Key Shots at a Wedding - The Most Important Wedding Photography Images

We are often asked, on our training courses, about providing a list of 'key shots' for a wedding photographer, so that nothing is missed. So here is the list for a traditional English Church Wedding:

First some important notes about the type of images to take and why

When wedding photographers shoot a wedding day it is always important to have a final goal in mind, not just to follow a tick list of items. In our case, the majority of our brides choose a storybook wedding album as the best way to show off their wedding photographs. Therefore the wedding photography should reflect the fact that the final product is going to be a storybook album layout. Make sure that you get a large number of 'background' shots which can be used behind the main images on a page. Wedding photographs of shoes and panoramic views from inside the church are great for this.

In addition try to remember that each double page spread represents a snapshot of a particular part of the day. Make sure that you take enough images at each point in the day to fill out two pages and try to get a variety of image formats. It is important to have a wide selection of portrait and landscape wedding images to make the layout simpler.
Here are the 'must have' list of wedding photography images.

At The House
· Shoes
· Gown
· Flowers
· Bride make-up
· Bride in mirror
· Bride adjusting dress
· Mother adjusting veil
· Brides parents
· Each bridesmaid
· Brides & bridesmaids
· Brothers & sisters
· Bride & dad
· Bride leaving house
· Car shot with dad

At Church
· Groom & best man
· Best man adjusting tie
· Close up of groom
· Groom with parents
· Groom & dad shaking hands
· Shots with ushers
· Arrival of bride
· Dad helping bride out of car
· Bridal party walking towards church
· Bride & dad down isle

During Ceremony
· Shots of ceremony
· Overall shots of church from back
· Close up of groom
· Putting on rings
· Kiss

After Ceremony
· Register signing
· Bride & groom walking down the isle
· Confetti shots of couple
· Couple around church
· Family around church
· Candids of wedding party
· Wedding party
· Posed shots of couple in church
· Couple by car
· Couple in car

Reception
· Receiving line
· Wedding party shot
· Formal family shots
· Toasts
· Speeches
· Cake cutting
· First Dance
· Candids
· Outdoor portraits of couple