Wedding Photography Shot Checklist

Step 1

1. Convey the vision

Every great photography shot 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 upload detailed shots like wedding rings, dresses, flower girls, etc.

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 shot lists for key phases

Instead of creating one long wedding photo list for photographer, you can break down the wedding photography shot checklist into more digestible phases.

Generate shot lists for key events such as Pre-Ceremony, Getting Ready, First Looks, Venue Guest Arrival, Processional, Wedding Portraits, Family Portraits, Golden Hour Portraits, Reception Events, etc. That way, you can split up hair and makeup shots from wedding ring close-ups, 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 shot lists, you gain the added benefit of dispatching a 2nd photographer, videographer or assistant cover different phases of the wedding.  This immediately makes your wedding photography shot list checklist easy to follow. That way, your second photographer can cover the flower girls while you cover other important people during the ceremony.

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.

Wedding Photography Shot Checklist Examples

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 photography shot checklist below as a starting point!

Pre-Ceremony 

• Details & Getting Ready
  1. Invitations, rings, bouquet
  2. Wedding dress (hanging, close-ups, bride holding)
  3. Shoes & accessories (detailed shot)
  4. Groom’s details (tie, cufflinks)
  5. Bride getting ready candids during hair and makeup
  6. Groom getting ready candids
  7. Flower girls preparing with bride
• 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 (wedding party, flower girls)
  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 group shot
• 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 creating your your wedding photography shot checklist. 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 shot list lists and added reference images, it's time to fill in all the shot details! You can elevate your wedding photography shot checklist PDF with information such as what gear is required (cameras, camera lenses, etc.), description of what will be covered, shot sizes (close-up, wide shot, full length shot, establishing), etc.

This would completely transform your photography shot list for a wedding into a professional production document to make sure special moments are covered during the wedding photoshoot.

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 and your crew may be able to bring up shots that were missed. You can easily invite your other photographers, videographers, producers, assistants directly to your wedding shot list.

The comments and feedback that your photo crew provides are important in any wedding photography shot checklist.

Step 7

7. Print and share wedding shot list

Before the big day, you can print or export your wedding photography shot checklist 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 wedding photography shot checklist, you’ll never walk into a wedding unprepared. From mood boards to the final printed photography shot list for a wedding, 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.