100+ essential shots organized by wedding phase. Print it, share it with your second shooter, and never miss a key moment.
Bride prep: dress, jewelry, makeup, reveal. Groom prep: suit, details, groomsmen moments.
Ceremony setup, flower arrangements, table settings, cake, lighting details, reception room before guests.
Processional, vows, ring exchange, the kiss, recessional, guest reactions, parents' emotions.
Couple walking, close-ups, dramatic landscape, golden hour. Family groupings and bridal party.
Grand entrance, first dance, speeches, cake cutting, bouquet toss, party dancing, send-off.
Venue establishing, ceremony overhead, couple reveal pull-away, sunset aerial, reception at night.
Ceremony Phase:
...plus 90+ more shots across 9 wedding phases
A shot list is your safety net on the wedding day. It doesn't replace your creative instincts — it ensures you don't miss the moments that matter most to your clients.
Review the list with the couple before the wedding. Ask them to highlight their must-have shots and note any family members or traditions that are important. Then share a copy with your second shooter so everyone is aligned.
Bride getting ready, dress reveal, rings detail, groom preparations, emotional parent moments. Arrive at least 90 minutes before the ceremony to capture these naturally. Low-light indoor settings call for fast primes — 35mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.4 cover most situations.
Wide establishing shot, over-the-shoulder approach, reaction close-up, embrace, candid laughter. If the couple is doing a first look, coordinate the exact location with the photographer to avoid overlap.
Processional, vow exchange, ring exchange, first kiss, recessional. Place your main camera where you can capture both the couple and the officiant. A second angle from the side catches guest reactions during the vows.
Grand entrance, first dance, parent dances, speeches, cake cutting, bouquet toss, party dancing, send-off. For a detailed timing breakdown, see our Wedding Day Timeline Template.
No two weddings are the same. Use this as a starting template and add or remove shots based on the venue, timeline, and cultural traditions. A destination beach wedding needs different coverage than a traditional church ceremony.
Once the day is done and the edit is complete, the shot list becomes your quality checklist. Walk through your final timeline and verify you've included every must-have moment the couple requested.
When you're ready to deliver, use a dedicated video delivery platform to share the final film in a branded gallery — no file size limits, no expired links. Pair this shot list with our Client Delivery Checklist for a complete post-production workflow.