List of Photos for Wedding Photography

Step 1

1. Convey the vision

Every great photographer list for weddings start with inspiration. With StudioBinder's Mood Board Creator, you can make a wedding moodboard with visual references that set the tone, style, and framing for your wedding photos.

After you create a project in StudioBinder, navigate to the Mood Boards page, click Add Images and upload the reference images as an inspiration point for your wedding shot list template. You can include examples like detailed shot compositions of rings, shoes, portraits of important people like parents and grandparents.

After uploading the images, you can even organize them further by segmenting them into custom Groups. Just click + New Mood Board and click New Group.

As you send this moodboard to your team, it can be helpful to add some text-based information to reinforce the vision. Just click + and click Text Box. You can even change the styling options so it matches your moodboard visually.

After you click Save within the Text Box Editor, the text box should look like this on your mood board page:

Step 2

2. Create photo lists for key phases

Instead of creating one long list of photos for wedding photographer to take, it's ideal to split up the coverage into multiple shot lists.

Generate shot lists for key events such as Getting Ready, First Looks, Venue Guest Arrival, Processional, Wedding Portraits, Family Portraits, Golden Hour Portraits, Reception Events, List of Family Photos for Wedding Photography, etc.

To do this, click + New Shot List to create new shot lists like the screenshot below:

You'll add your individual shots later, but right now it's important to create shot lists around the key moments and locations of the wedding day. This will inform what your wedding shot list template should actually have.

Step 3

3. Organize your shot lists into Groups

After forming your various shot lists, it's helpful to organize them into Groups. For example, Pre-Ceremony, Ceremony, Portraits, Reception, Traditions & Send-Off. This makes it much easier to wrap your head around what could be a frenetic day.

By grouping the list of must have photos for wedding, you gain the added benefit of dispatching a 2nd photographer, videographer or assistant cover different phases of the wedding. For example, one photographer covers the flower girls while another photographs important people and family photos.

StudioBinder makes the process of grouping very easy. After creating a few shot lists, you can generate Groups, and drag shot lists inside them.

Be sure to view our sample wedding photography shot list template which is organized into common locations or phases of a wedding.

List of Photos for Wedding Photography

Since you'll be getting plenty of shots of the bride and groom on the wedding day, it's critical to prioritize the shots to ensure your crew gets essential coverage during the wedding. Use our wedding shot list template example below as a starting point!

Pre-Ceremony 

• Details & Getting Ready
  1. Invitations, rings, bouquet (detailed shot)
  2. Wedding dress (hanging, close-ups, bride holding)
  3. Shoes & accessories
  4. Groom’s details (tie, cufflinks)
  5. Bride getting ready candids (hair and makeup)
  6. Groom getting ready candids
• First Looks
  1. Bride with parents
  2. Groom with parents
  3. First look with bridesmaids
  4. Bride/groom portraits (full length shot)

Ceremony Coverage 

• Venue & Processional
  1. Venue wide shot
  2. Guests seated
  3. Processional (flower girls, bridal party)
  4. Bride walking aisle
• Core Ceremony
  1. Exchange of vows
  2. Exchange of wedding rings
  3. The kiss
• Recessional
  1. Couple walking back aisle
  2. Wide shot of entire space

Portraits & Formals 

• Family Formals
  1. Couple with parents
  2. Couple with siblings
  3. Full family photos group shot
  4. Candid special moments
• Wedding Party
  1. Couple with entire party
  2. Bride with bridesmaids
  3. Bridal party group shots
  4. Groom with groomsmen
  5. Fun candid group poses
• Couple Portraits
  1. Classic portraits
  2. Romantic candids
  3. Golden hour shots
  4. Silhouettes/backlit

Reception Coverage 

• Details & Setup
  1. Venue wide shot
  2. Table settings & decor
  3. Cake & desserts
• Reception Events
  1. Couple’s entrance
  2. First dance
  3. Parent dances
  4. Toasts & speeches
  5. Cake cutting
  6. Bouquet & garter toss
  7. Dance floor candids
• Traditions & Send-Off
  1. Unity candle or rituals
  2. Sparkler exit
  3. Confetti or bubbles
  4. Couple’s getaway car

Step 4

4. Add shots with reference images

Inside the individual shot list, just click Upload Shots to begin uploading inspiration photos to your list of wedding photos to take. You can add multiple blank rows, or batch upload multiple reference photos to automatically generate shots for each.

In our case, since we've already uploaded photos on the Mood Board page, these are all saved in the Media Library so we can simply re-select the images that were previously uploaded, and click Insert Files. 

After inserting reference photos, StudioBinder generates blank rows for every shot. Next, you can start adding shot details inside the wedding shot list template.

Step 5

5. Add shot details

So now you've categorized your list of photos for the wedding, it's now time to add the details! This includes important details that will communicate to your crew exactly what gear is needed, description of what will be covered, gear requirements, shot sizes (close-up, wide shot, full length shot, establishing, etc.), required lenses, etc.

This will ultimately change your list of photos for wedding photographers to take into a professional photoshoot document that you can share with your whole photo crew.

In StudioBinder, just click on the placeholders and you'll see more options like below:

After you've populated your entire photo shot list for the wedding photoshoot, it should look very similar to the example shot list below (view sample):

Step 6

6. Get crew feedback

Collaboration is essential for any type of photoshoot! Just share your list of must have photos for wedding with your second shooters and assistant because they may suggest more family photos, extra coverage or important people or other creative candids of flower girls you may have missed.

The comments and feedback will make sure your photo list is fully populated with the essentials.

Step 7

7. Print and share list of photos for wedding photography

Before the wedding day, you can print or export your list of photos for wedding photographers as a PDF and share it with your crew. The best part is that you can actually select which shot lists you need to print or export which provides more flexibility.

On the shot list page, click Generate PDF, select the shot lists and/or groups.

In the PDF creator, you can fully customize what will be displayed on the PDF shot list. You can make your shot list as simple or as in-depth as you'd like.

After you're finished customizing it, simply click Download PDF.

If you generate a share link, you can easily copy-paste links to shots like (like this one), so you, or anyone on your crew, can easily pull up every shot list on their phone and check off shots as you progress through the day.

A good shot list is essentially a checklist for the shoot day, but it also sets the plan for the shooting day for your entire photo crew.

Wrapping Up

You're finished!

With StudioBinder’s list of photos for wedding photoshoot, you’ll never walk into a wedding without a gameplan again. From mood boards to the final list of wedding photos to take, everything is organized and ready for action.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or creating your first wedding photography shot list, StudioBinder's template builder ensures you capture every smile, every tear, and every unforgettable moment.