Photographing Weddings

[Steve Randles]

Its a masive undertaking photographing a wedding, get it worng and you'll be in hot water. If your a pro its probably that much easier, but for a first timer its very daunting. This is just the position I am in, next March I have a Wedding to Photograph and whilst I am confident I could do it I have declind the offer of the paid job, another photographer will do that. But I will do it for free, as a test run so to speak. So here are two lists of those all important shots, that you may forget on the day.

 

 

List #1

GETTING READY

 

Bride's dress on the hanger or over a chair

Close-up of bride's shoes

Close-up of bride's bouquet

Bride in curlers or having makeup applied

Bridesmaids applying their makeup

Bride putting on garter

Mom and/or bridesmaids helping the bride arrange her dress, bustle the train, etc.

Close-up of dress details

Bride together with bridesmaids

Bride hugging mom

Flower girl(s) ready to go

Mom or bridesmaids putting finishing touches on bride, adding the veil, etc.

Bride spending moment alone, thinking quietly, praying or looking out the window

Full-length shot of bride all dressed and ready to go

Groom putting on tie

Groom with groomsmen

Ring bearer ready to go

Groom with dad, hugging or whispering advice

Bride and groom separately getting in the car, limo or cab

 

CEREMONY

 

Groom looking out the window, waiting for the bride to arrive

Car arriving with bride

Bride stepping out of the car

Wide shot of ceremony space from the back

Guests arriving (especially if they're using special transportation like a shuttle bus, boat or even escalator)

Ushers helping grandparents and special guests to their seats

Front and back shots of flower girl/ring bearer walking down the aisle

Close up of details (guest book, pew decorations, etc.)

Groom and groomsmen waiting nervously for bride to walk down aisle

Guests sitting down, waiting for ceremony to start

Bridesmaids walking down the aisle

Wedding party standing at the altar

Bride just before walking down the aisle

Back shot of bride (and escort) beginning to walk down the aisle

Full-frontal shot of bride (and escort) walking down the aisle

Close-up of groom's face when he sees bride for the first time (this can be done earlier, if photos are done before the ceremony)

Back shot of bride and groom together at the altar with officiant between them

Shot focusing on bridesmaids' bouquets, lined up as they hold them at the altar

Close-up of each hand as the rings are exchanged

Close-up of bride's face, as seen over the groom's shoulder

Close-up of groom's face, as seen over the bride's shoulder

Shot of both sets of parents' faces as they witness ceremony

The kiss

Happy couple walking back down the aisle together, as married couple

Guests getting ready to shower the couple with well wishes (and bubbles, birdseed, etc.) as they leave

Bride and groom walking out of ceremony space, hand-in-hand

 

BEFORE THE RECEPTION ? During the cocktail hour (These can be taken before the ceremony)

 

Full shot of bride and groom together, smiling

Full shot of bride and groom hugging

Full shot of bride and groom kissing

Bride being lifted or carried by groom or sitting on groom's lap

Close-up of couples' faces as bride is lifted, carried or sitting on groom's lap

Bride with her parents

Groom with his parents

Bride with groom's parents

Groom with bride's parents

Bride with bridesmaids

Groom with groomsmen

Bride with groomsmen

Group shot of bride, groom, family and wedding party

Groom leaning up against a wall with bride in front of him, kissing

Bride and groom walking toward the camera, holding hands

Bride and groom walking away from camera, holding hands

Bride and groom looking off in the same direction together

 

RECEPTION

 

Close-up of details (place settings, name cards, etc.)

Close-up of centerpieces

Wide shot of entire room before everyone arrives, even better if taken from above

Any special moments during the receiving line process

Bride and groom's first dance

Groom dipping bride

Bride dancing with her dad -- close-up of her face as seen over his shoulder

Groom dancing with his mom

Close-up of cake

Bride showing her new ring to the guests

Bride and groom hugging guests, close-ups of faces

Best man (or other guests) making a toast to the couple

Bride and groom's faces as they listen to the toast(s)

Guests smiling and clapping

Guests dancing and cutting loose on the dance floor. (Tip: Ask for a slow shutter speed to get a blurry/focused effect)

Wide shot of entire room after guests arrive, even better if taken from above

Close-ups of guests' faces, laughing and having a great time -- lots of these

Groups of friends sitting together at their table or dancing

Bride and groom whispering to each other

Parents (or even better, grandparents) dancing

Kids dancing or playing around

Close-up of band or DJ

Bride and groom cutting the cake

Bride and groom feeding each other

Bride and groom in back seat of getaway car

Back of car as it drives away

 

List #2

 

BEFORE the WEDDING

Bride arriving at church

Groom and Best Man arriving at church

Bride alone in mirror

Mother adjusting Bride's veil

Bride pinning boutonniere on Dads lapel

Bride pinning corsage on Mother

Bride alone looking out window

Groom alone (full length)

Groom alone (3/4 length)

Groom alone (head & shoulders)

Groom profile

Groom profile with hand to chin

Bride looking at Groom's ring

Groom looking at Bride's ring

Bride and Mother

Bride in foreground with Father (or Father & Mother) looking at her from background.

