The Ultimate Wedding Photography Checklist for Your Wedding in Melbourne
As your big day drew nearer, you may start picturing the moments of your wedding more and more. You may have been planning some “must-have” photo of your ceremony or location photos. Regardless of two years or two days left to your wedding, it still can be hard to cover everything. A wedding photo checklist can be an essential tool to help you have a smooth wedding photography experience.
There are many wedding photography checklists available from social media, wedding blog, wedding venues or married friends. However, they often only complicate your information source rather than indeed simplify and extract the most important piece of information.
Who am I and my position to create this list for you? As a wedding photographer myself, who have been in the wedding industry close to ten years shooting weddings over four hundred venues in Australia and overseas, my advice to you is to sit down and listen to your heart. No one out there is in the right position to tell you what you need. Only you do. With a little help from my list that helps to draft your picture, you can start sketching with your colour pens.
Today I will make this photo checklist from bridal getting ready, ceremony, location photo and reception which will be your photo bible on the special day!
List of Contents
Bridal Getting Ready
We start at groom’s getting ready for most wedding. This is because the boys only need few minutes to do their makeup then getting changed, while their girl counterparts often take at least one hour. And photographers do not necessarily need to capture from the start of bridals’ getting ready. All we want to capture is the glowing bride in their most comfortable appearance, and in their readiness to start the day. Also, side note for the boys, less time bride spends waiting before ceremony, less risks your girls would change their mind last minute.
Groom’s Getting Ready Photo Checklist
- Groom’s accessories before putting on (jacket, shoes, tie, button hole, cufflinks, watch and any other things will ware on wedding day)
- Card and gift from the bride
- Wedding rings
- Groom spending moment alone – opening the card and gift from the bride
- Groom with all groomsmen having fun- video game, play pool
- Groom with all groomsmen having a toast before get changed
- Groom with all groomsmen shaving or doing their hair
- Groom and Groomsman helping each other with accessories and buttonholes
- Groom’s dad fixing the tie for groom
- Groom’s mum putting button hole for groom
- Groom’s individual portrait
- Groom and groomsman’s portrait
- Groom with mum and dad
- Groom with pageboy
- Groom with other families
Groom’s Getting Ready Photo Tips
- Tell all groomsman turn up at least half hour before photograph start!
- A good lighting and size room can make your photo looks better
- Tell florist deliver the button hole before photo section start.
- Stay in casual clothing before photographer arrived.
- Shower and shaving can be done before photographer arrive
- Mum and dad can involve in photography partly or entirely
- Have fun! PlayStation and some games are a good start
- Tell everyone don’t drink too much!
- A spare shirt can save you day
- Buffer time for traditions after groom’s getting ready
Many people assume that groom’s getting ready can be skipped since that’s not a very manly thing to do. However, that’s the biggest misunderstanding. On the biggest day of a man’s life, they are spruced up to every single detail and genuinely thrilled from deep of their hearts, who wants to miss the photo helping reminiscing the happy moments and their handsomeness afterwards. Most notably, it is the day a boy truly grows to a man.
Bride Getting Ready Photo Checklist
- Bride’s gown hanging
- Detail and the back of wedding dress
- Bride in rob stand next to the wedding gown
- Bride with bridesmaids and/or mum in robs
- Wedding Rings and invitation
- Bride’s accessories before putting on (engagement ring, bracelet, earring, shoes, perfume and any other things will ware on wedding day)
- Bouquets of the bride and bridesmaids’
- Card and gift from the groom
- Bride spending moment alone – opening the card and gift from the groom
- Bride with all bridesmaids having fun – chatting, polaroid
- Bride and bridesmaids having their hair done and makeup final touch up
- Bride with all bridesmaids having toasting champagne when hair and makeup done
- Bride and bridesmaids assisting each other putting dress and accessories on
- All bridesmaids fixing and final checking the dress for the bride
- Bride putting on the accessories by herself
- Bridesmaids putting shoes on for bride
- Mum or bridesmaids putting evil on for bride
- Bride’s individual portrait (detail photo of holding bouquet, dress, jewelry and full body photo)
- Bride and bridesmaids’ portrait
- Bride with mum and dad
- Bride with flower girl
- Bride with other families
Bride’s Getting Ready Photo Tips
- Tell all bridesmaids turn up on time for hair and makeup!
- A good lighting and size room can make your photo looks better
- Tell florist deliver the flower before photograph start.
