Wedding Photography Checklist: The Shots You Need to Capture

When your wedding day comes to an end, you’ll want memories you can hold on to forever. You’ll cherish your wedding photos forever – so you don’t want to miss a moment! From your first kiss to tossing the bouquet at your reception, here’s a helpful wedding photography checklist to have on hand to make sure you capture it all.

Getting Ready

Before the ceremony begins, it’s always good to have some photos taken while the couple gets ready. This can include shots such as the bride’s hair and makeup, putting on her dress, the groom and groomsmen adjusting their cuff links and pinning the boutonniere.

Pre-Ceremony Details

Your pre-ceremony wedding photography checklist doesn’t have to be complicated. Be sure to capture simple details such as wedding programs, floral arrangements, the rings, bridal jewelry and shots of the venue itself. This is also a great time to take individual portraits of the bride and groom alone before the ceremony.

Parent Portraits

Your wedding day is a day that your parents will remember forever as well. Be sure to make time for a few photos of the couple with their parents that they’ll cherish for years to come. You can take these before the ceremony or during the reception as well.

Groom’s Reaction

This is a must-have shot for your wedding photography checklist. The groom’s reaction when the bride walks down the aisle is one of our favorite parts of any wedding. This is an important moment to capture and we recommend getting both close up and wide angle shots.

First Kiss

The first kiss is another crucial moment to add to your checklist. Once the vows have been said and rings exchanged, be sure to have a closeup shot of the kiss and the couples embracing before making their way back down the aisle.

Wedding Party

After the ceremony is the perfect time to take photos with the wedding party. Gather the bridesmaids and groomsmen together for some group shots with the bride and groom. We recommend incorporating a few classic photos along with some fun, silly ones as well.

Couple’s Portraits

Once you’re finished with the wedding party and family photos, be sure to make time for individual portraits. We recommend taking these in a variety of locations around the venues, along with different angles for more diverse photos.

Reception Shots

The reception is a great time to check a few more photos off your wedding photography checklist. From the father + daughter and couple’s first dance to cake cutting and the bouquet toss, there are endless shots to capture. You can always add in a few extra detail shots as well such as wedding cake photos, toasts, guests dancing and the musicians or DJ.

If you’re still searching for a photographer for your wedding day, check out some of these awesome wedding photographers in Michigan for some truly unforgettable photos!