT LIST
These photos will probably take between 40 minutes and two hours, depending on the location and the shots you want. Make sure to prepare a list of all the people you want in the photos, and ask a close friend outside of the bridal party to work with the photographer on rounding people up.
Portraits of bride and groom on their own
Bridal Party shots
Couple with bridesmaids/groomsmen
Couple with the entire wedding party
Bride with bridesmaids/maid of honour
Groom and groomsmen/bestman
Couple with any children in the wedding party
FAMILY SHOTS
Couple with each of each set of parents
Couple with both sets of parents
Couple with siblings
Couple with close family members
Shots with friends - and groups of friends eg. school mates, team mates, work colleagues
WEDDING RECEPTION SHOT LIST
Couple arriving
Bridal party at bridal party table
Toasts and speeches
Cutting the cake
The first dance
Dancing with parents
Couple mingling with guests
Guests dancing
Bride throwing the bouquet/guest catching bouquet
DETAIL / STILL-LIFE SHOTS:
The reception space set up, before room fills up
Details and room decor shots, including table settings, place cards, flowers, centrepieces etc.
Wedding cake detail shots
AFTER WEDDING SHOT LIST
Couple leaving
Couple hugging guests
Couple getting into the car
Car leaving
Credits
Directors of Photography - The White Tree
Bridal Gown - Raffaele Ciuca Bridal
Suits - Calibre
Female Model - Barbie Varga
Male Model - Matty Skinner
Venue - Hyatt Place Melbourne
Written by our guest writer, Nikki Yazxhi, editor and creator of Bella Mumma.