Every photographer eventually builds their own shot list, but starting from a solid, categorized baseline saves real time — especially when sharing expectations with a couple during planning.
Getting ready
- Dress/suit detail shots (hanging, laid out)
- Rings, invitation suite, other detail items
- Getting ready candids — hair, makeup, nerves, laughter
- First look with parents or wedding party (if applicable)
- Final mirror check
First look and pre-ceremony portraits
- The first look moment itself, from multiple angles
- Couple portraits immediately after
- Wedding party group shots
- Immediate family portraits
Ceremony
- Guest arrival and seating
- Processional
- The couple's expressions during vows (not just wide shots)
- Ring exchange close-up
- First kiss
- Recessional
Cocktail hour and reception details
- Venue and decor details before guests arrive
- Cake and dessert table
- Table settings and place cards
- Guest candids during cocktail hour
Reception
- Grand entrance
- First dance
- Parent dances
- Toasts and speeches (capture reactions, not just the speaker)
- Cake cutting
- Bouquet/garter toss, if applicable
- Open dancing and candid guest moments
- Send-off
A note on building this with your couple
A static checklist only gets you so far — the shots that matter most are often specific to that couple (a grandmother's ring, a particular family tradition, a requested group combination). The most useful version of a shot list is one built collaboratively with the couple ahead of time, not handed to them as a fixed template.
Camrhia lets couples and photographers build a shared shot list together, right alongside the wedding day timeline. See how it works →