A Boy Blowing Bubbles
Okay, you’ve decided you are going to hire a photographer for your wedding or event in Dallas, the next questions is; What do you want photos of?
This question gets harder as you think about it more. When you notice that you, the other people involved with the wedding or event, and the photographers are all different people with different perceptions and ideas you realize that you all need to get on the same page.
Typical wedding and event photographers work with so many different people it’s impossible to know what each person has in mind. The best way to remedy this is to make a list of “must take” photos for the photographer.
The more info the photographer has from you the more they are able to produce photos that you will be happy with. But also remember, you need to leave time and space for the photographer to use their spontaneous ideas to capture those great photos you never even thought of like a photo of table flowers with a little boy blowing bubbles behind it.
Here is a list of the most common types of photos requested by brides & grooms:
Preparation
Bride’s dress hanging up
Doing the bride’s hair and makeup
Mom helping bride
Detail of clothing, shoes, garter, something borrowed, something blue
Shot of bride with parent/s and/or stepparent/s
Shot of bride with sibling/s
Bride hugging honor attendant
Bride with bridesmaids
Groom getting ready with Dad and friends (tying the tie is a classic)
Shot of groom with parent/s and/or stepparent/s
Touching shot of groom with sibling/s
Groom with his best man
Groom with all the groomsmen
Groomsmen putting on boutonnieres or bow ties
Dad whispering last-minute advice to groom
Bride and groom arriving to the ceremony
The Ceremony
Guests arriving
Ushers escorting guests
Close-up of groom’s face waiting for his bride
Bridesmaids and groomsmen walking down the aisle
Flower girl and/or ring bearer entering
Wedding party waiting at the altar
Groom walking down the aisle
Close-up of bride’s expression just before she makes her entrance
Bride and groom at the altar
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 leaving ceremony site
Portraits
Bride and groom together
Bride with her happy, proud parents and/or stepparents
Bride with her entire immediate family
Groom with his happy, proud parents and/or stepparents
Groom with his entire immediate family
Bride and groom with all parents
Bride and groom with immediate family members from both sides
Bride and groom with groomsmen
Bride and groom with bridesmaids
Bride and groom with whole wedding party
The Reception
Photo of location
Reception details like centerpieces, decorations, table settings, and champagne glasses
Bride and groom at head table
Parents’ table
Guests’ tables
Bride and groom sipping champagne
Bride and groom’s first dance
Parents dancing
Bride and Dad dancing
Groom and Mom dancing
Wedding party dancing
Kids playing or dancing
Musicians or DJ doing performing
Cake table
Bride and groom cutting the cake
Bride and groom feeding each other cake
Bouquet toss
Tossing and catching of the garter
Bride and groom leaving, waving goodbye
For more ideas on what kind of photos to get for your wedding, here at USABride.com you can find a great list of them.
Remember, the main key is communication, talk with the photographer about your wants and desires for your photos.
For any questions or if you need a photographer for your story, portrait, wedding, or event:
Please contact me, Matthew T Rader
My photos are also available for purchase as fine art, with optional matting and framing services.
Great thoughts, advice, and extremely useful information. And I absolutely love the photo – so creative!
Matthew, when I read the title I had a completely different idea of what the question was about, so my mind was in another place entirely!
I thought you were asking what we, as photographers, *must take* along on every job.
So I was surprised by the article and I liked it very much. It made a lot of very important points, ones people too often overlook.
Since I absolutely refuse to shoot people…a long and boring story…it doesn’t hit me, but it does hit people I know very well.
Great ideas, Matthew! Thanks.