CREATING A WEDDING SHOT LIST
Photographer Credit: Taimane Kini Photography
Your wedding day is most likely going to be the best day of your life, but it will most likely FLY by. You’ll be so busy getting ready + celebrating + just being in the dang moment that you’ll blink and it’ll be the next day. And you know what you don’t want to be thinking the next day?
“Oh shoot, I didn’t get a picture with ____!”
Because at that point, it’s too late. Obviously.
We always ask our couples to create a shot list for us and the photographer to reference so we can make sure that you are getting all the pictures you want! However, we always recommend that you appoint one of your siblings or friends to assist- your photographer and coordinator won’t know who everyone on your list is, so it’s helpful to have someone who is familiar with everyone’s names/roles to help pull the groups together!
It’s also important to note that each group picture can take up to four minutes. So while you would probably like to get a picture with every single guest, it’s just not probable. This is why it’s helpful to make a thoughtful list beforehand! You can make sure you’re getting the important pictures but won’t be spending half of your reception in front of the camera.
Photography Credit: Seeking Films
Photographer Credit: Jessica Nakasone
BUILDING YOUR SHOT LIST
We typically recommend you start with the largest groups and work your way smaller.
Therefore, if you are wanting a picture of the whole group, we always take care of that right after the ceremony. It’s much easier to wrangle everyone together before everyone runs to the bar.
Photographer Credit: Schyne Photography
From there, we recommend doing group pictures of both the bride and the groom’s extended families.
Once those three group pictures are over, we recommend knocking out all the pictures with either the bride’s family or the groom’s family. For this example, we’re going to start with the bride’s family.
First up would be a picture of the bride and groom with the bride’s immediate family. From here, the bride would do a picture with both parents and then a picture with all the siblings. Then, you can break it down into an individual picture with each parent and sibling.
After the bride’s family pictures are complete, you’d repeat with the groom’s family.
After all the family pictures are done, you’d take pictures with any other “special guests” that you’d like. This could be godparents, grandparents, godchildren, or even the officiant.
And last but not least, finish off with a good amount of wedding party pictures (both individually and as a group)! Wedding party pictures tend to be the most active, so we usually save these fun ones for the end.
Once you’ve gone through your entire photography shot list, congrats- you are done posing and IT’S TIME TO START PARTYING!
Photographer Credit: Christie Pham Photography
SAMPLE SHOT LIST
Entire group
B&G with bride’s extended family
B&G with groom’s extended family
B&G with bride’s immediate family
B&G with bride’s parents
B&G with bride’s siblings
Bride with each parent and sibling individually
B&G with groom’s immediate family
B&G with groom’s parents
B&G with groom’s siblings
Groom with each parent and sibling individually
B&G with any “special” guests (officiant, godparents, godchildren, grandma, etc)
B&G with entire wedding party
B&G with bridesmaids
B&G with groomsmen
B&G with flower girl
B&G with ring bearer
Bride with each bridesmaid
Bride with flower girl
Groom with each groomsmen
Groom with ring bearer
