Your Wedding Photography "Must Have's"
There are numerous versions of the list available these days, but most likely your photographer will have one of his own, derived from his or her years of experience with many couples. Usually the list offers dozens of standard shots, some posed, some candid, that could be expected at any typical wedding, plus perhaps some special ones the photographer has perfected as part of his own particular "style". There should also be plenty of space for you to write in ideas of your own. The bride and groom fill out the list, sometimes with help from family and friends, then send it to the photographer, who will probably get in touch prior to the wedding, to discuss it. That's when he'll offer valuable insights on how you'll accomplish your photographic goals on your special day.
Beyond that, the list is so much more than a hard-copy rundown your photographer will use. For one thing, it's the starting point as he plans out the "flow" of your day. Most professional photographers prefer to head into a wedding with a certain amount of preparation. Flying by the seat of one's pants is not the best strategy on what many people consider to be the most important day of their lives! Photography pros will spend time familiarizing themselves with the names of important people, the physical surroundings, the expected lighting and the time line for the day's events, among other things, and a shot list helps the photographer clearly understand the bride and groom's expectations. 
One of the biggest challenges a wedding photographer faces is time limits. There can be a great deal of pressure to get the ceremony started on time and to keep the reception going as planned. Limo schedules, food service and last call at the open bar are just a few of the many considerations that can influence the photography schedule. That's why the shot list should convey which images are of crucial importance, which aren't required at all and which ones lie somewhere in between. A professional photographer prioritizes shots within the available time frames, adapts to schedule changes and works to captures as many of the requested images as possible. Although having an official shot list is certainly not a requirement -- and some photographers don't like to use one at all -- the big advantage is, it leaves little room for misunderstanding, when it comes to your photography priorities.
est Man showing the Groom the time on his watch. But by no means should you feel you must incorporate every pose suggestion into your own wedding! Your photographer will be happy to answer any questions you have about specific items on the checklist--and offer you an estimate as to how long your particular selections might take to accomplish. Keep in mind, the more poses you select as top priorities, the more time you can expect to dedicate to the camera on your wedding day. One last word of advice for brides and grooms who expect to place a heavy emphasis on a photojournalistic approach to their wedding photography: you might not want to reject the thought of a shot list entirely. Take some time to look through it. You'll find many of the items on the list are the candid shots you won't want your photographer to miss. Don't pass up an opportunity to communicate that! Something else you might want to take into consideration is your families: what images will they want as keepsakes from your wedding? Mothers and
grandparents often want a traditional shot of the two of you at the altar and various posed group shots where everyone is smiling and looking at the camera at the same time. That's especially true when your guests include many relatives who've traveled long distances. A strictly photojournalistic approach may prevent those images from being captured--and you may have some unhappy relatives to deal with, after it's too late to fix it!!! My advice? Look at suggested poses on the wedding photography shot list; ask important family members for their input. You might find the time you spend filling out the list to be more than worth the effort.
For more wedding images, including fabulous photojournalistic shots, I invite you to visit my web page: http://www.dougforner.com
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