Making a Wedding Photo Checklist
- kristakirschner
- Jan 9, 2021
- 3 min read
On the eve of our first wedding of the season, we thought we’d discuss why we always encourage and love clients to have a prepared list for all formal group poses and any unique photographs they want captured on their wedding day.
You might be thinking “Do I really need a checklist?’ and our honest answer is YES! But we aren’t talking about an extensive list of everything. Trust us, we already have a mental list of all the important details and moments to capture on your special day. What we are looking for is your specific family list, any and all breakdowns for formal portraits, along with any particular photographs that you have in mind, so we don’t miss anything! We don’t want you to have any regrets looking back at your gallery and saying ‘we wish we had a photo of….’.
Why is a checklist important?
It’s important because you have special and different needs! Sometimes your venue has a great, useful feature like a balcony to capture your first walk down the aisle as husband and wife. We want to know that! Your wedding is unique. Something that is important to you might not be obvious to everyone else. If you’re anything like Krista and myself, you will have something that is particularly important to you and you alone! Personally, I needed to make sure that I had a first look with my Godfather! He is someone incredibly important in my life and I wanted to make sure that special moment was documented for both of us.
I was lucky enough to have Krista and our team of second shooters there to capture this moment when he first saw me in my dress!
This bride wanted to make sure we documented the special addition to her bouquet in honor of her father. And also to have us get her mother and sisters loving hands helping her into her wedding dress.
How specific should I be?
There is no right or wrong answer for this! You might be like one of our former brides and make a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet that includes every family member, their name, and the exact groupings and pose each family member should be in.
Or you might be like other brides and tell us more general poses like ‘Bride with Parents’ and ‘Groom with Grandma and Mom’. We can work with either list; whatever works for you! But be sure to tell us if you have special decor or a surprise dress change planned that only you know about! We promise to keep it secret.
Why a timeline helps?
Your wedding day will go by in a flash, and we want to make sure that you have everything documented for as long as we are there. Your timeline should include what time your wedding party starts getting ready, to the time for first looks, when your caterer has you cutting the cake, down to the last event of the reception. As you are creating your timeline, remember to schedule plenty of time for formal portraits. Keep in mind it takes time for Grandma to walk over to the photo location or to pull your uncle away from the bar. We always recommend allotting 10-20 minutes more than you think for formal portraits. That way, we have plenty of time to gather up all your family members, pose them beautifully, and capture that moment for you to remember.
How long should my list be?
The longer the better! The more prepared we are only makes it easier for us to make sure we have photographed everything you have in mind. Let us know you really want that photo of your memorial table or the wallet card you gave your significant other instead of a traditional ring. We know that you’ve been planning this day with your love for a LONG time! And when it’s all said and done, your photographs will be the next best things to your memories! Make sure you are choosing a photographer you trust to capture those moments.
If you aren’t sure how to start a list, we recommend checking out the suggested photo lists on the knot.com or realsimple.com. Just remember that these lists are generic ones for every bride and they should only be a starting point. Make some time during your wedding planning to put together a list that is as unique as you are! And if you need help we are here for you. Click here to schedule a consultation or to view our wedding packages. We can’t wait to hear from you!
