Seize the moment – your must-have wedding shot list

Your wedding day is all about making memories.  And your photographer plays a huge part in that.  Once you’ve decided what style of photography you’d like (see our post on wedding photography styles) you’ll need to draw up a list of moments throughout the day that you’d like them to capture for posterity.  Here are some ideas….

Getting ready

Having your make up and hair done, getting into your dress, putting on your jewellery, the bridesmaids making their preparations.  It’s a nervous couple of hours but exciting and fun too, with lots of laughter and possibly a few tears – times you’ll look back on fondly.  If you also want your photographer to record the groom’s party preparations then be sure there’s enough time in the schedule for them to cover both – or arrange a second shooter.

The dress

You’ll have spent many hours trying on different dresses, agonising over the options, going through various fitting sessions – so be sure to ask your photographer to get some shots that show your final choice in all its glory.  As well as some images of just you in your dress it’s a good idea to have some images of the dress before you put it on, perhaps hanging in a window or some other setting that shows it off to best effect.  You could even ask for some shots that capture particular embellishments or details.  This little collection of dress shots will help you remember just how it felt to ward such a beautiful garment.

Group shots

How your photographer approaches this will largely depend on the style of photography you’ve agreed on.  If you’ve gone for formal these will be more posed but if it’s a reportage style then the shots will be much more candid and spontaneous.  Whatever style you’re going for you need to decide on the groups you want to capture, whether that’s all your cousins, your friends from university or the groom and his siblings.    

Here comes the bride

You’ll almost certainly want some shots of you coming down the aisle, whether the ceremony is in a church or a civil setting.  But that’s not all – make sure you capture the moment you get out of the wedding car or as you approach the venue hand in hand with the person giving you away, or in a group with your bridesmaids as you prepare to make your grand entrance.  These are all moments your other half will never see so it’s especially important to record these for their benefit.

The “I do” shot

The exchange of vows is a moment of high emotion – perfect photo opportunities for close ups capturing your expressions from a variety of different angles.  It’s the same with the exchange of rings – a few seconds that are seriously romantic but often lightened by laughter and joy. 

You may kiss the bride

That first kiss as a married couple certainly needs grabbing – make a special point of telling your photographer to be ready for it.

The “we did it!” shot

You absolutely have to get some shots at the end of the ceremony as the two of you emerge from the church or the room – it’s a moment of great joy and elation, with huge smiles all round and probably a blizzard of confetti. 

Let them eat cake

We all know you can’t have your cake and eat it – but photographing it before everyone tucks in is the next best thing.  The cutting the first slice is also obligatory.

The speeches

A picture is worth a thousand words so ask for lots of shots recoding the expressions of your guests during this traditional part of the proceedings – the laughter, tears and glasses raised for the toasts.

The first dance

Moments as romantic as this are rare so make a special point of asking your photographer to save it for posterity.  You’ll want some close up shots featuring just the blissed-out pair of you but also ask from some wider angles so you capture the beaming smiles of those sharing the occasion.

The bouquet and other blooms

A fresh flower bouquet will soon be past its best so be sure to get plenty of shots from every angle and in a variety of settings – including the moment you toss it to your unmarried female guests.  The same goes for all the other flowers, including the buttonholes, flower girl’s posy, corsage, ceremony displays, table arrangements and centrepieces.   

A view of the venue

A huge amount of work goes into setting up the venue for your celebrations – the place settings, the decorations, the floral arrangements, the lighting.  Make sure your photographer gets in there ahead of guests so you have some record of how beautiful it all looked before they came in and messed it up!   If you’ve booked a particularly photogenic venue (like Clevedon Hall!) ask your photographer to take some shots of the setting, the architecture or any particularly iconic or beautiful feature. 

A good time had by all

You’ll be at the party but there will be too many moments of joy, hilarity and misbehaviour for you and hubby to witness.  Plus, by the end of the evening, when you’ve probably had your fair share of drinks, some of it may become a blur.  This is where your photographer comes to the rescue.

Any other questions?

We hope you find this checklist helpful and inspirational when planning things with your photographer.  Got any other questions about this aspect of planning you big day (or anything else wedding related) then just ask away – the team at Clevedon Hall are more than happy to share their ideas, knowledge and experience.