VERY IMPORTANT:
The photo list is every photographer's guide, but it can also be their
nightmare. Lists can assist your photographer to do their jobs in some areas of
your day, but they can also hamper the creativity of your photographer. The
information below is just a guideline. It is not set in gold. The best advice we
can give you is to let your professional guide you when it comes to what
information they will need from you. And if you're still not sure, don't be
afraid to ask! So please use this list as more of a guide. We've designed it so
that you can copy and paste it ... and then edit it to suit your needs.
Some tips to keep in mind before
we start the list:
Let your photographer know about your family structure, i.e. divorces,
deaths and family feuds!!
Keep your list short for photojournalistic style photographers, you're
hiring them to document your day as it flows
The extended family shot list is very important, especially if you have a
number of shots with relatives other then your immediate family.
For every photo you add to your list, you must add approximately 2 minutes
of shooting time. So if you're trying to figure your family photos into your
timeline, the length of your list will be your guide on timing.
Now let's deal with very
important players besides yourselves that are part of your event. It is very
important to make a VIP list. You want your photographer to get familiar with
the family members and wedding party members, as quickly as possible, so
separating and identifying them on a list will help. Its also beneficial for the
photographer to know how many people they are going to have to deal with during
the shooting time.
VIP LIST Copy and
paste the following into a document, fill in the names of the players, add and
delete as necessary.
Bride's Side:
Mother of the Bride
Father of the Bride
Stepmother
Stepfather
Maternal Grandmother
Maternal Grandfather
Sisters
Brothers
Stepsisters
Stepbrothers
Groom's Side:
Mother of the Groom
Father of the Groom
Stepmother
Stepfather
Maternal Grandmother
Maternal Grandfather
Sisters
Brothers
Stepsisters
Stepbrothers
Bridal Party:
Maid of Honor
Bridesmaids
Flower Girl
Best Man
Groomsmen
Ring Bearer
Okay, now let's talk about the
standard shots for your big day. We've broken them down by each separate event
for the day. Keep in mind again, that your photographer may be the type that
really shouldn't work from such a detailed list, so you may want to edit
considerably.
Pre-Ceremony
Shoot with Groom
These shots can be taken at the groom's house or can be scheduled to be shot an
hour or so before the ceremony. Keep in mind that guests will start to arrive 30
minutes before the ceremony starts, which will affect the scheduled timing. This
is sometimes a good time to get a number of the family photos out of the way so
that they don't cut into your photo shoot timing after the ceremony.
Copy and paste
the following into a document and edit to suit your needs: Close-ups
and Full Length - Alone With
your mother With
your father With
both your parents With
other family members With
the best man With
the groomsmen With
ring bearer Checking
your tie and/or finishing up Getting
ready candid's Groom's
Details, i.e. boutonniere, tuxes hanging, bottle of cologne, card/gift from
bride, etc.
Pre-Ceremony
Shoot with Bride
These shots can be taken at the bride's house while she's getting ready. Again,
this is a good time to take some of the family photos to save time later.
Copy and paste
the following into a document and edit to suit your needs: Close-ups
and Full Length - Alone With
your mother With
your father With
both your parents With
other family members With
Maid/Matron of Honor With
bridesmaids With
flower girl Putting
on the finishing touches Adjusting
garter Bride's
Details, i.e. the dress, the shows, the bouquets, makeup, jewelry, card/gift
from the groom, etc.
Ceremony
The majority of ceremony shots are standard and most photographers know what to
take. The things that you might want to add to this list would be anything that
may be cultural in nature and/or an event that you've added to part of the
ceremony that is not part of the standard ceremony fare. Copy and paste
the following into a document and edit to suit your needs: Ushers
seating guests and mothers Bride's
Arrival Processional Bride
being walked down the aisle Groom
waiting at the alter Bride
being given away Wedding
Party members at the alter Kneeling
at the alter Exchanging
rings Exchanging
vows Lighting
unity candles Exchanging
kiss Signing
marriage license With
officiant Recessional In
front of the church after ceremony Candid's
outside with guests Guests
outside and inside the church. Some brides have elected to have shots done of
all of the people attending the church ceremony. Couple
leaving in limo
Formal Photo
Shoot
This usual happens after the ceremony, but if you are getting married in the
Fall months and/or you have a very limited time between your ceremony and
reception, it might be beneficial to do this before the ceremony. Everyone meets
at a pre-determined photo location. You can consult with your photographer on
where an appropriate place may be. Be sure to inform all individuals that are
required for your photos. Copy and paste
the following into a document and edit it to suit your needs: Bride
Alone Groom
Alone Bride
& Groom together - various locations Bride
with attendants Groom
with attendants Bride
with "the guys" Groom
with "the girls" Bride
with each attendant individually Groom
with each attendant individually Entire
Wedding Party Hands
with wedding rings With
children from wedding party With
best man and maid of honor
Reception
Photos
This list covers all of the standard happenings at a reception. If you have any
special events scheduled that you think the photographer should know about, be
sure to be specific and add them. It also doesn't hurt to provide your
videographer with a list of the scheduled events for the reception. Any extended
group shots, other than immediate family should probably be scheduled into this
part of the day.
Copy and paste the following into a document and edit it to suit your needs: Talking
with guests at reception - receiving line First
dance Cutting
the cake Toasting With
special guests Dancing
and candid's at the reception Wedding
Cake before cutting Food
or desert tables Organist
and/or soloists Musicians Any
decorations that you have spent a lot of time and energy putting together. Candid
photos of everyone at the reception Photo
of the invitation with bouquets, toasting glasses and table centerpieces
That basically covers all of the
aspects of your day in a very specific manner. Again, you may have a
photographer that is very free flowing and photojournalistic ... a list like
this could be very restrictive for them, so please keep that in mind.
Next we are going to setup a
standard family photo list. We know that we have asked you to prepare a VIP list
above, but the following covers all of the standard combinations that you want
to make sure you capture for your family photos. We have included some of these
into some of the above areas, especially if we felt it would be beneficial to do
these shots at times when it would be the easiest in your schedule, but the
following is so that you make sure you don't forget anything. Again, copy and
paste the following into a document and edit to your needs:
Bride
with Mother Bride
with Father Bride
with Mother & Father Bride
with Siblings (you may want to do individually or as a group Bride
with Mother, Father and Siblings Bride
with Mother, Father, Siblings, their spouses and children Bride
with Grandparents Family
generation photo including all above (you may want to wait and do this with the
groom)
Groom
with Mother Groom
with Father Groom
with Mother & Father Groom
with Siblings (you may want to do individually or as a group) Groom
with Mother, Father and Siblings Groom
with Mother, Father, Siblings and their spouses and children Groom
with Grandparents Family
generation photo including all above (you may want to wait and do this with the
bride)
Bride,
Groom and Bride's Parents Bride,
Groom and Groom's Parents Bride,
Groom and Both Sets of Parents Bride,
Groom and Bride's Grandparents Bride,
Groom and Groom's Grandparents Bride,
Groom and Bride's Siblings Bride,
Groom and Groom's Siblings Bride,
Groom and all Siblings Bride,
Groom and Brides entire family Bride,
Groom and Grooms entire family Bride,
Groom and both families combined
The last part of your list may be
to include any friends and extended relatives that you want photos with. Be
specific with your groups. The photographer needs to know, for timing purposes,
exactly what the sizes of the groups will be to coordinate it quickly and
efficiently.
I think we've covered everything.
Good luck with your list ..
