Is Everything Organized for Your Big Day Yet?

Is everything organized for your big day yet? The planning stage and the fact that you need to attend to 1,001 small details is probably the reason why brides and sometimes even the grooms become jittery prior to saying their "I do's".

Is There Really a Need to Have a Wedding Photography Checklist?

However, there is no need for you to fret as long as you have a to-do list. Take the wedding photography as an example. After choosing the style of photography that you want to be used on your wedding pictures, it will basically be all up to the photographer on how he or she will take the shots.

You might want to have an agreement about the necessary shots that you want taken. This is called the wedding photography checklist. But is this really a necessary part of your wedding photography agreement? The answer is a resounding yes.

Even if some photojournalists may argue that creating a wedding photography checklist may hamper their creative style – they still should take into consideration what you want as a client.

As such, it's a good compromise to create a wedding photography checklist so that the photos that you want taken will be part of your wedding album.

A Quick Glimpse at what a Wedding Photography Checklist Looks Like

So what does a wedding photography checklist look like? Here's one example:

1. Before the wedding ceremony
- A picture of the wedding dress lying over the chair or the bed
- The bride's veil, garter, bouquet, the wedding rings
- Bride dressing for the ceremony
- Bride with her mother fastening her necklace
- Solo pictures of the bride after dressing up
- The bride/bridesmaid putting on makeup
- The groom with his best man
- The groom while putting on his suit/fastening his tie
- The bride with her parents leaving for the wedding ceremony

2. At the ceremony
- An outside shot of the ceremony site
- Guests arriving
- The maid of honor/bridesmaids walking down the aisle
- The groom waiting for the bride
- A shot of the musicians
- A close-up shot of the bride as she walks down the aisle
- The father while giving his daughter away to the groom
- The groom's while waiting for his bride
- A close-up shot of the couple's joined hands
- The couple's first kiss
- Throwing of the confetti/rose petals as the newlyweds go out of the ceremony site
- The newlyweds getting in the car

3. Photos at the reception
- The newlyweds greeting the guests
- The best man making his toast to the newlyweds
- The father and daughter dance
- The couple's first dance
- The wedding cake, the gift table and the buffet table if there is one
- A photo of the newlyweds with the guests at each table
- Guests dancing
- The getaway car
- The newlyweds leaving the party
- A shot of the car driving away

4. Formal wedding photos
- A full-length solo of the bride
- The bride with her parents
- The bride with her bridesmaids
- The groom with his best man and groomsmen
- The groom with his parents
- The bride and groom together

Some of the formal wedding shots can be taken before or after the wedding ceremony, depending on how the couple and the photographer will work together. All in all, capturing all the important moments during your big day is the purpose of a wedding photography checklist – so make sure to ask your photographer about it.

About the author:
Nick Smith is author of Digital Wedding Secrets. He also writes about wedding photography on his blog. Make sure you sign up to his free wedding photography course.