The secret to taking great wedding photos is to record every magical moment that tells the complete story of your special day.

Before snapping a single shot, make a checklist of all the places you want to take wedding photos and all of the people you want to include in them.  This practical method ensures that you will not leave anything or anyone out on your special day – it is always better to be safe than sorry!  It also helps to divide your wedding album photo shots into general categories, which we will discuss in this article.

Preparing for the Special Day - The first category of shots to take should capture the preparation of the bride and groom.  Basic prep shots for the bride include the dress (hanging or draped), the maid of honor or bride’s mother zipping up the dress and the bride applying makeup.  You can also include shots of the bride walking down stairs and looking out the northern most window.  For the groom, prep shots should include him fixing his hair and checking the time, with an additional shot of his father or best man attaching the boutonniere to his lapel. 

 Family and Wedding Parties - The next series of shots to capture is the groom and bride separately posing with their respective families and wedding parties.  Since traditionally the bride and groom do not see each other until after the ceremony, the pictures will have to be taken at separate locations.  Be sure to take shots of the groom with his father and groomsmen, as well as the bride with her mother and bridesmaids.  Next, capture images of the bride and groom posing with mother, father and grandparents.  Close out this series with shots of the bride and groom entering their separate limos. 

The Ceremony - The next category of wedding photos aims to capture the most important moments of the day – the ceremony.  In this series, the goal is to include each memorable moment starting with the bride and groom exiting their separate limos at the church and finishing with them leaving in the same limo as bride and groom. 

Church interior

First, snap a wide shot of the church (both with and without guests) and follow with the groom waiting at the altar, the bridal party walking down the aisle, the bride walking down the aisle and the father giving her away.   Also, capture an over-the-shoulder shot of the groom facing the bride, and vice versa.  Get a few shots of the bride and groom holding hands, exchanging rings, kissing and then leaving the church as man and wife.  Make sure that you also include some shots of the bride and groom inside the limo on the way to the reception or banquet hall.

Traditional Shots - The last category of shots to capture lends itself to near autopilot mode, where the important things to include prove relatively obvious.  This category, however, includes the traditional wedding photos that you never want to miss.  Examples include shots of the bride and groom (with and without family), portrait shots, the bride and groom with their bridesmaids and groomsmen, and the following:

• the first dance as man and wife
• the bride and father dance
• the groom and mother dance
• the tossing of the bouquet
• the garter belt toss
• the cutting of the cake
• the bride and groom feeding each other
• bride and groom giving away their wedding favors
• toasts and speeches (bride and groom toast/speech, best man and maid of honor toast/speech)
• the groom giving his coat to the bride
• the bride and groom driving away in their “Just Married” vehicle

Miscellaneous Shots - To complete your wedding album, feel free to include as many miscellaneous shots as you wish.  Examples include shots of each table full of guests, food shots, cocktail hour, guests dancing, the wedding band performing, centerpieces and flower decorations, guestbook signatures, children dancing with the bride and groom, parents and grandparents of the bride and groom dancing and various Venetian hour photos.

Iris & Dominic

Now that you have every category covered, capturing images from every special moment, you can turn your entire wedding album into a professional SmileBooks photo book that will last a lifetime!