What photos should I make sure to get at my wedding (not hiring a pro)?

Question

We're going pretty inexpensive at my wedding and so not hiring a professional photographer. I'm going to hand my pretty decent camera off to a friend or family member to get shots (I'm in the "prosumer" range myself but can't really photograph my own wedding :) ), but I'd like to whip up a list of shots to get, i.e. vows, walks down the aisle, closeup of rings being slid onto hands, etc. I'm afraid if I don't specify at least a little it will be several of the same shot. The people I'm considering will be find with such a list, so if you're a professional photographer (especially wedding) or have experience from a wedding, lemme know what shots I'll want but might not be thinking of.

P.S. We're putting disposable cameras on the tables at the reception, so I think we'll have a good amount of group shots from that.

For those who suggested I scrimp elsewhere and hire a pro or semi-pro.... Great idea, except I'm pretty much saving everywhere I can save already. We're doing a buffet style lunch, our location was rented for $25 an hour, no limo, inexpensive flowers, and a friend is throwing in a lot of the decorations. I already had the gown from the first time we almost got married (a story for another day), and we had the invitation envelopes and seals from then too. My fiance' is new to his position, our mothers are both single working mothers, and I'm a single mom myself and a freelance writer, so you can imagine all the oodles of money (sarcastic, btw) I bring to the table.

I'm considering looking at camera clubs for someone, though. I'm just not taking out a loan to have our wedding.

Answer 1

You might want to reconsider. Once in a lifetime event! At least with this guy, but its still your FIRST, hopefully only, wedding. Disposable cameras often lead to disposable pictures...These are taken from the site cited...

Shots Prior to the Ceremony
___ Wedding dress lying over a chair
___ Zipping up or buttoning the wedding dress
___ Mother of the bride fastening the bride's necklace
___ The bride's garter
___ The bride's veil
___ A close up of the bride's shoes peeking out from under the dress
___ Bride looking into a mirror
___ Bride looking out window
___ Bride and bridesmaids putting on makeup
___ Bride pinning corsage/boutonniere on mother/father
___ Bride hugging parents
___ Bride touching up
___ Bride spending moment alone looking out window
___ Bride and parents leaving for ceremony
___ Groom tying tie
___ Groom looking into mirror
___ Groom pinning corsage/boutonniere on mother/father
___ Groom hugging parents
___ Bride and parents leaving for ceremony

Wedding Photography Shots At the Ceremony
___ Outside of ceremony site
___ Guests walking into ceremony site
___ Bride and father entering ceremony site
___ Parents being seated
___ Grandparents being seated
___ Maid of honor walking down the aisle
___ Bridesmaids walking down the aisle
___ Flower girl and ring bearer walking down aisle
___ Groom waiting for bride
___ Ceremony musicians
___ Officiant
___ Altar or canopy during ceremony
___ Close up of bride, just before she makes her entrance
___ Bride and father walking down aisle
___ Groom seeing bride for first time
___ The back of bride and father walking down the aisle – with the
groom waiting in the distance
___ Bride's father and Bride hugging at end of aisle
___ Shot of the audience from the bride and groom's point of view
___ The unity ceremony
___ Close up of bride and groom saying the vows
___ Wide shot of bride and groom saying the vows
___ Exchanging the rings
___ Close up of hands
___ The kiss
___ Bride & Groom walking up the aisle
___ Receiving line
___ Bride & Groom outside on steps
___ Guests throwing confetti/rose petals/birdseed
___ Bride & Groom hugging guests, laughing, getting congratulations
___ Bride & Groom getting in car
___ Bride & Groom in back seat

