The Pros and Cons of the "Wedding Shot List"
There are a lot of mixed feelings in the photographic community about weddings and photographic shot lists. Most photographers truly fear getting that email from a couple with the ‘Must-Have’s’ (an expression I dislike as much as “Please Advise”) which you hesitantly open it asking yourself, “Will this be a few realistic requests or a week long photo shoot?”
In theory these lists makes sense, as couples having not been through this process before and being guided by what the bridal magazines say to do and ask, have no idea what to expect the day of the wedding. Certainly there are groupings or important images they do not want us to miss. Perhaps it’s a group of college friends, or a gathering of out-of-town relatives, all of which make sense to mention.
But the flip-side to this are the creativity-killing laundry lists of images, for which I blame popular wedding websites, or even simply Google for that matter. Go ahead and do a web search for ‘wedding shot list’….
Go on….
I’ll wait.
We’re back–Perhaps then you were lucky enough to encounter some suggestions like:
“Touching shot of groom with parents”
“Close-up of groom’s nervous face waiting for his other half”
“Bride and groom arriving (make it dramatic — their faces through the dark limo windows, the two lovebirds atop a staircase or pushing through a curtain)”
“Bride walking down the aisle”
“Bride and groom’s first dance (maybe with a slow shutter speed so the movement blurs the image a little)”
When handed over a list like this, it’s easy to suddenly feel as if your couple have no trust in you whatsoever. (You’ll notice this particular list is giving advice on HOW the photograph should be taken as well!) Part of what makes a professional photographer a PRO, is their ability to be aware and watch for all those special moments that are going on around you. Having to follow a very specific list turns the day into an exercise in checking off boxes, rather than focusing on creating beautiful imagery. I know a number of photographers who simply outright refuse to work off a list, but personally for me I only request any ‘special’ things that I may not be aware of. If you feel I need to be reminded to photograph you coming down the aisle, then maybe we’re not a good match.
These lists also encourage a very unrealistic expectation of time. I’ll admit (and if you’ve worked with me you know this) I get very OCD about timing, as it is the single biggest factor of a wedding day that I see messed up through poor planning. And I completely GET IT, as this is all new to you! Consider this: a ‘simple’ list of 35 posing requests multiplied by an average of only 2 minutes per setup results in a little over an hour of actual shooting time! You’ll be fine if you’ve factored this in (or done a First Look – always encouraged when your under a time crunch – http://www.athymetocook.com/blog/guest-blogger-and-photographer-exraordinaire-robert-norman-on-your-wedding-first-look/) but if not, you could easily find yourself scrambling and rushing through your photos. One suggestion I always have for couples is to ask yourself, “Would I put this photo/grouping in an album, or can I condense this down?” If the answer is NO, then you’ve just answered the question whether or not that photograph is important.
So if you’re getting married, hire a photographer in whom you fully trust and rest easy that they know their job inside and out, and will document your day in the manner you expect!
To wrap up, I’d like to share an actual wedding shot list as an example, shared with me by a photographer from out of state.
Honest—I couldn’t make this up if I tried….
BEFORE the WEDDING
__ Mom sewing in grandmas ring
__ Nancy putting on grandmas ring
__ Donald seeing Nicole for the first time at the hotel
__ Donald and Nancy getting in car to go to church
__ Donald and Nancy arriving at church
__ Wedding Party arriving at church
__ Nancy with Peter’s flute
__ Patty with bouquet and flute
__ Ruth with bouquet and sheet music
__ Mom adjusting Nancy‘s veil
__ Nancy pinning boutonniere on Dads lapel
__ Nancy putting corsage on Mother
__ Nancy alone looking out window
__ Donald alone (full length)
__ Donald alone (3/4 length)
__ Donald alone (head & shoulders)
__ Donald profile
__ Nancy looking at Donald ring
__ Donald looking at Nancy’s ring
__ Nancy and Mom
__ Nancy in foreground with Dad (and both parents) looking at her from background.
__ Donald and Jane
__ Donald in foreground with Julie & Johnny looking at him from background.
__ Dad kissing Nancy on forehead (or cheek)
__ Nancy and Dad
__ Donald and Joe
__ Donald pinning boutonniere on Jim’s lapel
__ Donald putting corsage on Jane
__ Jane pinning boutonniere on Donald
__ Nancy with parents
__ David with parents
__ Nancy and Elizabeth (looking at each other)
__ Nancy and Elizabeth (looking at camera)
__ Elizabeth admiring Bride’s gown
__ Nancy giving bouquets to Bridesmaids
__ Nancy and grandma full length
__ Nancy and grandma head & shoulders
__ Donald, John and Tim
__ John and/or Tim showing Groom watch
__ Nancy and Bridesmaids
__ Donald and Groomsmen
__ Nancy and Groomsmen
__ Donald and Bridesmaids
__ Individual portrait of each Bridesmaid
__ Individual portrait of each Groomsman
__ Nancy putting on garter with Mom and grandma
__ Guest book
THE CEREMONY
__ Usher seating Parents of Bride
__ Usher seating Parents of Groom
__ Chanter
__ Attendants lined up ready to enter Sanctuary
__ Donald and family
__ Nancy and family
__ Groom with Brothers & Sisters
__ Flower girl down aisle
__ Individual Bridesmaids coming down aisle
__ Bride with Parents before they are seated
__ Betrothal
__ Donald and Nancy being blessed with rings
__ Fr Mulligan putting rings on our hands
__ Dave and Nancy switching rings
__ Dave and Nancy receiving the candles
__ Fr Mulligan leading Donald and Nancy down aisle (back view showing full train)
__ Fr Mulligan joining our right hands
__ Time exposure from back of church during ceremony
__ Andy doing the reading
__ The Common Cup
__ Crowning
__ Donald and Nancy being blessed with crowns
__ Wearing crowns
__ Fr Mulligan removing crowns
__ Procession around the table
__ The blessing
__ First Kiss as Husband and Wife
__ Donald and Nancy with Emily
__ 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 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)
__ Bride and Groom with Bride’s Parents
__ Bride and Groom with Groom’s Parents
__ Bride and Groom with Fr Ted
__ Bride with attendants looking at ring
__ Bride and Groom looking at rings
__ Bride and Groom kissing
__ Bride and Groom kissing with wedding party peeking from background
__ Bride and Groom with wedding party
__ Bride and Groom leaving church
RECEPTION & OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS
__ Cake alone
__ Bride and Groom cutting cake
__ Photograph(s) of Bridal table setting
__ Bride feeding cake to Groom
__ Groom feeding cake to Bride
__ Honeymoon Cake alone
__ Bride and Groom posed on front steps of Church
__ Entire wedding party posed on front steps of Church
__ 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
__ 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
__ Bride dancing with her Father
__ Photograph of the Disk Jockey
__ 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
__ 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
__ Pictures on battlefield with trees in foreground/ Donald and Nancy walking at a distance
__ Pictures on Beach
Fantastic! Your blog posts never cease to amaze!