Photographer checklist

Photographer Checklist

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
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 specified location 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:

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 or specified location. Again, this is a good time to take some of the family photos to save time later:

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.
:
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:

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:

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 combination's 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:

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 ..