Groom and Mother

Groom in foreground with Mother (or Mother & Father) looking at him from background.

Father kissing Bride on forehead (or cheek)

Father dropping penny in Bride's shoe

Bride and Father

Groom and Father

Groom pinning boutonniere on Dads lapel

Groom pinning corsage on Mother

Mother pinning boutonniere on Groom

Bride, Mother and Father

Groom, Mother and Father

Bride and Flower girl (looking at each other)

Bride and Flower girl (looking at camera)

Flower girl admiring Bride's gown

Groom and Ring bearer

Bride giving bouquets to Bridesmaids

Bride and Maid (or Matron) of Honor full length

Bride and Maid (or Matron) of Honor head & shoulders

Groom and Best Man

Best Man showing Groom watch

Best Man wiping Groom's forehead with handkerchief

Bride and Bridesmaids

Groom and Groomsmen

Groomsmen dragging Groom into church

Bride and Groomsmen

Groom and Bridesmaids

Individual portrait of each Bridesmaid

Individual portrait of each Groomsman

Mother putting Garter on Bride

Maid of Honor putting Garter on Bride

Guest book & Attendant

Guest signing guest book

 

THE CEREMONY

Ushers seating Groom's Grandparents

Ushers seating Bride's Grandparents

Usher seating Mother of Bride

Usher seating Mother and Father of Groom

Soloist and musician(s)

Bride, Father, and attendants lined up ready to enter Sanctuary

Groom and Family (Mom, Dad, Bro., Sis.)

Bride and Family (Mom, Dad, Bro., Sis.)

Groom with Brothers & Sisters

Flower girl & Ring bearer coming down aisle

Individual Bridesmaids coming down aisle

Bride with Brothers & Sisters

Bride & Father coming down aisle (front view)

Bride & Father coming down aisle (back view showing full train)

Time exposure from back of church during ceremony

Bride & Groom lighting unity candle

First Kiss as Husband and Wife!

Bride & Groom with flower girl and ring bearer

Bride & Groom taking Communion

Bride and Groom returning from Altar

Reception (receiving) line (with

Exterior view of Church

 

FORMAL POSES

Bride posed alone (front view-full length)

Bride posed alone (back view-full length)

Bride posed alone (front view-3/4 length)

Bride posed alone (back view-3/4 length)

Bride posed alone (head & shoulders)

Bridal profile

Bride with Grandparents

Bride and Groom together looking at camera (full length)

Bride and Groom together looking off camera (full length)

Bride and Groom facing each other, holding hands (full length)

Bride and Groom together (3/4 length)

Bride and Groom together looking at camera (head & shoulders)

Bride and Groom together looking off camera (head & shoulders)

Bride (w/back to camera) facing Groom (both looking off camera - head & shoulders)

Groom with Grandparents

Bride and Groom with Bride's Parents

Bride and Groom with Bride's Grandparents

Bride's Grandparents (together)

Bride's Grandmother

Bride's Grandfather

Bride and Groom with Groom's Parents

Bride and Groom with Groom's Grandparents

Groom's Grandparents (together)

Groom's Grandmother

Groom's Grandfather

Bride and Groom silhouetted against stained glass window

Bride and Groom with preacher

Candid of Clergymen congratulating couple

Bride with attendants looking at ring

Time exposure of Bride and Groom looking at rings with candles in foreground

Time exposure of Bride and Groom kissing with candles in foreground

Bride and Groom kissing with wedding party peeking from background

Bride and Groom with wedding party

Bride and Groom leaving church (running through rice, etc.)

 

 

RECEPTION & OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS

Bride's Cake alone

Bride and Groom cutting Bride's cake

Photograph(s) of Bridal table setting

Bride feeding Bride's cake to Groom

Groom feeding Bride's cake to Bride

Groom's Cake alone

Bride and Groom posed on front steps of Church

Entire wedding party posed on front steps of Church

Bride and Groom cutting Groom's cake

Bride feeding Groom's cake to Groom

Witnesses (Best man, Maid of Honor) signing Marriage license.

