Essential Planning: The Wedding Photo Checklist

– Engagement Shoot/Love Shoot - this is a great opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera and get to know your photographer.

– Shot of wedding invitation – Bride(s) and bridesmaids/man getting their hair and makeup done – Dress hanging, jewellery laid out, shoes etc. – Bouquets and buttonholes/corsages – Flatlay of flowers, stationery, accessories, ring and shoes – Bride(s) putting on dress/veil with help from mother of the bride or bridesmaids – Bridal party having fun or sharing a toast

– Close up of dress details – Putting on jewellery – Putting on shoes – Close up of bride holding bouquet – Mother and bride portrait – Father and bride portrait – Family shots – Bride(s) spending moment alone in full look – Bridal party walking down stairs/leaving the house – Bride and father in wedding car/walking to ceremony – Groom(s) and groomsmen getting ready

– Groom(s) spending moment alone – Groom's party having a pint – Wedding ring shots

Of course this is entirely optional, but many couples choose to see each other before the ceremony as a way of spending a few quiet moments together and/or banishing any nerves, and so, they ask their wedding photographer to capture the moment. Check out our post on First Look Photos for the full lowdown. But the first look shot isn't just for couples. We've lost count of the amount of times we've cried looking at first-look photos

in our Real Weddings between the bride and her father, grandparents and her children. It's a beautiful way to capture their emotional reaction. – Couple alone for first look – Bridal party reaction if couple enter together – Father of the bride – Grandfather/parents of the bride – Prank first look (groomsman dressed as bride) – Children of the bride first look – Mother of the groom first look

– Bride(s) and father/mother – Bride(s) and bridesmaids/man/flower girls/page boys – Groom(s) and groomsmen/page boys – Shot of the wedding car or other transport

Some churches prefer not to have photos during the ceremony, particularly within the mass, so check with your celebrant in advance to see what their policy is. – Shots of empty venue/church, including altar, flowers, interior and exterior details – Groom and groomsmen waiting inside venue/church – Guests outside and inside church – Ushers handing out program

– Bride(s) arriving in wedding car – Bride(s) stepping out of car – Bride(s) and bridesmaids at back of venue/church – Bridal party entrance – Bride(s) walking up the aisle – Groom's reaction – Father/mother/relative giving bride away – Exchanging of vows – Lighting of unity candle – Ring bearer – Exchanging of the rings – Participants such as readers, the officiant, musicians etc.

– The first kiss as a married couple, and the moment after – Signing the register – View of guests from the front – The recessional/couple walking back down the aisle – The recessional/couple walking back down the aisle from balcony – Newlywed shot – Confetti throwing – Greeting guests outside venue – Couple in the back seat of wedding car

Most couples set aside time after the ceremony for their wedding portraits, although it's becoming more and more popular for couples who have a First Look to take them before the ceremony. Either way, your portrait session will probably take between 40 minutes and two hours, depending on the location and the shots you require. Talk to your photographer if time is a priority for you. Make sure to prepare a list of all the people you want in the portraits, as well

as the specific combinations you require. It's also a good idea to ask a close friend outside of the bridal party to work with the photographer on rounding people up.

– Portraits of the couple alone – Portraits of bride (s)/groom (s) on their own

– Couple with bridesmaids/groomsmen – Couple with entire wedding party – Bride(s) with bridesmaids/maid of honour – Groom(s) and groomsmen/best man – Couple with any children in the wedding party – Couple with any pets at wedding

– Couple with each of each set of parents – Couple with both sets of parents – Couple with siblings – Couple with their children – Couple with close family members

– Shots with friends – Shots of guests eating, drinking, and chatting – Any specific groups of friends, eg. college pals, school mates, team mates

If someone has made something for your reception - like a friend who baked the cake or an aunt who stitched the bunting - it's a nice idea to add that to the list to you can give them a photo of their handy work! – The reception space set up, before room fills up – Details and room decor shots, including table settings, place cards, favours, centrepieces etc. – Wedding cake detail shots – Couple arriving

– Toasts and speeches – Entertainment (magicians, dancers etc) – Cutting the cake – The first dance – Bride(s) dancing with father/groom(s) dancing with mother – Couple mingling with guests – Guests dancing – Musicians, singers, wedding band and DJ – Throwing the bouquet – Taking off the garter

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Essential Planning: The Wedding Photo Checklist

– Engagement Shoot/Love Shoot - this is a great opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera and get to know your photographer.

Before the Big Day

Getting Ready

Getting Ready

– Groom(s) spending moment alone – Groom's party having a pint – Wedding ring shots

Getting Ready

First Look

First Look

– Bride(s) and father/mother – Bride(s) and bridesmaids/man/flower girls/page boys – Groom(s) and groomsmen/page boys – Shot of the wedding car or other transport

The Trip to the Ceremony/Venue

Wedding Day: Wedding Ceremony Photo Checklist

Wedding Day: Wedding Ceremony Photo Checklist

Wedding Day: Wedding Ceremony Photo Checklist

Wedding Day: Post-Ceremony Wedding Photo Checklist

as the specific combinations you require. It's also a good idea to ask a close friend outside of the bridal party to work with the photographer on rounding people up.

Wedding Day: Post-Ceremony Wedding Photo Checklist

– Portraits of the couple alone – Portraits of bride (s)/groom (s) on their own

Couple Shots

– Couple with bridesmaids/groomsmen – Couple with entire wedding party – Bride(s) with bridesmaids/maid of honour – Groom(s) and groomsmen/best man – Couple with any children in the wedding party – Couple with any pets at wedding

Bridal Party

– Couple with each of each set of parents – Couple with both sets of parents – Couple with siblings – Couple with their children – Couple with close family members

Family

– Shots with friends – Shots of guests eating, drinking, and chatting – Any specific groups of friends, eg. college pals, school mates, team mates

Informal shots

Wedding Day: Wedding Reception Photo Checklist

Wedding Day: Wedding Reception Photo Checklist

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