- Bride can be the last one to finish hair and makeup to avoided waiting for the others
- Leave at least one-hour photo time after hair and makeup finished
- Robs can be a good choose when girls having their hair and makeup done or stay in casual clothing
- Photograph normally start at the end of hair and makeup to avoid showing skin imperfection
- Leave your wedding gown in cover or on manikin before it’s time to get change
- Put the veil on after wedding dress in case of massing your hair
- Shoes can be the last to put on to keep comfort
- Mum and dad can involve in photography partly or entirely
- Prepare champagne and glasses to start the celebration
- A pair of spare shoes can save your day
- Buffer time for traditions after bride’s getting ready
- Have fun!
Besides the photo of girls carefully choosing accessories and doing their hair and makeup, there are many touched moments during bride’s getting ready in every wedding. When bride firstly step in the white gown, have the veil put on by mum, first look from the dad when she is ready. I have always been a part of the wedding by giving little but necessary directions to help the bride capture their long-expected day smoothly.
Ceremony
No one doubt that the wedding ceremony serves as the heartbeat of the special day. Tears and smiles on everyone’s face when groom first saw his most beautiful bride walking to him, exchanging the vows and rings, first kiss as a married couple, signing the wedding certificate. There is nothing like these moments filled with all emotions. Every moment is too treasure to forget, what could be more priceless when all these moments captured by wedding photographer and looking at the photo many years after.
Pre-Ceremony Photo Checklist
- Shots of empty church or site including decoration, sign and setting
- Families and guests arriving
- Groom greeting guests as they arrive
- Wedding program
- Groom and groomsmen lining up waiting the bride walking down the aisle
- Bride arriving at the ceremony site
- Bride step out of the car
- Bride and bridesmaids walking into the ceremony place
Pre-Ceremony Photo Tips
- Let the photographer arrive at ceremony site at least half hour before the ceremony commence to have the chance to photograph the empty ceremony site and guest arriving
- Bride can stay in the car to avoid early peak of her dress
- Wait in the car to let photographer take photo of dad or family assist the bride step out off the car and walk towards the ceremony site
Ceremony Photo Checklist
- Bridesmaids entering, walking down the aisle and taking their positions
- Bride walking down the aisle with her father or family
- Groom’s reaction as first look at the bride
- Bride and groom meet and stand together
- Father giving bride away
- Whole bridal party in position
- Images of parents standing up to agree to unity of marriage
- Participants like celebrant, reader and musicians etc.
- Exchanging of vows
- Ring bearer
- Exchanging rings
- First kiss as husband and wife!
- Candid photo of families and guests
- Signing the marriage register
- Guest waiting the newly weds outside the church or down the aisle
- The couple walking down the aisle together
- Guests showering the new couple with rose petals
- Guests congratulating the bride and groom
- Group photo with everyone attending the wedding ceremony
- Bride and groom’s photo with parents
- Bride and groom’s other family photo
- Bride and groom in the car and leave the ceremony site
Ceremony Photo Tips
- Some church or venue may have second floor accessible, contact the coordinator if you wish to have some wedding ceremony photo taken from a high angle
- Two photographers can capture the real emotion from different angle at the same time like the reaction of the groom when first seen the bride walking down the aisle, the parent’s reaction when bride and groom kissing as married couple
- 5-10 minutes guesting greeting time after ceremony in case of guest start to leave
- I recommend family photo after group photo as guest won’t be holding too long and leave
- Request the celebrant to make an announcement if you want every guest includes in the group photo
- Check with the coordinator if there is any restriction of throwing pedal or rice
- Check with the coordinator if family photo or group photo need to take indoor with a wet weather condition
- Make a list if you have more than 20 family members to take photo with
- Let someone who know you family to gather each group as the photographer may don’t know who is who even have the list
- Put elderly and toddler first as they may need more rest
- If there is not enough time or light for bride and groom’s location photo, family photo at reception can be optional
Location Photos
After Ceremony and family photo, it is time to have some fun with bridal party and have the location photo taken. Melbourne has its fill of historical landmarks, remarkable gardens, colourful lifestyles and vineyards and beaches. It is the best city to photograph a bridal party as it has all type of scenic location.
