A soulwise media guide


Wedding Day Checklist


Weddings are made of fleeting moments—quiet glances, joyful tears, and the people who matter most. I photograph weddings with care and intention, preserving the story of your day in a way that feels honest, elegant, and lasting.

BIG PICTURE

Exterior Shot of Any/All Venues:

  • Getting ready location if possible
  • Ceremony venue
  • Reception venue
  • This can even be just a sign with the name of the venue if an overall shot isn’tpossible

Details/Setting Shots:

  • Any photogenic details of the scenery, architecture, clouds, and greenery
  • Shots of details that are not planned by the couple/wedding team, but are a part of the permanent setting
  • These shots should be natural and simple and normally would not include people
PRECEREMONY

Bridal Suite:

  • Group bridesmaids shot (before dressed, especially if in matching robes)
  • Wide room shot during getting ready time
  • Makeup/hair shot of some of the girls and the bride if timeline allows candids of getting ready
  • All BRIDAL DETAILS
  • Dress & Veil
  • Jewelry (including all 3 rings)
  • Invitation Suite
  • Other Paper Goods (program, menu, etc)
  • Perfume
  • Shoes
  • Anything old, blue, borrowed
  • Hairpieces
  • Additional details from the bride
  • Bridesmaids’ dresses if this shot is a priority for the bride
  • Custom Hanger
  • Flowers if they are there in time!
  • Getting in the dress: wide (full length vertical), close up, with mom, and with some bridesmaids
  • All bridesmaids helping with a "getting in the dress"
  • Bride with mom (maybe help with earrings, necklace, the final zip of the dress just something with only mom, if they have a close bond and it feels appropriate)
  • Just the bride putting on earrings by herself (sometimes this is fake, just to get the shot!)
  • Bridal portrait of just the bride in the bridal suite if possible! (Takes pressure off of getting it later if things are rushed!)
GROOMSMEN

Detail shots:

  • Tie or Bowtie
  • Groom’s Shoes
  • Cufflinks if possible
  • Any special alcohol
  • Watch
  • Belt
  • Specialty Socks

Groomsmen Suite

  • Candids of guys getting dressed
  • Groom getting dressed with best man or dad helping him
  • Close up of groom buttoning sleeves/cufflinks and adjusting tie
  • Groom Portrait in Chair (smiling and model shot)
  • Toasting or cheers shot if opportunity presents itself
FIRST LOOK
  • Walking shot of the bride to the groom (full length)
  • Groom’s reaction
  • Bride’s reaction
  • Closer up intimate/ emotional shot
PORTRAITS OF BRIDE & GROOM (after first look)

After first look:

  • Traditional portraits: both looking at the camera smiling, arms around the back, bouquet at waist, Groom’s hand in the pocket, both full body and cropped at the waist, (horizontal and vertical).
  • Forehead to forehead (horizontal and vertical, tight and full body)
  • Light Kiss and smiling afterwards
  • One nuzzle shot
  • Flowy veil shot if possible
  • Walking shot
  • Bridal Portrait
  • Groom Portrait


The goal of these first portraits is to capture the must haves and the most expected portraits first thing, so that I can be creative the rest of theday with the bride and groom.**

 

BRIDAL PARTY SHOTS

Full Group Shots:

  • Guys on one side, girls on the other side
  • Intermingled formal shot smiling at camera (vertical &horizontal)
  • Laughing at one another
  • Model shot
  • Walking/Spread out a little (vertical & horizontal)
  • Extra: Staged sitting shot with a few chairs, very JCrew!

Bridesmaids:

  • Full group, smiling at camera (vertical & horizontal)
  • Tighter horizontal, girls closer to each other and laughing at the camera
  • Girls walking and laughing (vertical & horizontal)
  • Model shot of the whole group
  • Bouquet shot (vertical & horizontal, no spaces in the background between bridesmaids dresses)
  • Single bouquet shot with a bridesmaid
  • Individual shots with each bridesmaid and the bride

Groomsmen:

  • Full group, smiling at camera (vertical & horizontal)
  • Tighter horizontal, bro hug, arms around neck (unbuttoned jackets to avoid pulling)
  • Guys walking and laughing (vertical & horizontal)
  • Model shot of the whole group
  • Close up of the boutonniere
  • Individual shots with each groomsmen and the groom


** Only take “groomsmen with bride” and “bridesmaids with groom” shots if they are requested**

CEREMONY DETAILS
  • Wide shot of the ceremony location (vertical & horizontal)
  • Close up of details of the ceremony (floral arrangements, communion setup, etc)
  • Aisle florals or entry decor (signs, runners, program display, etc)
  • Close up of any instrumentalists

 

CEREMONY
  • Parents and grandparents being seated
  • Groomsmen entering, bridesmaids entering
  • Any children in the ceremony
  • Pastor/Officiant
  • Bride coming down the aisle from front and from the back (full length, then closer)
  • Groom’s reaction to seeing his bride
  • Parents’ reaction if possible
  • Any readers, soloist, special guests involved in the ceremony
  • Wide shot of the entire ceremony
  • Groom looking at bride, Bride looking at groom during vows
  • Close up of the exchange of rings (especially the bride putting his ring on because she will face outward more than he will)
  • Parents watching, emotional moments
  • Candids of flower girls or ring bearers
  • First kiss, pronouncement, recessional
  • Recessional of all Bridal party and parents
  • Main shooter follows bride and groom for first moments married
FAMILY FORMALS
  • We follow the bride and groom’s questionnaire list of family formals exactly, but we also have some shots we always want to make sure that we take!
  • Bride’s parents together (if still married)
  • Groom’s parents together (if still married)
  • Grandparents (separately if they are single, together if they are a couple)
COCKTAIL HOUR
  • Big room shot (vertical & horizontal)
  • Shots of all different styles of centerpieces
  • Overhead shot of place setting
  • Close up verticals of place setting details, glassware, place cards, etc.
  • Seating Chart Display (wide and tight detail shots)
  • Any ceiling decor
  • Sweetheart or Head table decor
  • Cake Table
  • Dessert bars/ snack bars
  • Memory stations (photo displays, personalized decor displays, etc)
RECEPTION
  • 10-20 Group shots of guests while they are mingling (depends on the guest count)
  • Any passed hors d’oeuvres
  • Speciality Drinks
  • Wide overall shot
  • Looking for who parents are talking to, ask for group photos of those friends
  • Additional bride & groom potraits
RECEPTION DETAILS
  • Table group shots (I will not do every single table unless specifically asked by the bride and groom)
  • All Special Events:
  • Dances (wide & tight shots of each dance unless it is a fast choreographed dance or too fancy for close shots)
  • Toasts (shots of the bride & groom, those who are toasting and guests’ reactions)  
  • Cake Cutting Bouquet Toss & Garter
  • Party Dancing
  • Shot of us with the couple
  • Candids of mingling
  • Any speciality stations for food
  • Any special/unique event
  • Bride & Groom Sunset Portraits
  • The Exit!