50 ‘Must Have’ Wedding Photography Shots

On the few occasions that I’ve been asked to photograph weddings by friends I always found it helpful to create a list of shots that I wanted to take on the day. I found that setting out a list with the couple of not only ‘WHERE’ they wanted shots but also some of the different combinations of WHO they wanted IN the shots was helpful.

While I highly recommend adjusting and customizing it for the couple whose wedding you are photographing (if this is all you took you could end up with a somewhat cliched album) it certainly makes a worthwhile starting point for the type of shots you might want to capture on the day.

Wedding Photography Shot List

1. Prep Shots – Bride & Groom
2. The Dress – Hanging or Draped
3. The North Window Shot – Bride facing out northern most window
4. Bride walking down stairs
5. Bride looking out (window or door)
6. Maid of Honor & Brides Mom – Zipping Dress
7. Bride Applying Make Up
8. Groom Fixing Hair
9. Grooms Father & Best Man – Attaching Boutonnière to grooms lapel
10. Groom Checking the Time
11. Groom with Grooms Men & Fathers
12. Bride with Bridesmaids & Mothers
13. Bride with Mother & Father (also grandparents)
14. Groom with Mother & Father (also grandparents)
15. Bride Limo – Groom Limo
16. Bride & Groom – Exiting Limo (Bride being helped out)
17. Groom waiting at altar
18. Church Wide Shot (with & without guests)
19. Bride walking down aisle ( Side Profile & Front )
20. Father giving away bride
21. Groom over the shoulder shot of bride ( & Vis Versa)
22. Holding hands – Bride and Groom
23. Bride & Groom Kiss
24. Bride & Groom Leaving Church ( Receiving Line)
25. Bride & Groom – Inside Limo Shot
26. Reception/Banquet Hall Outside shot
27. Food Shots (Cocktail Hour, Drinks, etc.)
28. Shot of each table full of guests
29. Shots of Bride & Groom with & without family
30. Bride and Groom Portraits
31. Bride & Groom with Bridesmaids & Groomsmen
32. Bride and Groom Hand & Ring Portraits
33. First Dance
34. Bride & Father Dance
35. Groom & Mother Dance
36. Bouquet Toss
37. Guarder Belt Toss
38. Cake Cutting, Bride and Groom Feeding each other
39. Misc. Guests Dancing
40. Bride & Groom Eating
41. Best Man & Maid of Honor Toast/Speeches
42. Bride & Groom Toast/Speeches
43. Centerpieces & Flower/Decorations
44. Guestbook Signatures
45. Small Children Dancing with Bride & Groom
46. Bride & Groom’s Parents Dancing (Plus Grandparents)
47. Venetian Hour Photos (Coffee, Ice Cream, Etc)
48. Bride & Groom giving away wedding favors
49. Groom Giving Coat to Bride
50. Bride & Groom “Just Married” Vehicle – Driving Away