Must-Take Photo Checklist

mycicybride · October 2009

Hi, ladies. Recently I shared that we found our wedding photographer, Craig Carpenter of Luster Studios. To get all the deets out of the way I went ahead and tailored a checklist I found to fit our big day. Just thought I'd share it. Maybe it may help someone that doesn't have one already. http://cicelyandtony.wordpress.com/photography/ Cicy

kristyand · October 2009

Is that for real? As in you are giving that to your photographer? I like don't even know what questions to ask... doesn't the photographer just do all that, because that is their job, and you pay them to... Will there be little spontaneity then I assume? Ours did... I've never seen any operate with a list other than maybe formal family photos, of the various combination of family members you want.

shigaites · October 2009

I think the photo list is a pretty good idea. While you can hope the photographer gets every shot you want, there's so much going on in the day and the photographer can't read your mind. I can see where a list like this gives them a bit of direction in what you want photographed when all is said and done.

campbelle · October 2009

I enjoyed looking at all your ideas on your blog!

lca315girl · October 2009

I like the idea of getting a shot of something old, new, borrowed and blue. Thanks Cicy!

Pinky09 · October 2009

so the list is kinda overdone. but I will admit I did print out about 20 pictures that I had to have done. This worked great, the photographer took the pictures I wanted and he also did his job and took other great pictures. I think you need to let the photographer do his job, your paying him a lot for a reason. But whatever you can do what you want.

gizmo91909 · October 2009

I didn't have a photo list either, bc if photographers are professionals they will know what shots are "must take". I think talking to your photographer about what kinds of shots (if you want anything specific) is sufficient. ...but lists including things like -bride getting ready, -bride putting on dress, -first dance, -cutting the cakes, -you get the point.... are pretty standard shots that any photographer would get without a list anyway.

mycicybride · October 2009

Hmm. So much for sharing. Guess this wasn't such a great idea. Sorry to bother y'all. I am very confident that Craig will capture our day perfectly but I wanted to be proactive and put a list together. I don't know why I decided to share it here.....floating on to another board now....

kristyand · October 2009

That is ridiculous. I think the same amount of people found your list helpful as found it unnecessary. Just as you shared your list, some of us shared our experiences. Photographers do not need these. And I spoke up because honestly I thought if you shared that with your photographer I was thinking you would offend him. Thus, the reason for commenting. Again, this is assuming this is not one of your photographers very first weddings. If you however want any shot that is unique, that would be important to tell them or show an example of. Or again as said above, lists of particular family combinations are helpful as it helps speed along that very precious time pre or post ceremony. Feel free to continue to share. Some you will assist, some you will confuse, and some will be mean. And some will do as I have done and share their own experiences so as to better inform you for your own moving forward. This is a place to share and be shared with. Just remember... You wouldn't tell your caterer which dishes to remember to put salt in...

tamtam7 · October 2009

I think that creating a must take photo checklist is a smart idea. It doesn't take away from the photographer doing their job, in fact, it helps them do their job and its a more proactive approach. I'm confident that my photographer will do a great job, and I don't think that she would be offended if I informed her of certain key things that I would like to have included in my pictures. Thank you for posting this list Cicy. It has given me some great ideas to give my photographer.

mycicybride · October 2009

**kristyandruss*: Thanks for sharing your experience. I have worked with Craig of Luster Studios before and am very certain that my list will not offend him. FI and I have certain expectations and feel that any professional getting paid to meet these expectations would be open to looking at the list as well.

kristyand · October 2009

Great. Got it.

laudanum1 · October 2009

This is a really good comprehensive list of the most popular shots. Honestly, most pros that have a semi-photojournalistic style probably have something similar to this list already burnt into inside of their eyelids because they've done it so much. If you want true photojournalism, this wouldn't be a good thing to hand out, however, most brides want a mix of photojournalistic style mixed w/ a certain amount of predictability. That's what this list attempts to capture. If I was a pro & presented w/ this list, I don't think I'd be offended. What I think it might do, though, is make me a little less spontaneous & a little more focused on a checklist of things I have to get done (which take priority over inspiration & any awesome candids I might miss while working my way through the list). Think of it like a person coming to a popular & talented tattoo artist w/ an already-drawn picture & saying, "I want this on my arm exactly as it looks." Will you get what you want? Yes. Will it look good? Yes. Will that be some of the photographer's best work or award-winning shots? Probably not. It's technically his work, but not necessarily his vision or style.

Erin212 · October 2009

I was just going through the contract for ours, and she asks for a list, but how extensive it is is up to us. Probably some of them like lists and some don't.

)

abrossetti · May 2011

Thank you for posting a list!!! My photographer has a list of usual things he shoots for and asked that on my own I come up with a list of others that I would like so that way he can have an idea on my own personal stand point for the wedding! He also asked to make a list of my immediate family members that I would want pictures with, like if I wanted me and my stepdad, and me and my mom, then me and my siblings....that way he can make sure that he is getting everything I want and not trying to just rush through or just look for a "good" photo opp!!! So thank you for sharing you list, it is nice to see what other ideas there are for pictures that way you aren't getting the same ones over and over that the photogapher likes to take!!

I am super happy you shared! And agree if you are paying them, you should be allowed to mention things that you want, you would do it to the DJ, and the reception and ceremony cite wouldn't you? I would.

aleighk1 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_north-carolina_must-photo-checklist?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:115Discussion:10438156Post:d18f6b98-33c2-4fec-a019-6eb7d3a014f2">Re: Must-Take Photo Checklist</a>:
[QUOTE]Thank you for posting a list!!! My photographer has a list of usual things he shoots for and asked that on my own I come up with a list of others that I would like so that way he can have an idea on my own personal stand point for the wedding! He also asked to make a list of my immediate family members that I would want pictures with, like if I wanted me and my stepdad, and me and my mom, then me and my siblings....that way he can make sure that he is getting everything I want and not trying to just rush through or just look for a "good" photo opp!!! So thank you for sharing you list, it is nice to see what other ideas there are for pictures that way you aren't getting the same ones over and over that the photogapher likes to take!! I am super happy you shared! And agree if you are paying them, you should be allowed to mention things that you want, you would do it to the DJ, and the reception and ceremony cite wouldn't you? I would.
Posted by abrossetti[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">This thread is from 2009 and when I clicked the link there is no list? So I have no idea what you're talking about.</div>
</div>

NcsuPsych · May 2011

Good Grief. . way to bring a thread back from the dead. Plus you're from Colorado? Are you getting married in NC? Did this post get moved here accidently?

aleighk1 · May 2011

She probably found it through the search and didn't realize how old it was. The link doesn't even work for me though.

pirategal03 · May 2011

The search never works for me. I'm always amazed when this happens. Makes me wonder if they really posted long ago and TK ate it until now.

NcsuPsych · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_north-carolina_must-photo-checklist?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:115Discussion:10438156Post:93602b5d-fabb-4153-9472-f562232c4473">Re: Must-Take Photo Checklist</a>:
[QUOTE]The search never works for me. I'm always amazed when this happens. Makes me wonder if they really posted long ago and TK ate it until now.
Posted by pirategal03[/QUOTE]

That's my thought.

pirategal03 · May 2011

I'm going to pretend I didn't just look at the join date to see if my theory was even possible.

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