Should You Give Your Wedding Photographer a Shot List?

You want your big day to go as smoothly as possible. So, what information should you provide to your wedding photographer to help make that happen? In today’s blog post, I’ll answer the question of should you give your wedding photographer a shot list or not. The short answer is yes, but your photographer will need more than a quick list.

Quick summary:

If you have hired a qualified professional photographer, then you can assume that the major events during any wedding day – ceremony kiss, speeches, family portraits – will all be covered.
Instead, focus on the out of the ordinary items and events unique to your day and give this information to your photographer.
Always make sure your photographer has an updated timeline of events.

Should you give your wedding photographer a shot list?

I’m going to answer this with a qualified ‘yes.’

Photographers are professionals at their craft. Most wedding photographers, like myself, can photograph a wedding in their sleep. While each wedding is unique and special, the reality is that most weddings follow a certain order of events.

As such, you can sleep well at night knowing that your wedding photographer knows s/he needs to photograph the ceremony, all major reception events, and take portraits of the bride and groom and family. But photographers are not magicians. We cannot read minds, and so if there are any special events, things, or people that are unique to your wedding, then you need to tell your photographer.

Examples include special family heirlooms, such as Grandma’s rosary wrapped around the bride’s bouquet, a memorial table with special frames, or aunt Agatha who is sitting three rows back but you really want to include her in all the family photos. Basically, if you have a really distinctive detail, person, or special event that means a lot to you, then make sure you speak up and tell your photographer about it.

Put the details in writing.

I always recommend that you email your photographer directly with any special requests. This way you have a written record of your request.

Being a delightful TypeAa personality, you might have guessed that I go above and beyond a simple information request. I have my wedding clients fill out a ‘homework sheet’ a month prior to their event. While I am sure that paperwork is not every couple’s ideal date night activity, this document does serve a purpose. Indeed, I have had many clients come to me after filling out the homework sheet to say that it actually helped them to clarify logistics on their wedding day.

In case you are curious, I am happy to send you a copy of my homework sheet so you can see the information I request. Just click here.

The wedding day timeline is the most important piece of information.

I always get like to get as many details as possible for any event I am photographing. But before anyone starts sending me a list of decor items they want photographed, I have to have the timeline. The timeline is by far the most important piece of information for a photographer on a wedding day.

The timeline is the spine on which the entire body of the wedding is resting. If one vertebra is out of place, then your photographer may very well be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I always check with my clients the day prior to her wedding and ask if there have been any updates to the timeline. If you have any changes, make sure you tell your photographer. We always want to be in the right place for the right shot.

Establish trust with your photographer before your wedding day.

With my wedding clients, I asked for their homework sheet a month prior to their wedding day. Once I receive the document, I go over the document line by line and then schedule a phone call or FaceTime meeting to go over any of my questions. I do this so that we can establish trust before the wedding day.

Going over each and every detail ensures that my clients know that their photo priorities are my priorities as a photographer. I will, after all, be their eyes for the day, so to speak. And the shot list that we create together goes a long way to making sure that I meet my client’s expectations.

So, that’s a bit of insider information about what goes on behind the scenes as a wedding photographer. I hope you enjoy the photos accompanying this article as they are some of my best shots from 2023. As always, I will have more photo adventures for you next week!

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If you found this article on ‘How to Get a Marriage License in San Antonio’ useful, then check out my equally interesting ‘How to…’ articles here:

Are you interested in saying ‘I do’ on the steps of the Bexar County Courthouse? Drop me a line and let’s chat about how I can help you. I have hourly rates, and all photo shoots include editing and high-resolution files.

If you would like to view photos from previous City Hall weddings I have photographed, check out links here, here, and here.

To view more images from my wedding photography portfolio, please visit my website – KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com