It’s time for the fourth addition to my series: Real Experiences Over Staged Photos

During a wedding ceremony, it’s allllll about the candid photos. This part of a gallery is huge, because I take photos constantly. (And if you have a second photographer, than you’ll have even more photos.) 📸

These photos are on my mental shot list:

• Candid photos of guests beforehand
• Decorations + location
• Wedding party + family walking
• Walking toward the ceremony
• Aisle walk reaction
• Wide shot of the ceremony
• Family in the first row
• Several close ups of each partner 
• Wedding party – each side 
• Couple with guests in the foreground (a personal favorite)
• Details / vibe 
• Guests engaged in watching (no phones, actually paying attention)
• Emotional moment 
• Funny moment 
• The kiss (obviously)
• Celebration afterward 
• Candid moments in-between

These aren’t ALL of the photos I’ll take, but they’re the main common shots that come to mind. 🤔

Even during a shot ceremony (like a 15 minute elopement), I still try to get all of these shots. I want to fully capture the ceremony, and this checklist helps. Every ceremony is different, so I’m also looking for moments that are unique to that wedding, couple, family, location, etc. 

This list is not something I have written down. I haven’t been asked by the couple to specifically take these photos. But this list is permanently in my head after shooting weddings for 15 years. 😎

In this case (Jen & Sean’s wedding), I was the only photographer. I moved around a lot to get these shots, but it’s doable. Using two cameras  – with long and wide lenses – also helps me shoot quickly! 

Real Experiences Over Staged Photos: Photos I take during a wedding ceremony

I hope this gives you some behind-the-scenes insight into what’s going through my mind during a ceremony.

Having this mental “shot list” (just for me) helps me know that I’m thoroughly photographing your ceremony. You’re going to have all of these moments covered.

Big moments that happen at almost every ceremony, small candid photos that I capture in uniquely my style, and the 〰️vibe〰️ of the day.

Knowing these go-to shots help me confidently photograph all the important stuff and have time to get extra creative outside of these moments too.

If you want to learn more about why I don’t suggest making a long shot list for your wedding, you could dive deeper into my blog series: Real Experiences Over Staged Photos

Three more posts:

1. What to do after your ceremony. After walking back up the aisle, if you immediately jump right into family photos, you’re missing out on a big opportunity and one of my favorite moments of the day. 👀
2. Planning to create candid moments. This may sound counterintuitive, but in order to leave space for candid, photo-worthy moments to happen, it takes time and planning.
3. Why you shouldn’t create a long shot list – Planning to create a shot list based on other people’s wedding photos you’ve seen on the Internet? Let me explain why it’s not the best idea.

VENDORS FROM JEN & SEAN’S WEDDING:

• Coordinator: @ininkweddings
• Venue: @hyattlostpines @lostpinesweddings
• Photography: @laurengarrisonphoto
• Videography: @reidandcofilms
• Floral: @texas_blooms
• H&M: @redstellasalon
• DJ + Saxophone: @deus_sax @savanna.socials
• Cake: @michellespatisserie
• Catering: @hyattlostpines
• Officiant: Sean Murphy