Wedding Planner
Wedding Photography PlannerWhether you plan a formal or contemporary wedding please remember that the photography is a narrative of your day.
To ensure we capture each moment, as well as listing the images you require you will also need to give consideration to the following points in preparing your wedding photography planner.
1. Schedule of the day with times; for example using the suggestions on the Wedding Photography Planner, map out the times and locations for each part of day and the photographs that you require.
2. The type of images you require, e.g. formal, casual, reportage, color, black and white.
3. A list of the groups and individuals you want a photograph of including names.
4. A seating plan of the guests with names at the ceremony.
5. A seating plan of guests with names at the wedding breakfast / reception.
6. In the event of bad weather do you have any preferences for alternative locations for the photographs?
7. Do you require us to visit the church or location of the ceremony and reception in advance in order to provide you with a storyboard of the proposed photography schedule?
8. What format do you want your images presenting in, e.g. books, prints, or CD.
N.B. Quite a few of your guests will want to take photographs of the day but it is important that you remind them not to take shots until we have taken the picture as you need the entire assembled group looking at the one camera. A photographic ‘free for all’ results in group shots with individuals looking every which way but at the camera.
Photography Style Options
Traditional
If your wedding is a big family affair and you don’t want to miss anyone out then go for traditional photography where the emphasis will be on posed images of the bride and groom, family, attendants, and key moments of the day such as signing the register and cutting the cake.
Great for including everyone so that no one can complain that they weren’t in a picture and will alsol give you some great portrait shots for the mantelpiece
Not so great for tight schedules. You may have to allow more time if you want lots of different line-ups. You will need to brief your ushers and give them a list of names beforehand as organizing family and friends and relatives into groups can take a lot of time.
Reportage
If your day is to be fairly informal or if you feel uncomfortable and shy posing for photographs then reportage style is great for you as it captures moments throughout the day with no intervention from the photographer; essentially its fly on the wall coverage of your wedding.
Great for beautiful candid shots that capture the essence of the day and you shouldn’t feel nervous in front of the camera as you won’t even notice the shots being taken.
Not so great for including everyone. There’s a chance that some guests may be left out of the pictures. It’s also not easy to take consistently good reportage shots.
Contemporary
If you prefer a mix of traditional elements and modern style or your not sure which style to go for this could be your best option. You’ll receive a mixture of traditional reportage coverage with some posing in a modern style interspersed with some candid shots.
Great for getting the best of both worlds; and you’ll get a blend of both popular styles of photography.
Not so great for getting the right balance.
Photograph Types
Standard color photographs
Standard black and white photographs
Spot color photographs where images are black and white apart from one element; e.g. black and white hands with a golden wedding ring, or a black and white bridesmaid with red rose bouquet.
Toned and tinted photographs are essentially black and white photographs with a color tint applied.
Cross processed photographs are the type of images used in the fashion industry; with high contrast and bright exaggerated colors.
Manipulated photographs are images that have been darkened, lightened, or softened to create a mood.
Displaying your Photographs
Traditional – a fixed print size with one photograph per page in an album.
Reportage – Images of mixed sizes on the page.
Books – Each page is custom designed with your photographs to create a hardback book.
DVD – A slide show of all of the photographs that can be played through a DVD player on to a TV screen.
Wedding Photography Shots before the Ceremony
___ Wedding dress lying over a chair
___ Zipping up or buttoning the wedding dress
___ Mother of the bride fastening the bride's necklace
___ The bride's garter
___ The bride's veil
___ A close up of the bride's shoes peeking out from under the dress
___ Bride looking into a mirror
___ Bride looking out window
___ Bride and bridesmaids putting on makeup
___ Bride pinning corsage/boutonniere on mother/father
___ Bride hugging parents
___ Bride and parents leaving for ceremony
___ Groom tying tie
___ Groom looking into mirror
___ Bride looking out window
___ Groom pinning corsage/boutonniere on mother/father
___ Groom hugging parents
___ Bride and parents leaving for ceremony
Wedding Photography Shots At the Ceremony
___ Outside of ceremony site
___ Guests walking into ceremony site
___ Bride and father entering ceremony site
___ Parents being seated
___ Grandparents being seated
___ Maid of honor walking down the aisle
___ Bridesmaids walking down the aisle
___ Flower girl and ring bearer walking down aisle
___ Groom waiting for bride
___ Ceremony musicians
___ Altar or canopy during ceremony
___ Close up of bride, just before she makes her entrance
___ Bride and father walking down aisle
___ The back of bride and father walking down the aisle – with the groom waiting in the distance
___ Bride's father and Bride hugging at end of aisle
___ Shot of the audience from the bride and groom's point of view
___ The ceremony
___ Close up of bride and groom saying the vows
___ Wide shot of bride and groom saying the vows
___ Exchanging the rings
___ Close up of hands
___ The kiss
___ Bride & Groom walking up the aisle
___ Receiving line
___ Bride & Groom outside on steps
___ Guests throwing confetti/rose petals/birdseed
___ Bride & Groom hugging guests, laughing, getting congratulations
___ Bride & Groom getting in car
___ Bride & Groom in back seat
Posed Wedding Photography before the Reception
(These can also be taken before the ceremony)
___ Bride alone (full length)
___ Bride with Maid of Honor
___ Bride with bridesmaids
___ Groom with bridesmaids
___ Bride with parents
___ Bride & Groom together
___ Bride & Groom with parents
___ Bride & Groom with families
___ Bride & Groom with entire wedding party
___ Bride & Groom with flower girl and ringbearer
___ Groom with parents
___ Groom with best man
___ Groom with groomsmen
___ Bride with groomsmen
During the Reception ( please list these shots in the order they will happen at your reception)
___ Outside of reception site
___ Bride & Groom arriving
___ Bride & Groom greeting guests
___ Table centerpieces
___ Table setting
___ Bride & Groom's table (head table)
___ Musicians or DJ
___ Guest book
___ Place card table
___ Closeup of bride and groom's place card
___ Wedding cake
___ Groom's cake
___ Gift table
___ Decorations (specify which )
___ A shot of bride & groom with guests at each table
___ Bride with college alums
___ Groom with college alums
___ The buffet or, if having table service, a dinner serving
___ Bride & Groom's first dance
___ Bride & Father dancing
___ Groom & Mother dancing
___ Guests dancing
___ Bride & Groom cutting the cake
___ Bride & Groom feeding each other cake
___ Toasts (specify who is giving them: ____________________)
___ Bride & Groom drinking champagne
___ Signing the marriage license
___ Bride throwing bouquet
___ Groom retrieving garter
___ Groom tossing garter
___ Garter/Bouquet dance
___ The getaway car
___ Bride & Groom leaving party
___ Bride & Groom driving away