A shot list is a photography term for pretty much exactly what it sounds like – a list of shots, or photographs, to capture on a wedding day. They simply exist to make sure no shot goes uncaptured to the best of the photographer’s ability. And they help us keep an eye out for things that are important to the couple.

❌Now here’s where shot lists can go wrong.❌

If you Google wedding photography shot list, you’ll get results for documents with a list of ~every single shot~ to be captured on a wedding day. The only time this works is if you’re hiring someone who has never shot a wedding before.

Adding a checklist to what is usually very free-flowing and organic can make the day seem choppy and interfere with the photographer’s creative flow. I know that sounds woo-woo, but hear me out.

Your wedding photographer, as long as you hire a professional and not Joe Schmo two doors down, will be documenting all the important moments of your wedding day as they unfold. From getting ready with your besties, to mom helping you put the dress on, to the boys cheersing the friend group’s beer of choice, all the way to jamming out on the dance floor … your photographer will be preserving every important memory they possibly can.

🙌🏼 That’s also why it’s SO FREAKING IMPORTANT to hire a wedding photographer that you love. You shouldn’t mind spending all day with them on one of the biggest days of your life. But I’ll get into that more on another blog!

Back to shot lists. Your photographer is capturing the day as it flows and all the important moments along with it. Adding in a list of photos to take makes the photos feel stiff and not genuine or authentic.

❗️ BUT there are three areas where shot lists add speed & efficiency and REDUCE STRESS. And that’s the real key to creativity on the photographer’s end and a day that flows well for the couple.

Details Shot List

📝 The first shot list is your details. This can include, but is not limited to, a mix of or all of the following:

Rings

Dress

Shoes

Stationary

Bouquet/flowers

Jewelry

Perfume

Cologne

Watch

Cufflinks

Vow books

Fun socks

Heirlooms

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

Basically, any small detail that is important to the gist or the story of your wedding day. Because detail photos, those flat lay photos, are probably not going to be hung up on your wall. But they’ll ALWAYS be included in your wedding album, because they help tell the story of your wedding day.

There are two reasons why a shot list is important:

A) it gets the couple thinking of things they might want to include in their detail photos

B) it is much more efficient and less stressful if all the details are gathered together in a box so nobody has to go searching for individual pieces of the detail set. Then your chill time doesn’t have to be interrupted by searching for all your things!!

Family Formal Shot List

📸 The second shot list is by far the MOST important shot list of the day – the family formal shot list. I could probably write a book just on the topic of family formals on wedding days at this point hahaha. But here’s the TLDR: Family photos are important because it’s rare for every family member to be in one place, looking like a movie star, with a professional photographer and good lighting.

And though it’s sad to think about, sometimes these family photos are the last professional photos you may have of a loved one before they pass. Life is short and full of ups and downs and you never know what tomorrow brings. So that’s why I will never enter a wedding day without a family shot list.

The family formal shot list is for every combination of family members that you might want in a photo. This makes sure an important family photo does NOT GET MISSED. This can look like: married couple with partner A’s parents, married couple with partner A’s parents and siblings, married couple with partner A’s parents and siblings, and then the same for partner B.

The list can be short if you have small families and don’t feel the need for extended family photos. Or it can be super duper long if you want to include two large extended families into the mix. Having this list ahead of time allows the photographer to set aside time to make sure they happen. It also allows you as the couple to alert your family that this WILL be happening and that they are needed at a specific time and place to stand and smile for the camera.

VIP List (Very Important Photos)

😍 And the last shot list is one that I love to ask my couples for. They probably don’t even recognize it as a shot list. I ask them, “if you could only get 5 photos from your wedding day, what would they be and why?” This question helps me focus on the 5 moments that are most important to them. It also helps me see where they find value. Some couples really value the family photos, others value portrait time with each other, and others just want candids of their friends breaking it down on the dance floor.

So those are shot lists, in summary! The three most important shot lists to think about are your details, your family photos and the 3-5 key moments that mean the most to you and your partner.

I hope this blog taught you something you didn’t know before and helps you feel even more prepared for your wedding day than you already are!!

More Resources

For more wedding tips like this, see The Best Ways to Include Your Pets in Your Wedding and Should You Do a First Look. Our listen to my wedding tips podcast, The Busy Bride!!