I don’t work from a shot list. Usually I just follow the bride (and/or the groom) and take my cue from what they do. I am pretty observant and usually I manage to get shots that people don’t usually notice.

Most of the time, brides tell me during the viewing session, when we are viewing the photos that they didn’t notice (or realize) that so and so did this.

But here is a list of the things that I usually get at most weddings. This is just a guide of what to expect, not a guarantee.

If you want to view complete weddings, you can view them at SilvasPhoto.com/album/  

Wedding Photo Shot List
Before the Wedding : Bridal Preparation / Getting Ready

I usually like to arrive an hour or more before the wedding ceremony to be able to capture preparing for the wedding.  This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding because there is so much going on that I have so much material to work with

Bride’s wedding dress hanging on the wardrobe, on the bedpost, or over a chair
Bridesmaids doing bride’s hair and makeup
Bride and bridesmaids getting dressed, applying makeup
Mom helping bride with one last detail, such as veil
Full-length shot of bride in gown checking herself out in mirror
Detail of clothing, shoes, garter, something borrowed, something blue
Touching shot of bride with parent/s and/or stepparent/s
Touching shot of bride with sibling/s
Bride hugging honor attendant
Bride with bridesmaids
Bride with all the women
Groom getting ready with Dad and pals (tying the tie is a classic)
Touching shot of groom with parent/s and/or stepparent/s
Touching shot of groom with sibling/s
Groom with his arm affectionately around best man
Groom with all the groomsmen
Groomsmen putting on boutonnieres or bowties
Intimate shots of bride and groom chatting with/crying with/hugging parents and siblings preceremony
Dad whispering last-minute advice to groom
Groom getting ready to go
Bride getting ready to go
Bride and groom separately making their way to the ceremony (in a limo backseat, hailing a cab, walking down the street/hall/stairs)
Between Wedding Ceremony and Wedding Reception : Wedding Party Portraits

Bride alone (full, half, close-up)
Bride and Groom (full, half, close-up)
Bride with Maid of Honor
Bride with Bridesmaids
Bride with Flowergirl
Bride with Bridesmaids, Flowergirl
Bride & Groom with entire wedding party
Groom with Best Man
Groom with Groomsmen
Groom with Ringbearer
Groom with Groomsmen and Ringbearer
Family Portraits

Bride with Parents
Bride & Groom with her Parents
Bride with Siblings
Bride with immediate family
Bride & Groom with her immediate family including spouses and children
Bride & Groom with her Grandparents
Bride & Groom with both sets of Parents
Groom & Bride with his Parents
Groom with Parents
Groom with Siblings
Groom with immediate family
Groom & Bride with immediate family including spouses and children
Bride & Groom with his Grandparents
Wedding Ceremony Photographs

Guests streaming into the site
Ushers escorting guests to their seats
Ushers escorting moms to their seats (Christian wedding)
Close-up of groom’s adorably nervous mug waiting for his other half
Bridesmaids and groomsmen walking down the aisle
Flower girl and/or ring bearer entering
Honor attendant walking down the aisle
Grandparents walking down the aisle (Jewish wedding)
Wedding party waiting at the altar
Groom walking down the aisle
Bride and Dad/escort/parents (Jewish wedding) walking down the aisle
Close-up of bride just before she makes her entrance
Bride and groom at the altar
Altar or canopy from the back during ceremony
Wide shot of audience during ceremony, from bride and groom’s point of view
Faces of bride and groom as they exchange vows
Close-up of bride’s and groom’s hands as they exchange rings
The kiss
Bride and groom proceeding up the aisle, guests’ smiling faces at their sides
Bride and groom outside ceremony site
Congratulation shots: bride and groom hugging, laughing, and crying with good friends and family
Bride and groom leaving ceremony site
Bride and groom in limo backseat
The Wedding Reception Photographs

Shot from outside reception site (to set the tone)
Reception details such as place cards, guest book, centerpieces, decorations, table settings, favors table, and champagne glasses
Bride and groom arriving (make it dramatic — their faces through the dark limo windows, the two lovebirds atop a staircase or pushing through a curtain)
Receiving line moments
Bride and groom at head table
Parents’ table
Guests’ tables
Close-up of friends and family making toasts
Bride and groom sipping champagne
Bride’s and groom’s parents whispering to each other during dinner
Bride and groom chatting up the guests
Bride and groom’s first dance (maybe with a slow shutter speed so the movement blurs the image a little)
Parents dancing
Bride and Dad dancing
Groom and Mom dancing
Wedding party dancing
Grandparents dancing
Kids playing or dancing
Musicians or DJ doing their thing
Guests going nuts on the dance floor (again, slow shutter speed could be effective)
Bride laughing with bridesmaids
Cake table
Bride and groom cutting the cake
Bride and groom feeding each other cake
Dessert table
Bouquet toss (perhaps a vertical shot from in front of the bride)
Tossing and catching of the garter
Bride and groom leaving, waving from getaway car’s backseat
Rear of car departing