How do you create a shot list for your photographer?


Photographers often ask for a shot list for formal portraits on your wedding day, but what do they actually want and how do you create one?


As your photographer, we can't possibly know each and every family member and all the shots that are important to you on your wedding day, so enter the formal shot list. Here's a few combinations that you should consider adding to your formal shot list to make sure no important combinations are left out.


  1. Bride with parents separately
  2. Groom with parents separately
  3. Bride with siblings separately
  4. Groom with siblings separately
  5. Bride with immediate family (parents and siblings)
  6. Groom with immediate family (parents and siblings)
  7. Bride with grandparents
  8. Groom with grandparents
  9. Bride with extended family
  10. Groom with extended family
  11. Bride and groom together with both sets of parents
  12. Bride and groom with immediate family
  13. Bride and groom with extended family
  14. Bride and groom with grandparents
  15. Bride and groom with flower girls/ring bearers
  16. Siblings with the bride and groom
  17. Special family members (such as godparents, etc)
  18. Any special friend groups (high school friends, college friends, work friends, etc)


One additional thing to consider is to do a variation of each of these photos with and without any current significant others.


Hopefully this is helpful as you are creating a shot list for formal photos! Let me know if there are any combos I left out!