Wedding Photography Shot List — A Complete How-To Guide

Creating a Wedding Photo Shot List

Wedding shot list preparation

Creating a wedding photographer shot list—or better yet, a complete wedding photography checklist—is essential preparation. But truly great wedding photographers go a step further. They understand what a shot list is and know how to make a shot list that’s both practical and personalized.

Meeting with the couple

Having an appointment with the soon-to-be newlyweds can be extremely valuable. It’s a great way to understand their expectations, align with their overall wedding planning, and gather information to create your wedding photography shot list.

Some questions to consider asking them: 

• What is the agenda for the day? 
• Are there any unique activities or moments to capture?
• What types of photography do you love?
• Do you have any references for newlywed portraits?
• Who are the family members, and what group portraits would you like?
  
  

Asking these questions while simultaneously giving guidance to your clients will make them feel like they are in good hands and will make you feel more prepared when the big day comes. This is also a great time to gather any wedding photo ideas the couple may already have in mind. 

Scout the venue

Like any shoot, it’s smart to put on your location scout hat before anything. Walk the space some time in advance to visualize and confirm your logistics for the day. You will gain a better visual idea of what type of space you have to work with. Of course, it’s not always possible to physically see the venue you are shooting at. However, you can still research the venue through Google Photos, the venue’s website, or by searching past weddings shot at that location. 

Second shooter

Having a second shooter will ultimately come down to the photography package your clients select. If you do work with a second shooter, it’s important to know before creating your wedding shot list so that shots can be separated between the first and second shooter.

This helps cover more ground and makes room for creative wedding photo ideas from both photographers. 

Using a shot listing software

Once you have all the necessary information to create your wedding photographer shot list, it’s time to put it all together. Doing so can be a lot easier by using software. We used StudioBinder’s free shot list software to create our example wedding photographer shot list below, which includes a wide range of wedding photography ideas organized by shot size and shot type.

As you can see from our example wedding day shot list above, there are several categories to consider when considering must-have shots. Let’s take a closer look at each. Each section below contributes to building a complete wedding photography checklist that ensures nothing gets missed on the big day.

How to Create a Wedding Shot List

Wedding details

Before any guests arrive or the wedding couple get ready, it's important to capture the wedding details. Think of important details and items shot in a style similar to editorial photography.

Wedding details can vary from wedding to wedding, but generally, there are a few details to think of when creating this section of the wedding photo list.  

• Wedding rings
• Wedding Dress, Suit
• Accessories: cufflinks, shoes, watches, ties
• Flower arrangements, bouquets, and corsages
• Wedding programs, signs, and invitations

Think close-ups of rings resting on vow books, shoes placed beneath hanging dresses, and bouquets on antique chairs. Pushing yourself to envision creative wedding photography ideas in advance empowers more creativity on the day of the shoot, building confidence to use these simple objects as storytelling moments.

While most of these details are taken before the day even starts, there are many “detail” style images to keep in mind during the ceremony and reception. It’s helpful to organize these detail shots into a specific section of your wedding photo checklist for quick reference. We’ll talk about those a bit later.

Wedding Photo Shot List Tutorial

Moments getting ready

Once the wedding couple starts getting ready, there are moments to capture. Typically, the couple will get ready separately with their respective groomsmen and bridesmaids. This is usually a fun process of getting into dresses, suits, makeup, etc.

The process of building a shot list can be general since this process will allow for more time to shoot. Find fun moments between the bride(s) and/or groom(s) and their wedding party—these often become some of the most intimate and spontaneous wedding photos in the album. This period usually lasts a long time, but make sure to manage your time between the parties as they get ready in separate locations. 

Categories In Photo Shot List For Wedding

Pre-ceremony

After the wedding couple gets ready, there are still a few moments to capture before the ceremony. There are a few first look moments to capture, depending on the newlywed couple.  

• First, look at the couple alone
• Bridesmaids with bride(s)
• Groomsmen with groom(s)
• Father first looks at the bride(s)

These moments are all about emotion. There are many moments during a wedding day that you only have one shot at. The first look between a wedding couple is one of them. Make sure you have it shot listed to remember to capture this key moment. Including it in your wedding photo list ensures you won’t miss one of the day’s most emotional highlights.

