6 Must Have Photos Your Wedding Photographer Should Take

After the wedding day is over, the photos and videos are what you will rely on to relive that special day. It’s not uncommon for certain photos to get missed during the hustle of wedding day chaos. Make sure you have a conversation with your photographer ahead of time to discuss what the most important moments are (or important people) to you. Below is a list of must have photos that every photographer should take. It is a good idea to provide your photographer with a list of the most important people and shots to take so that they have a print out of that handy on the wedding day. Make sure you discuss the list with your photographer so they know exactly which photos are the most important to you.

Getting ready photos

Getting married is an exciting time in your life and you took a lot of time to perfectly plan every detail. Make sure you don’t miss out on all of the pre-wedding prep photos. Make sure to get photos with the girls getting dressed and make-up put on, the groomsmen tying their ties, flowers getting pinned on, the garter being put on the brides leg – there are so many small details to capture during the pre-ceremony timeframe.

It can also be easy to forget to grab the photographer when these moments are happening. The photographer can only be in one place at a time so make sure they are around for all of those special shots. It is sometimes easiest to assign a bridesmaid that can coordinate with the other people in the wedding to decided where the photographer is needed most so they can focus on getting great shots and not about missing the key moments. Your photographer will be thrilled to not have to worry so much about logistics and can focus more on what they do best – taking beautiful photos.

The parent first look

One of the most special moments during a wedding is when the father sees his daughter in her wedding gown for the first time. But things move quickly on your wedding day and often times this moment gets overlooked. Be sure to plan a few minutes to take time for this moment to get captured. You (and your parents) will be glad you did!  This doesn’t need to be anything extravagant, just a few quiet minutes that will be a special memory forever.

Pictures of you with your siblings

If your family is anything like mine, the only chance you’ll ever have for my brother and I to both booking nice and in the same location at the same time is at a wedding. Take advantage of the fact that you have a photographer there for you to document these moments. Time flies and you’ll be happy you have these photos to look back on in a few years. Plus, they make great gifts for family members later!

Grandparents

Professional photos with grandparents at a wedding are a MUST. If you don’t take these photos, you will be sad. It’s always a good chance to take a picture of just grandma and grandpa during the generation dance at the reception. They are usually one of the last couples on the dance floor and they are so sweet. Make sure your photographer snaps a few pictures of them dancing as well as at least a few photos of them with you during the day.

College friends and co-workers

If you and your husband met in college or at work, having a picture with these groups is fun. You can pose in a casual, fun way to bring out a few laughs, or just do a cheers to the years that you have been friends. Often times these are the last groups of people to be thought about and they often aren’t on your list of posed church shots. A good time for these photos is directly after dinner. Grab the group and take a quick photo. You won’t regret it.

Candid moments

Everyone loves candids! The photographer should take some time to sit back and catch those candid moments between guests. It’s great having the posed formal shots of everyone at your wedding but it is also great to have those candid memories documented in photos. A great time for this to happen is before and after dinner time when there is a little down time. A good photographer always has their eye open for those candid shots so there shouldn’t be much direction you need to give them for this one.