Photo and Video Checklist

By Lei Lydle Founder and Editor Last Updated: 8/8/2005 1:56:18 PM

It should be noted that I made this checklist about 7 years ago when I was getting married and the photography was generally more traditional and less photojournalistic.

Photographers these days, especially those specializing in photojournalistic wedding photography, generally don't like to go by a checklist because it can hamper their creativity. All experienced wedding photographers understand which shots are important to most all brides - they know not to miss the first dance, the cake cutting, etc. If you have hired someone without a lot of experience, a checklist may or may not be helpful to them.

Rather than giving this checklist to your photographer and/or videographer as something to go by, use it to think through the shots that you don't want missed. For example, it is perfectly ok to tell the photographer that you absolutely positively must have a posed shot with all of your Bridesmaids individually - maybe you want to give them as gifts or something. Most photographers will do this type of posed shot anyway, but you may want to mention this up front just in case.

• Bride alone in dress
• Bride touching up makeup
• Bride with mother
• Bride with maid of honor
• Bride with bridesmaids
• Bride with both parents
• Bride putting on garter
• Bride with father
• Groom alone
• Groom with best man
• Groom and ushers putting on boutonnieres
• Groom with his parents
• Groom arriving at ceremony

• The altar and decorations
• Guests arriving
• Seating of mothers and grandmothers
• Ushers escorting guests
• Groom, best man and minister at the altar
• The processional
• Bride and father walking down the aisle
• Father giving bride away
• The kiss
• Bride and groom coming up the aisle
• The recessional
• Bride and groom outside with guests
• Bride and groom getting into the car
• Bride and groom in the car, possibly looking out on of the windows

• The newlyweds together
• Bride and her attendants
• Groom and his attendants
• Bride and groom with entire wedding party
• Bride and groom with honor attendants
• Bride and groom with child attendants
• Bride with her immediate family
• Groom with his immediate family
• Both families together
• Bride and groom with officiant
• Bride's and groom's hands

• Bride and groom getting out of car
• Bride and groom's entrance
• The receiving line
• The newlyweds greeting guests
• Guests signing the guest book
• Bride and groom's first dance
• Bride dancing with her father
• Groom dancing with his mother
• Bride dancing with her father-in-law
• Groom dancing with his mother-in-law
• Both sets of parents dancing
• Bridesmaids and ushers dancing
• Guests dancing
• The cake table
• Bride and groom cutting the cake
• The newlyweds feeding cake to each other
• Bride and groom receiving toasts
• Buffet tables
• The bridal party's table
• The parents' table
• The guests' tables
• The musicians
• Bride tossing the bouquet
• Groom tossing the garter
• Bride and groom saying good-bye to parents
• Guests throwing birdseed or blowing bubbles
• Bride and groom getting into limo or decorated car
• Bride and groom leaving in car
• Guests waving good-bye
• Bride and groom waving good-bye from car

Photo Source: © Paula M. Gould Photography, Atlanta, Georgia

3 Comments

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		Ashley from Alberta, Canada says...
		This is awesome, I've been looking for a good list of pictures that I want to give to my photographer. I'll definatly give this one!!! Thanks Again Wedding Date: Nov. 12, 2005
		Posted: 8/8/2005 1:56:18 PM

		paula m gould from atlanta says...
		hi lei thank you for keeping my photos up to advertise this site! IS there any way I could get photo credit beneath the photo? Not a problem if I cant! Hope all is well Regards Paula
		Posted: 7/15/2005 8:41:36 AM

		Dana Every from Glendale, AZ says...
		Need reaction shots. Just thought that was something needed to add to list of important video shots. Wedding Date: Wedding Professional
		Posted: 2/19/2005 3:49:53 PM