Wedding Photography Checklist

One thing that couples ask us a lot is what photos should you take on the day. This depends on a few factors: style of photography, time you want to spend and enjoyment of the day. There are a few typical set photographs which include; signing of the register, group photos of the bridal party, couples portraits and cutting the cake. When it comes to your wedding photography it’s completely up to you! Some couples want a lot of formal group shots whilst others are content with just a few. It’s worthwhile sitting down with your partner and take some time to think about what you are looking for when it comes to your wedding photos. These photos will last a lifetime and they are important to get right.

Read our tips on getting the best wedding portraits.

Different styles of wedding photography

At Shane Webber Photography we specialise in natural wedding photography. As a result, we are relaxed and lets the day flow naturally. Different photographers have different styles. Traditional photographers will follow a more rigid structure of set pictures. Other photographers are totally abstract and won’t take any standard wedding photos. For more detailed information on styles take a look at our wedding photography styles explained post.

Posed Pictures

On the day we will take some posed photos but the majority will be taken naturally. We suggest couples have group photos of the bridal party and close family members. Providing us with a list of everyone you want a posed photo with is helpful. Not sure who to include? Don’t worry – we have a wedding photography checklist below to help out. Parts of the day which tell the story, such as the speeches and first dance will always be captured – there is no need to include in your list. When it comes to other set photos like the cake cut, it’s completely up to the couple what they want to be captured. Our approach on the day is very fluid. If you decide you don’t want to have that photo there won’t be any pressure to do so. The day is all about having fun!

Let us help you decide if you need a second photographer at your wedding.

Factor In Time

Taking photographs takes time out of the day. The worst culprits for taking time are group photos. We advise being organised to keep the time down. A helpful tip is to get someone confident and preferably loud to help round people up. Guests are excited and can be a bit unruly, a helping hand will keep things short. This will give you more time to enjoy the day. Our checklist of group photos will be really helpful in planning the time you want to dedicate to them. We give a rough idea how long each picture takes. If you have an hour and a half for your drinks reception we wouldn’t recommend spending more than half an hour on the group pictures.

Enjoying The Day

You may have thought of a million and one photo ideas for your wedding day. But, when it comes to it you want to relax. This happens more often than you would think and it’s not a problem at all. It’s your wedding day and the photographer takes the lead from you. If you only want to spare 30 minutes that is totally fine. As long as you have the best day that is all that matters. Your photographer will be snapping away all the lovely natural moments.

Photography Checklist

After you have considered the above points we recommend writing down all the formal you wish for the day. We recommend 5-10 group photos. Each group photo takes approximately 2-3 minutes. A group photo of all the guests takes around 10-15 minutes.  The checklist below is a good starting point, you can always add more if you would like.

Bride & Groom + Bride’s family

Bride & Groom + Bride’s parents

Bride & Groom + Groom’s family

Bride & Groom + Groom’s parents

Bride & Groom + Bridesmaids + Groomsmen

Bride + Bridesmaids

Groom + Groomsmen

Once you have worked this out double check the timings. You may want to add or cut some of the photos depending on the amount of time you have on the day. If your venue have planned a short drinks reception not be afraid to ask them to add more time. It’s your day and all your suppliers are there to help you have the dream wedding you had planned. Another useful thing to work out is how long you will have for your portrait session. We usually takes the couple for photos before and after the meal. Only for a short time in order to get photos in daylight and during sunset. A copy of your schedule is always shared with us well in advance. We can help decide what makes the most sense for your wedding day.

Don’t Forget Preparation

Don’t forget preparation! If you want both the groom and bridal preparations captured you may consider booking a second wedding photographer. If the locations are far away from one another it may not be possible to visit both locations before the wedding day. It’s also important to note that the bride has her photos taken last. This is so that we can capture the final stages of hair and makeup and reactions to the dress.

Flexible And Unobtrusive Service

We hope this post helps you understand your wedding photography is completely about you. There is nothing set in stone you have to do. In choosing a great wedding photographer you will get a flexible and unobtrusive service, you are free to make whatever decisions are right for you and your day. A wedding photography checklist is just a guideline to make the process smooth and easy for couples.