Location Photo Checklist
- Bride and groom with whole bridal party
- Bride and groom with all bridesmaids
- Bride with all bridesmaids
- Groom with all bridesmaids
- Bride and groom with groomsman
- Bride with all groomsman
- Groom with all groomsman
- Individual portrait for each of the bridal party
- Candid photo for bridal party having fun (chatting, mingling, toasting Champaign and walking)
- Bride and groom standing together
- Bride and groom holding hands and walking
- Detail photo of wedding rings on bride and groom’s hands
- Bride and groom with wedding car
- Bridal party with wedding car
Location Photo Tips
- Choose different type of location like church, garden, architecture or beach
- Prepare some clear umbrella or book a stylish indoor space as the backup photo location in a wet weather in Melbourne
- Don be panic about wet weather; some creative photo needs a little bit of rain drop
- Have the photo with bridal party done in the first 15 minutes if you only have less than 30mins for location photo
- Allow at least half hour photo time for each location
- Choose photo location with in half hour travelling time
- Put hell stoper on if you plan to take photo on lawn or soft ground
- Check with wedding car driver and the wedding photographer to make sure at least one location is suitable for car photo with bridal party
- Let wedding photographer know the finish time of wedding car, in case they leave before photo taken
- Two or three locations is ideal on wedding day, choose different types of scenic spot depend on weather and travel time is a smart way to have a smooth wedding experience
- Some location may need permission and/or charge for wedding photography, please contact before your wedding day
Sunset Photo
There are so many types of light during the day, but “golden hour” – the last hour before sunset is definitely best light for wedding photography. What else can beat the romance atmosphere brought by golden light falling on the bride and groom.
Sunset Photo Checklist
- Silhouette of bride and groom together
- Bride and groom holding each other with sunset lighting
Sunset Photography Tips
- Best sunset photo time is half hour before the last light gone and 15 minutes after
- Work with you photographer to choose the location of sunset photo depend on the weather time and traffic
- Sunset time in Melbourne’s summer normally after 7pm, so you may need to plan you sunset photo between entrée and main course
- For some reception or photo location, last light may prior to the actual sunset time as the surrounding building or terrain may block the sunlight
Wedding Reception
The ring is on, the commitment has made. What else? A party! Wedding reception is the first event newlyweds celebrate their marriage with all important people in their life. It is a great opportunity to gather two family. Laughter, tears, drinks and dance, a big party the end the wedding day will leave you and your guests a unforgettable wedding experience.
Pre-entry Reception
- Shots of the reception prior to guests arriving
- Shots of the wedding cake
- Shots of the décor, bridal table, name placements and wishing well
- Families and guests arriving and mingling
- Shots of Canapes
- Shots of guests entering the venue and taking their seat
Pre-entry Reception Photo Tips
- Let the photographer arrive at reception at least half hour before the guests taking their seat to photograph the empty reception
- Check with reception coordinator if they can finish the room decoration at least half hour before the room open to the guest
Reception Photo Checklist
- Master of ceremony of the wedding reception
- Each bridesmaid and groomsman entrance
- Bride and groom entrance
- Bride and groom cut the wedding cake
- Bride and groom having a toast after cake cutting
- Each speaker of the reception
- Bridal and groom’s first dance as newly weds
- Father daughter dance
- Mother and son, mother and daughter dance
- Guest dancing
- Bouquet toss and garter toss
- Bride and groom mingling with guest
- Bride and groom or guest using photobooth
- Bride and groom farewell
- Bride and groom departure
Reception Photography Tips
- Feed your photographer so they can work with energy
- Don’t be formal, show everyone you dance move to rock the floor
- Break the speech to 2 rounds if you want to keep everyone awake
Night Photo
You might have had a long day of excitement and impulsiveness. For some brides and grooms, they may experience tiredness. Don’t you want to have a short break during the reception of spending some time by only two of you. Enjoy the breeze and fresh air outdoor, bring some sparkler, light them up and wave into the air, draw some word from the bottom of your heart or kiss each other with the spark around you.
Photo Checklist
- Bride and groom photo outside of wedding reception at night
- Bride and groom playing sparkler
- Light painting photo with bride and groom at night
Night Photo Tips
- Best time of night photo at reception is when the dance floor open to everyone
- Put the night photo time in the reception schedule or it will be missed
- Prepare long sparkler instead of short ones as light them up may be difficult in windy Melbourne night. The long one with save your time and more fun!
At the end
Every bride wish they can find the best wedding photographer to have their wedding covered. This checklist and tips can be the starting point to planning your special day. Of course, you may add extra lines or pick the wanted one to your own list.
From a Melbourne wedding photographer point of view, the most important tips for smooth wedding experience to bride and groom is enjoy your wedding! There is always something unexpected like weather and time. Relax! It is you big day! A bright photo can only be reflected by a happy couple.
If you found this list helpful or have some ideas of planning your wedding. Please feel free to contact me.