Groom feeding Groom's cake to Bride

Bride and Groom at dinner table

Wedding party at dinner table

Punch and cake servers

Bride and Father dancing

Bride and Groom with wine glasses

Best man toasting Bride and Groom

Close-up of hands, rings

Close-up of hands, rings, napkin

Close-up of hands, rings, flowers

Gift table alone

Gift table with couple

Bride and Groom opening gifts

Groom removing garter

Groom throwing garter (posed, looking at camera)

Groomsmen & other men catching garter

Bride throwing bouquet (posed, looking at camera)

Girls catching bouquet

Spotlight of the invitation and bouquet

Bride and Groom dancing together

Groom dancing with his Mother

Groom dancing with Brides Mother

Bride dancing with her Father

Bride dancing with Grooms Father

Photograph of the Disk Jockey or Band

Candid photos of any special friends of Bride & Groom

Candid photos of certain (or all) tables at reception

Outdoor, romantic poses of Bride and Groom (full length, close-up, etc.)

Wedding Party/Friends Decorating Bride & Grooms Car

Decorated car ready to leave

Bride with Groom looking on from background

Groom with Bride looking on from background

Candid of soloist

Candid of organist

Bride with friends

Groom with friends

Parents hugging/kissing couple good-bye

Bride and Groom with car decorated (exterior view)

Groom carrying Bride in arms (with decorated car in background)

Groom holding car door open for Bride

Bride and Groom in car ready to leave

Bride and Groom in car leaving Church or Reception

Bride and Groom looking out rear window of car

Any Large Family Groups

Bride's Father with pockets turned inside out

 

 

I wish you luck if your doing weddings..

[jeepster]

no offence, but if you're photographing a wedding and you need to refer to a list like that, you're in the wrong job!

[phil dean]

no offence, but if you're photographing a wedding and you need to refer to a list like that, you're in the wrong job!

 

Interesting list,

 

when we got hitched we bought all the photos from the photographer as my wife couldn't decide which she didn't want.................not cheap.

 

the reason that it's interesting is that there are some bizarre shots in the album which may well be as a result of someone following a list.............which mean nothing to me, but the wife is really pleased to have!

[jeepster]

Interesting list,

 

when we got hitched we bought all the photos from the photographer as my wife couldn't decide which she didn't want.................not cheap.

 

the reason that it's interesting is that there are some bizarre shots in the album which may well be as a result of someone following a list.............which mean nothing to me, but the wife is really pleased to have!

 

 

i (maybe mistakenly) had always assumed photography was a creative art where often the best shots come from catching the moment rather than shooting from a list, i would have thought wedding photography was a prime example of this, who wants their shots to be the same as everyone elses, but with different faces and buttonholes in them?

one of my best friends is a photographer, he doesn't do many weddings (let's face it, what snapper would if they had a choice) but when he does do a wedding he always goes out of his way to provide a different style of image to most other wedding photographers and customers, without exception, love it.

[Steve Randles]

no offence, but if you're photographing a wedding and you need to refer to a list like that, you're in the wrong job!

 

Unless of course its your first time Jeepster..as I did say in the post with the list.

 

As for using a list or not, tis upto the individual Photographer, but there is always the brides mother who wants the shot of her daughter and sisters together, or the other relative who wants the shot of the Groom and Uncle Tom.

 

This list is used as a guide only...not a definitive must have or do.

 

Remember too, that photographers doing this for a living might possibly want to sell an extra couple of shots to the relatives and friends also..after all...its his/her business/job.

 

There is also plenty of room for Candid shots too, which any photographer would automatically do anyway. So both bases are then covered.

[jeepster]

no offence, but if you're photographing a wedding and you need to refer to a list like that, you're in the wrong job!

 

 

this line wasn't a criticism of you steve, more the concept of shooting from a list

[Steve Randles]

Yep I know mate..and I didn't take it as criticism..But the list is there for a guide, another use for it could be when discussing requirements with the Bride & Groom to be.

 

Steve...

[poledark]

Blimey Steve, that lot will take you all afternoon, IF you can keep them all interested long enough.

 

I have done only 2 weddings for family, but only on condition they used a pro as well.

 

Took all the pressure off me and the end result is that they used nearly all my pics (and upset both pro's!!)

 

Den

[David.W]

OK, as you know I do a lot of weddings (so far over 500), The list is ok to give you some idea's but to be honest I couldn't read it all.

 

Shoot from the heart, shoot what you see, don't get tied up with groups, do the main ones and some friends but don't drag it out. People hate being kept waiting.

 

You might not get in to the getting ready shots, brides can be really nervous and there will be a lot going on.

 

You might also not get to shoot the ceramony, some churches and registary's don't allow it.

 

If you're the second shooter don't get in the way of the pro... we don't like it!!! some even put it in a contract that if someone else is shooting they will stop.

 

If you're being paid to do it then you can't drink while working, but do carry water and energy sweets to keep you going.

 

Record the reception, people dancing (especially Scottish country dancing) gives some great shots.

 

Most of all... have fun, make it fun for the couple and the shots will be great.

 

P.S. remember to carry extra batteries and cards/film

 

Any questions, feel free to ask

Edited December 20, 2005 by David.W