Creating a Wedding Photo Shot List

Ceremony

Like the couple’s first look, the entire wedding ceremony is composed of moments you have one shot at. Creating a wedding shot list will remind you of which vital moments to capture and be prepared to shoot. Here are some key moments to consider:

• Guests arriving/greeting each other
• Groom and groomsmen waiting
• Bridal party entrance
• The bride walking down the aisle
• Groom’s reaction
• Parent(s) giving away the bride
• Exchanging vows
• Exchanging rings
• First kiss 
• Newlyweds’ exit

Weddings in general, but the ceremony particularly, are all about capturing emotion. Capturing emotion as a wedding photographer is all about anticipating when it will occur. These moments above are all great for the shot list because they allow you to frame the shot just before the moment happens, resulting in unforgettable wedding photos that capture pure emotion. Whether it’s a tearful vow or a spontaneous laugh, every great ceremony shot starts with anticipating the exact moment captured.

SHOT LIST FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Newlywed portraits

Right after the ceremony, it's important to grab the newlyweds for their first portraits as a married couple. Because it will be difficult to grab alone time with the couple for the rest of the day, this is a great time to get these shots, especially before moving into group portraits and formal wedding party pictures.

Not to mention, the emotion of the ceremony will carry over into your shoot with them, lending itself to some genuine and romantic portrait photography. These portraits often become the couple’s favorite wedding picture from the entire day.

These newlywed portraits can be more posed and allow for more direction. Because of this, it's beneficial to reference what the couple may have given you during your initial meeting in the shot list. These references should be focused on the poses the couple loves. Try to incorporate any stylistic wedding photo ideas they shared, whether classic, editorial, or candid.

Categories of Photo Shot List for Wedding

Group shots

Next to capture are the group portraits. These group shots cycle through the different group combinations with the newlywed couple, including must-have wedding party pictures that capture the full bridal crew.

Often, these are primarily immediate family members and the wedding party, with a focus on capturing essential family photos that reflect the couple’s closest relationships. Group portraits that include the bride and groom with close family and friends are often the most requested shots of the day. Here are a few group combinations to consider on your shot list. 

Creative wedding party photos to include

Don’t forget to carve out time for dynamic wedding party photos that go beyond formal groupings. Classic bridal party photos—like the bridesmaids lined up with matching bouquets or adjusting the bride’s dress—add elegance and symmetry to your final album.

Walking shots, celebratory toasts, and candid laughs between bridesmaids and groomsmen offer some of the most memorable frames. Including these in your wedding photography shot list adds variety and energy to your final collection.

• The Couple with each set of parents
• The Couple with both parents
• The Couple with the bride’s immediate family
• The Couple with the groom’s immediate family
• The Couple with bridesmaids
• The Couple with groomsmen
• The Couple with the whole wedding party
• The Bride with the maid of honor
• The Groom with the best man

These combinations ensure every important person is captured in at least one memorable wedding picture—a moment that becomes part of the couple’s family legacy.

Again, understanding the dynamics of the couple’s family members, as well as which ones they wish to be in their group portrait, should be communicated in the initial meeting with your clients. These will be shot in order, so organizing each group photo is smooth and clear.

Have fun with them! These people will be buzzing with the excitement of the day, roll with that, and you can’t miss.

Shot List for Wedding Photographer

Reception

Finally, it is often a bit more relaxed but equally important. Shooting the reception can, for the most part, be more free flowing as you follow the energy, emotion, and action. However, there are a few moments that should still be shot listed for the reception—including candid wedding party pictures during toasts, dancing, and unguarded celebrations.

Think beyond the basics—this is where unique wedding photo ideas like reaction shots, dance floor candids, and guest interactions can shine. Here are some obligatory shots to capture:

• Details of tables, wedding cake, food, wedding party table, party favors, etc.
• The entrance of the wedding party and the newlywed couple
• Speeches
• Cake cutting
• Newlyweds’ first dance
• Bride(s) and/or groom(s) dance with parent
• Tossing the bouquet

Weddings are a day of fun, emotion, stress, and lifelong memories, making it all the more important to capture unforgettable wedding photos. The reception is also full of candid joy, heartfelt speeches, and special moments that deserve just as much care and attention as the ceremony.

They can be an incredibly overwhelming event to capture. However, with a bit of preparation and a solid wedding photography checklist, capturing the joy of the big day becomes manageable and meaningful.

For even faster on-the-day reference, break your wedding photography checklist into smaller sections—like a dedicated wedding photo checklist for portraits, group shots, and reception details.

Knowing what shots are must have can give you a better chance at creating some beautiful wedding photos that a couple will cherish for the rest of their life. Be ready!

Up Next

How to create a portrait shot list

Shooting a wedding entails shooting portrait photography. If you’re looking for ways to uplevel your portrait photography in or outside of weddings, give our next article a read. 

Up Next: How to Create a Portrait Shot List →