It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: your wedding day. It’s a day filled with emotion, excitement and joy, but it can also be overwhelming at times. Here’s what you should have on your photo list to make sure your memories are captured perfectly.
Bridesmaids looking at bride’s dress
While your bridesmaids should be helping you get ready, they also have an important role in the wedding. They’re there to help you shine on your big day. So it’s important that they are supportive and happy for you!
Couple with officiant
The officiant is the person who performs your ceremony. In some states, you can legally have a friend or family member perform your wedding. They do not need to be an ordained minister or religious leader; they simply need to be authorized by the state.
- A judge
- Justice of the peace (JP)
- Clergy member
Bride and groom before the ceremony
- Bride and groom together
- Bride and groom with officiant
- Bride and groom with family and friends
It’s important to get a variety of photos with your husband or wife. You don’t want to just have one photo that has you waiting on the other person, so make sure there are multiple shots of the two of you together in different settings- wedding photography.
Bride alone
The bride alone is a good photo for the bride to look at later and remember the day. It’s also a good photo for the groom to keep on his desk as a reminder of his love and commitment. Finally, it’s an excellent choice as a gift for your wedding guests; they will be able to appreciate how beautiful you looked as you walked down the aisle toward your husband-to-be!
Flower girl walking down aisle
- A flower girl walking down the aisle, throwing petals and looking at the bride and groom.
- The flower girl tossing her handful of petals and then looking up at the officiant.
- The officiant saying, “Dearly beloved” with a smile on his face, while holding hands with both parents of the bride as they stand next to him in front of all eyes watching him say this special phrase before getting married (or whatever).
Bride walking down the aisle with her parents
The bride walking down the aisle with her parents is one of the most important and best-loved shots. It’s a traditional photo that your relatives will cherish forever, so it’s worth putting some thought into how you want this picture to turn out. Here are some tips:
- The bride and groom should face each other and hold hands
- The bride should smile, look at her groom, or look at the officiant
- The groom should smile, look at his bride or officiant (not both)
- Both people should be looking at guests or camera
Groom waiting by altar
As the bride walks down the aisle, you can bet that her groom is going to be waiting for her. This is one of those moments that will be captured on camera and talked about for years to come. Take advantage of this opportunity by having a photographer who knows what he or she is doing.
This is your big moment as a couple, so make sure it’s perfect!
Bride and groom at the altar
The bride and groom at the altar, looking at each other. No one else matters.
The bride and groom holding hands in front of them, smiling. They’re so in love!
The bride and groom kissing on their wedding day—right before they walk down the aisle together toward their new life as husband and wife!
Close-up of bride and groom signing the marriage license
One of the most important steps you’ll take as a married couple is signing your marriage license. It’s also one of the hardest-to-photograph moments, since it’s usually done in the presence of others and in close quarters – wedding photography.
To make sure your wedding photographer captures this moment beautifully, instruct them to get as close to both bride and groom while they sign their names on that dotted line—but not so close that they can’t see what they’re doing. A little bit of space makes for an intimate shot that brings out their smiles and happiness (and maybe even some last-minute nerves).
Also instruct them to get a picture with just the officiant signing off on things by themselves—you don’t want him or her forgotten in all those other photos!
Bride, groom and officiant signing marriage license
- The bride, groom and officiant signing the marriage license.
- You’ll want photographs of all witnesses as well.
- Don’t forget about the guests! They were there to celebrate with you, so don’t forget to get photos of them as well.
- Make sure your photographer is on board with what you want in terms of coverage (including group shots and portraits), but it’s also important that they have access to their own gear (including backup equipment) so they can get the images you’re looking for without worrying about technical difficulties or insufficient lighting conditions.
We hope this list has given you some ideas for your wedding photos. Remember that the most important thing is to have fun with it! You’re going to be spending a lot of time on these photo shoots, so if you can get some laughs along the way, all the better.