Your wedding photographs need to reflect your personal styles and tastes as a couple, as well as the overall atmosphere of the day. Still, no matter how innovative or traditional you are with your range of photographs, there are a few must-have shots that each couple should request for their wedding day. These can be [...]

Your wedding photographs need to reflect your personal styles and tastes as a couple, as well as the overall atmosphere of the day. Still, no matter how innovative or traditional you are with your range of photographs, there are a few must-have shots that each couple should request for their wedding day. These can be executed in inventive ways so that they are uniquely yours. Be sure to include them on a comprehensive checklist for your photographer so that he or she is aware and prepared to capture the moments that matter most. Here are some ideas:

Before the Ceremony:

• The wedding dress, either hanging up or draped across a bed or chair
• The bride being helped to put her dress on
• The garter on the bride’s thigh
• A shot of her shoes (they can be on her feet, or lying in wait to be slipped on)
• Bridal make-up as it is being applied
• The hairdresser working on the lady of the day’s hair
• The bride, her mother, bridesmaids and Maid of Honour together, whether they are making a toast or sharing a chuckle
• The bridal party as they leave, heading for the ceremony
• The groom during his preparations – shaving, tying his bowtie, etc…
• The groom and groomsmen having a “boy’s moment” together
• Groom leaving for the ceremony venue

At the Ceremony:

• The groom and the bride (and their entourage, if possible) getting out of their respective vehicles outside the ceremony venue
• Guests arriving at the ceremony
• The Maid of Honour and each of the bridesmaids walking into the venue
• The bride walking down the aisle (from the front and the back to capture the full effect of the dress as well as the expressions of the guests in the background as they see her for the first time)
• The groom’s face as he lays his eyes on his wife-to-be
• The musicians and the officiant
• The bride being given away (if appropriate)
• A close-up shot of both the bride and groom (individually and as a couple) during the vows
• Exchanging of the rings and the first official kiss
• The newlyweds as they leave the venue
• The bride and groom being congratulated outside the ceremony venue
• The couple in their ‘getaway’ car

The Bridal Couple:

• A full-length picture of the bride and the groom as individuals
• The bride with her Maid of Honour
• The bride with her bridesmaids (as a group)
• The bride with her parents
• The bride and groom alone
• The couple with his and her parents (separately and as one new extended family)
• The couple with the ring bearer and flower girl
• The groom with his best man
• The groom with his other groomsmen (as a group)
• The groom and his parents

At the Reception:

• The reception venue (interior and exterior)
• Guests as they wait for the couple to arrive and socialise
• The bridal couple arriving and greeting their guests
• Table décor (the main table décor should be shot separately)
• Musicians / entertainers
• The wedding cake (get this shot before it is cut!)
• The gift table once it is full of gifts
• The bridal couple standing at each guest table so that there is at least one picture of every guest
• A picture of the food
• The first dance
• The bride dancing with her father and her father-in-law
• The groom dancing with his mother and his mother-in-law
• The guests having a great time on the dance floor
• The cutting of the cake
• Bride throwing her bouquet
• Groom under the wedding gown in search of the garter
• The car once it has been “decorated”
• The bridal couple leaving for their honeymoon

Image Courtesy of The Bride’s Cafe