Posed Wedding Photography Before the Reception (These can also be taken before the ceremony)
___ Bride alone (full length)
___ Bride with Maid of Honor
___ Bride with bridesmaids
___ Groom with bridesmaids
___ Bride with parents
___ Bride & Groom together
___ Bride & Groom with parents
___ Bride & Groom with families
___ Bride & Groom with entire wedding party
___ Bride & Groom with flower girl and ringbearer
___ Groom with parents
___ Groom with best man
___ Groom with groomsmen
___ Bride with groomsmen
___ Bride and groom walking away from camera, holding hands
During the Reception (to help your photographer, you may wish to list these shots in the order they will happen at your reception)
___ Outside of reception site
___ Bride & Groom arriving
___ Bride & Groom greeting guests
___ Table centerpieces
___ Table setting
___ Bride & Groom's table (head table)
___ Musicians or DJ
___ Guest book
___ Place card table
___ Closeup of bride and groom's place card
___ Wedding cake
___ Groom's cake
___ Gift table
___ Decorations (specify which _________________________)
___ A shot of bride & groom with guests at each table
___ Bride with college alums
___ Groom with college alums
___ The buffet or, if having table service, a dinner serving
___ Bride & Groom's first dance
___ Bride & Father dancing
___ Groom & Mother dancing
___ Guests dancing
___ Bride & Groom cutting the cake
___ Bride & Groom feeding each other cake
___ Toasts (specify who is giving them: ____________________)
___ Bride & Groom drinking champagne
___ Signing the marriage license
___ Bride throwing bouquet
___ Groom retrieving garter
___ Groom tossing garter
___ Garter/Bouquet dance
___ The getaway car
___ Bride & Groom leaving party
___ Bride & Groom driving away

Answer 2

I was going to tell you basically the same thing that Lodiju and Pamphotographer just said but they both said it so much more eloquently than I ever could!

Listen, first, save more money and grief by spending money wisely. Skimp on flowers and caterer since the flowers wilt and die; the food is eaten, digested and forgotten by day's end but the photographs are meant to last a lifetime! Forget the disposible cameras; that's a total waste; you won't get many usable images from them. Are you hiring a limo service? Reconsider; it's a wasted luxury. Please reconsider your priorities? The photos of your weddings are more important than the limo ride and the fancy flowers... the photos are meant to last a lifetime, to be shared with your friends and family, your parents AND your grandchildren; don't set yourself up for regrets.

Contact a few local camera clubs (local colleges and universities, local YMCA/YWCA and/or other similar organizations) and put the word out that you're looking for good yet inexpensive photographers, see their portfolios and see which one can do basically what you want for what you can afford. Negotiate with them, invite them to take photos and do not treat them like "just hired help" (Feed them, be nice to them, assign a family member to help gather the wedding participants for the formal/traditional group photos and to assist in dealing with the other invited guests, they'll do a far better job, I promise). Tell them that it will be OK for them to use your images to build up their portfolio; that should win you some "points" and sweeten the deal in your favor. Make sure there's a signed contract, by the way.

Bob has given you a list that I keep for newbies in the field but, truth be told, I won't recommend that you hand over such an immense responsibility to someone who may not know what he/she is doing with your camera (regardless how good the camera is, it's only the instrument) and the lack of experience will show in the resulting images.

Imagine how I cringed when I first read your post when I usually discourage amateurs from doing weddings unless they've had a few years under the tutelage or apprenticeship of an established and experienced professional photographer!

Best wishes.

Answer 3

There are massive lists of must have shots on practically any bridal website. Important things: Make sure to have lots of batteries, digital media, or film on hand. Have your camera fully charged with an empty card to start. Have a backup camera of some sort on hand. Mechanical/electronic devices fail at the worst times! Sit the "photographer" down before the big day and thoroughly review camera operations. Make sure they understand to take their time when doing the shots to give the camera time to focus and fire. Some digicams are a little slow. If possible, ask another family member or friend to also take shots. Surely someone has a decent camera, and hopefully knows how to use it. Many churches won't allow flash during the ceremony. That could be a real problem for a novice/inexperienced photographer to get useable pics, especially if it is dark. Plan on using a tripod for the ceremony shots if that's the case. Set it up in the balcony or in the back. Use a longer lens, a fast one if possible, and plan the shots when everyone is still. Take lots, some will be blurry but some should be useable. Unless the photographer is allowed and comfortable with moving around during the ceremony, the closeup ring exchange may have to be re-enacted. If you have a smallish wedding party, you may get by with doing group shots inside at the altar with only the on-board flash. Take at least 2 of each to avoid blinkers etc. The usual group must haves are B & G w each set of parents, grandparents, wedding party. You can take that as far as necessary. Divide B & G with wedding party. Add stepparents, aunts, uncles ect. Start with the biggest group shots first and work down to just the B & G. Have someone in control of rounding up everyone. The B & G in the middle and spread the others out on the sides. If you have steps, use them. Get close enough, but try to save a little room on the sides....8x10s are not shaped like 4x6s and need more breathing room. Try to take a few shots outside. Look for even open shade and use the flash. Don't stand under dappled shade. If no even shade, try open sunlight, but not squinting into the sun. Again, use flash. A pretty shot I always get is both rings atop the boquet. (Both on hands and off) If your camera has macro mode, that is a great closeup. For the cake cutting, make sure to pause a moment with the knife poised to cut. Take one with B & G looking at camera and one looking at cake. Makes a good shot if the wedding party is gathered around as well. The boquet toss is better if the boquet is visible in the shot in midair. Go to wedding photography websites and browse the photography there, it will give you some ideas. Good luck! PS: About disposable cameras: I am a lab manager and see LOTS of wedding disposable camera pics. In a nutshell, don't count on getting much from them. You may luck up, but most of the shots will be underexposed because they didn't turn on the flash or pics of the back of the head in front of them, blah blah blah. If you do use them, I suggest getting either the Kodak powerflash or the Fuji smartflash. The flash fires on them all the time, and they are loaded with decent film. The cheapie off brand cameras are iffy, some are good and some not so good.

