Wedding photos are among the most significant aspects of the wedding day for all women, therefore making an essential wedding photo checklist must be on top of your wedding preparation priority list.
These are the moments you will remember for the rest of your life and just the next day (“It goes just like that,” they all say). That’s why you will want to double-check that your photographer captures every photo opportunity, from getting ready shots to your firework exit.
The first step toward crossing this task off your checklist is to find a wedding photographer in Chicago you’re happy about and place your trust in them. After all, you’re hiring an expert who must know what they’re on about.
They will have a concept of the must-have wedding images, but it’s still beneficial to have a basic understanding of wedding photography. We have made a wedding photo list of some must-have memories to document, from the fairly detailed photo of your wedding day jewelry to the table arrangements and invitation suite.
Of course, you don’t need to collect all of these wedding images to make the perfect album, but it’s fun to consider them. (In any case, they will get you thinking about the intricacies while you shop for those particular wedding shoes and create your custom invites.) So let’s get on with some of the most prominent wedding photos you must have.
Before D-day
Engagement/Love Shoot – This is a terrific way to get used to being in front of the camera and to meet your wedding photographer. Pre-ceremony excitement is a great moment to capture. To commemorate this memorable occasion, take photographs with your wedding group (bridesmaids, groomsmen, and any accompanying loved ones).
Here is a checklist for the moments to be captured pre-wedding:
- A picture of the invitation card
- Hair and makeup application for the bride and bridesmaids
- Hanging the dress, laying out the jewelry, and putting on the shoes
- Pictures of wedding rings
- Portrait of the bride and her mother
- Portrait of the groom and his bride
- Photographs of the family
- The bride (or bridesmaids) alone
- Bouquets and corsages/buttonholes
- Mother helping the bride put on her veil or dress
- The bridal party having a good time.
- Detail of the dress in close-up
- Photograph showing a bride holding her bouquet up close.
- Putting on costume jewelry
- Putting on footwear
- Walking down the aisle the house with the bridal party
- Heading to the ceremony with the bride and father in their wedding car
- Groom and groomsmen preparing for the wedding
- Groom alone
The First Look
Of course, seeing one another before the ceremony is completely optional, but several couples prefer to do so in order to spend a few moments alone and/or to calm their anxieties, and they want their wedding photographer to catch the experience. Here are the must-have moments from the first look:
- The couple alone.
- The reaction of the bridal guests if the couple enters together
- The route to the ceremony/location
- The Bride, her father, and her mother
- The Bride, bridesmaids, and corsages
- Best man with the groom
- A view of the wedding car
Wedding Ceremony
Of course, you will like your wedding photographer to record the exchange of vows between you and your spouse. But what else is there? Smaller aspects, such as your guests entering or a close-up view of your wedding rings, should be captured. See our whole list of suggestions below.
- Visitors arriving at the location
- Guests are escorted to their seats by ushers.
- Parents are escorted to their seats by ushers
- The bride or groom waiting for his or her companion.
- The wedding party making its way down the aisle.
- Flower girl or ring bearer walking down the aisle
- Grandparents escorting their grandchildren down the aisle
- The wedding party gathered at the altar.
- Walking down the aisle
- Father escorting and to-be-wed down the aisle
- Couple in the foreground (with the officiant)
- A close-up of the bride and groom’s hands as they exchange wedding bands.
- The couple’s first kiss as husband and wife
- Recessional for the pair
- The arch, altar, or canopy from the backdrop.
- From the couple’s perspective, a wide shot of the audience during the ceremony.
- The couple’s expressions as they recite their vows
- The couple departing from the ceremony location
- Back of the car couple
- Outside the ceremony site
- Congratulations photos: friends and relatives hugging, laughing, and sobbing with the couple.
Wedding Reception
It’s a good idea to include something like this on the wedding photography, Chicago list if anybody created something for your reception – like friends who baked the cupcakes or an aunt who embroidered the pennant – so you can show them a snapshot of their hard work!
Before the room gets full, the welcome area is set up and you can capture:
Table settings, wedding invitations, gifts, centerpieces, and other details and room décor pictures
- The cake cutting
- The opening dance
- Bride and groom dancing with their fathers/bride and groom dancing with their mothers
- Guests chatting with the couple
- Detail shots of the wedding cake
- The arrival of the couple
- Speeches and toasts
- Guests dancing on the dance floor
- DJs, musicians, and singers
Wedding Party and Family Photos
You’ve done it! During happy hour, it’s time for celebration with some photos of friends and family. Take photos with your wedding party, family, and simply the two of you. Note: These can also be taken prior to the event.
- Couple portrait
- Couples smiling at each other or holding or embracing each other
- With parents or stepparents
- In front of the complete close family
- Together with all of the parents
- Both sides of the family and their immediate family relatives.
- Couple with to-be-weds
- Couple with to-be-weds
- Couple with the entire wedding party
Of course, having the wedding photos of your dreams also necessitates finding a wedding photographer whose style and taste you admire, so it’s critical to put forth the time and energy necessary to discover the ideal individual for the job!
This list of suggested wedding photographs is a fantastic starting point. So, get on with your activities and get ready for the perfect wedding shoot!