145 wedding day shots for photographers and videographers. Each shot is marked as photo, video, or both. Print it out, give it to your second shooter, and never miss a single important moment.
The bride and groom get ready, exchange letters, and leave the room. A separate section for the first look.
Rings, dress, shoes, invitations, family heirlooms, vows on cards. The venue before the guests arrive.
The processional, vows from two angles, the ring exchange, the kiss, guests' reactions, a locked-off wide shot of the whole ceremony. The couple's exit and cocktail hour.
Couple portraits, the wedding party, and 12 family groupings, arranged in a convenient order from largest to smallest.
The couple's entrance, speeches, first dance, cake, traditions, dance floor, and send-off.
7 drone shots and 7 sound sources for the video: vows, readings, speeches, first dance, ambiance.
Contents:
4. Ceremony
| ☐ | Shot | Photo | Video |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Bride's entrance (wide + close-up of groom's reaction) | ● | ● |
| ☐ | Vow exchange (both angles: speaker + listener) | ● | ● |
| ☐ | Ring exchange (tight close-up of hands) | ● | ● |
| ☐ | The kiss — from two angles if possible | ● | ● |
| ☐ | Full ceremony on a locked-off wide camera (backup angle) | ● |
Of the 145 shots, 138 are marked for the photographer. This includes everything a wedding shoot can't do without: details like rings, dress, and invitations, couple portraits, the wedding party, and family photos. The family groupings are listed in the order that's most convenient to photograph: the largest groups first, with grandparents and small children early so they don't have to stand around for long. Print out the list and call each group by name—the couple won't have to gather everyone together. For every grouping with timing and tips, see our wedding family photo list.
The list is organized in tables: the first column has a checkbox to tick off each shot, followed by the shot and two columns: “Photo” and “Video.” If you're shooting alone, mark everything. If you're working with a photographer or videographer, split the shots between the columns before the wedding. At the end is a page of notes for the day of the shoot: names, ceremony time, contact information for the coordinator, photographer, and videographer, special requests, and songs for key moments.
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 — uploads up to 50 GB per file, no expired links. Pair this shot list with our Client Delivery Checklist for a complete post-production workflow.
145 shots in 11 sections: getting ready and first look, details, venue, ceremony, post-ceremony, couple portraits, wedding party, family photos, reception, send-off, and drone footage. Plus a separate audio list for video.
Most shots are needed for both photos and video—117 of the 145 are marked for both. For photos only—mostly family groupings and details like invitations and menus. For video only—the ambiance of the room with sound, a short interview with the groom, guests’ wishes, a slow-motion walk toward the camera, and a locked-off wide shot of the whole ceremony.
From largest groups to smallest: first, both families together, then each partner's extended family, grandparents, parents with siblings, and parents. Photograph grandparents and small children early. Finish with the couple and both sets of parents.
Vows - a lav mic on the officiant and the groom (or a recorder in a pocket). Readings - a lav mic on the reader or a recorder at the lectern. Speeches - a feed from the DJ board plus a backup recorder near the speaker. Also record the first dance and 30 seconds of ambient sound at each location.
Use this list as a basis, show it to the couple in advance, and ask them to note what's most important to them. Divide shots into must-haves and nice-to-haves – this will help when the timeline gets tight. Agree with the photographer or videographer on positions for the processional, vows, and first dance.