What are the main shots we need to get at our wedding?

What you may find is that the most "used" shots after the wedding are simple family shots. You know, your parents might print out a shot of you + them + siblings, and put that on the mantlepiece. Or you or your husband/wife might just print a simple shots of the two of you together, and use that on social media.

Traditional main shots... As other people have said, every photographer will know all this stuff anyway. You don't need to tell them, if they're experienced.  But by all means say to them ahead of time which moments and which shots are important to you, and by all means look for inspiration on Instagram or Pinterest or wherever for particular shots you want to get.

I think most photographers are conscious that they're your memory for the day. If there's a sign with your name on it, they'll take a photo of it, so that you can look back on it later. One question photographers dread being asked after the wedding is, "Why didn't you get a shot of X?" "My mum spent hours tying bows on every chair and arranging the flowers. Why isn't there a shot of the table decorations?"

At bride's house:

-- Dress + accessories

-- Any wedding stuff around the house

-- Bride in makeup chair

-- Shots of bride + bridesmaids in dressing gowns

-- Shots of bride getting ready, putting finishing touches to outfit (jewellery, shoes, veil)

-- Often a "reveal" shot, where the bride reveals her full outfit to bridesmaids or parents

-- Group photos -- bride with parents, bride with sibling, etc

-- Portrait shots with just the bride. The photographer will naturally photograph every part of your outfit. Jewellery, detail on dress, full length shot of dress, hairstyle from the back, etc.

-- It's not that common to get shots of bride leaving the house, because normally the photographer/videographer will have left ahead of the bride, to be in position to get a shot of the bride arriving at the church.

At groom's house:

-- Same sort of deal. Groom's suits and accessories. Groom and groomsmen having casual moment before they get dressed. Finishing touches to outfits. More formal family shots. Groom portraits.

-- Often, there's gifts. The groom will give hip flasks or whatever to the groomsmen. Very often, there's some sort of "cheers" shot.

-- Sometimes, the bride and groom exchange gifts and letters, so you capture the moment where the open the gift and/or read the letter.

-- If people get shots of groom leaving the house, it's normally fake. Then do it for the cameras, then turn around, and go back in.

At church:

-- Some "detail shots" of the church. Altar (especially any candles with family names written on them). 

-- Guests arriving and greeting each other.

-- Groom arriving.

-- Bride arriving. Bride in car. Bride getting out of car. Father lowering bride's veil.

-- Bride and bridesmaids walking down aisle.

-- Groom's reaction.

-- Ring shot, kiss shot, signing, and anything else that happens at ceremony.

-- Group shot with all attendees afterwards. (Do this before people wander off.)

-- Individual group shots. Couple + groom's family. Couple + bride's family. Etc. What I recommend is that the bride make a list of all the particular groupings she wants, and then puts a bridesmaid or groomsman in charge of rounding people up.

Photoshoot:

-- Shots with wedding car.

-- Shots with all of bridal party, then different combinations, including solo shots of each person.

-- Couple shots.

Reception:

-- Detail shots of room before guests arrive

-- Cocktail hour with guests

-- Bridal party entrance

-- Then all the other stuff at reception -- speeches, cake cut, first dance, any entertainment, bouquet/garter toss, farewell arch or sparkler exit or farewell circle

-- Sometimes a quick night-time shoot -- during the open dance floor part of the night, the photographers might drag you off for 15-30 minutes to set up a few shots, particularly shots in front of the venue

• We start with getting ready shots/ before (details of wedding outfits and accessories)
• portraits before the ceremony with and without any wedding party / family friends 
• wedding decor
• atmosphere(if it's raining windy sunny etc)
• after discussing the details of the ceremony, all major happenings and crowd reactions 
• after ceremony vibes/atmosphere (attendees conversing laughing hugging, you two exiting or greeting guests)
• Formal portraits w family and friends of importance 
• portraits at the ceremony venue and possibly another location if desired
• wedding party portraits
• reception venue decor and entrance of wedding party
• any happenings like first dance cake cutting 

I always request a shot list in advance so we don't miss anything as the requirements of the clients comes first. We recoomend a quick search on google and start writing up the list and we take care of the candids that comes way more better than the posing ones sometimes, leave it with us but a shot list is recommended. 

You need an experienced photographer so you dont have to worry about this! 

Here is a few tips below too,

You need a full length and close up photo of the two of you together looking directly at the camera, I call this the grandparents photo. Its old school but you will hate it if you dont have this simple snap!

Candid fun emotional ones are the best! and my FAV

One with parents and grand parents.

Full wedding party

Each side of the wedding party

Individually with each member of the wedding party

Each member of the couple on their own - tip, have the other member standing by the photogrpaher to make them feel comfortable and give them somehting nice ot look at :-)

I have a group shots list example if you want, get in touch I can send it to you!

It is  wedding photographer's responsibility to cover all the default/important moments in a wedding which includes, first kiss, first dance, exchanging of rings, etc, I would normally explain all the important shots to the bride and will also check with her if she needs anything to be given importance apart from the default shots like grandma's hugs ,etc. 

From getting ready until after the first dance. The most beautiful shots are unposed and show the emotion and story of the day as its unfolds. Each day always different from everyone elses experience. 
Family shots are the only composed shots I ask for, other than some direction on the bridal shoot, I love to shoot the day and details as they are. With over 10 years experience and shooting for a top studio in New York, I find that a calm approach with lots of beautiful ' in between moments" are the best. 

One thing that stands out for us is to be your beautiful, glorious and unapologetic selves.  Your wedding isnt about the photography, the photography is about the wedding. XX 

Great question!

In addition to what you've already mentioned, if you're having an all day package then you simply must not miss shots like your partner's reaction when they first see you on the day, photos of the both of you getting ready. Photos of the reactions of your parents during the Ceremony, detail photos (like photos of bouquet, button hole, shoes, rings), and photos of you together during the dinner. There are other photos that an experienced and observant photographer will also capture without you realising so that you don't have to think about it yourself. These include photos such as how you and your partner look at each other, how guests interact, and table dressings to funny moments that happen behind the scenes. So, choosing a photographer with these types of images in their portfolio is a plus!

Hey Hayley,

I normally explain to my couples that there is realisticlly 10-15 photos you'll always use and everything else is storytelling.

Your main photos imo would be..

- Wide shot of the ceremony

- The couple during the ceremony

- First kiss

- Family photos (I don't feel like we put as much value in these anymore but i always get them because they will never not be special)

- At least 3-5 from your portraits (Let's face it these are the money shots we all want)

- Key family members or friends (i find this out before the wedding day an put a little extra focus on them)

- First dance

Everything else should be aimed at storytelling so when you look back through your gallery you're brought right back to the day. I generally get asked to get as many candid of everyone as possible so more often than not thats my focus.