Answer 4

Wow! I can't believe you are willing to sacrifice this once in a lifetime day to a friend or family member. YIKES!

First off, DO NOT waste money buying disposable cameras and putting them on the tables at the reception. I worked in a photo lab for 17 years and have seen what comes back on these cameras. I have NEVER had a bride say, "Gee, I'm so glad that I have these disposable camera pictures". Most of the time they would look through the pictures and say, "well, that was a waste of money". Think about it; the people taking these pictures are getting more intoxicated by the minute, do you really think they are going to take well cropped, in-focus pictures? PLEASE!

Secondly, If you are dead set on "handing your camera off" to a friend or family member at least go out with them prior to the wedding and shoot a few practice rolls. Make certain you can set your camera to "idiot" mode. You know, all automatic. It would be easy for someone to take pictures under these circumstances and they may actually get a few decent pictures with a little guidance.

My final recommendation is to hire someone to do these photos for you. Even on a limited budget you can hire soemone who is just starting out who probably knows a boat load more than your friends and family do. These people are usually reasonably priced and it will take the stress and pressure off of you.

Good luck and I hope it all works out for you!

Answer 5

You know the only advise anyone has ever really told me about a wedding is that you should invest in a good photographer. Its a one time deal and those pictures will last a life time and they just know how to capture the truth and reality of the moment. But if you still are deciding to not get one, make sure you get your kiss at the end of your ceremony, when you guys go into your reception hall when they announce you two as officially husband and wife and you walk in together, when you two dance to your song at the reception, cutting the cake, dance with your Father, when you throw your boque and when he takes off your garter belt and throws it to the guys that are single. Gosh their are so many. I hope these ideas helped you out some! Congratulations!

Answer 6

One that wasn't taken at mine & I wish had been is a fairly closeup, taken from hips up, of my Sweetness & me. Whoever is taking the main shots, tell that person to not have wasted space in them. Fill the SLR or view finder with the whole image. Be certain that the shot is focused, of course. EVEN WHEN SHOOTING OUTDOORS, use a flash; it minimizes shadows on the person if there is sunlight present. Professionals probably do a good job in general, but I've seen some from them that are really bad. To keep (or help keep) flash glare off of subject's glasses, have the wearer put the ear pieces a little above the ears, tilting the lenses downward. The top of them should be farther from the face than the bottom. It works, & the glasses don't look funny on the subject's face.

Answer 7

I would reconsider and prehaps hire a semi-pro photographer. I am in a camera club myself and there are lots of shutterbugs that do photography for the fun of it. They can shot just as well as some pros and cost a fraction of the cost. Some of them do photograph weddings. Contact your local Camera Club and see if there might be someone there willing to photograph your wedding for cheap. It will be worth it!

Answer 8

find a way to re-prioritize! When the day is over and done with, what's left???? The photographs! I can't tell you how many horror stories I've heard from people who let friends, uncle Fred, etc., handle the photos on the most important day of your life! (pro for 20 years)

Answer 9

Get a loan and hire a Pro, you are not going to marry the same guy next time..

Answer 10

make sure you take a picture of you and your husband anlone sitting on the grass holding your bouquette.