The Efficiency-First Wedding Photographer Photo List: How to Get More by Asking for Less

Most "wedding photographer photo lists" you find online are designed to make you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. In reality, a 70-item checklist is the fastest way to ensure your photographer misses the actual wedding while they’re busy staring at a piece of paper.

As a photographer, I want to give you a gallery full of life, not just a series of "posed candids" that feel forced. To do that, we need a smarter list. Here is my expert-approved, "beekeeper-precise" guide to building a shot list that actually works.

1. The "Subtraction Method" for Family Formals

Family photos are where timelines go to die. The secret isn't more photos; it’s better organization. Instead of jumping from "Bride + Mom" to "Groom + Grandpa," we use the Subtraction Method.

• The Big Picture: We start with the largest possible group (e.g., the entire extended family).

• The Peel Back: We slowly remove the outer layers. Extended family leaves for cocktail hour, then aunts and uncles, until we are left with just parents and siblings.

• The Benefit: This keeps the older generation from standing on their feet too long and gets the most people to the bar as fast as possible.

2. The "Must-Have 10" Rule

I tell my couples: Give me your Top 10. If there are 10 specific shots you’ve dreamed of—maybe a specific heirloom or a pose in a certain part of the venue—tell me.

• Why 10? By focusing our energy on your ten non-negotiables, I can make them masterpieces.

• The Creative Gap: Once those ten are "in the bag," I have the artistic freedom to hunt for the real magic—the quiet looks and the loud laughter that no checklist could ever predict.

3. The Shoebox Strategy (The Detail List)

If you want beautiful detail shots, don't put them on a list; put them in a box. Before I arrive, gather these items into a single shoebox:

• Inviations & Save the Dates

• Both wedding bands and the engagement ring

• Jewelry, perfume, and cologne

• Any small sentimental "extras"

• The Goal: I knock out your entire "details" list in the first 20 minutes. If I have to hunt for your shoes in one room and your veil in another, we’re losing time for portraits.

4. Identifying the "Shadow VIPs"

Your wedding party is obvious, but who are the people I might not recognize? Instead of a list of shots, give me a list of people. * Is there a godparent who traveled from overseas?

• A college best friend who isn't in a suit?

• List these "VIPs" for me, and I’ll make sure they appear naturally in your gallery without the awkwardness of a "stop and repeat" photo.

5. What to Cut: The "Cringe" Factor

When building your list, avoid the "joke" shots or the "trendy" poses you see repeated constantly on social media. Props and funny faces are usually funny for about one second—they don't tend to be the photos you hang on your wall ten years from now. Aim for photos that capture who you actually are as a couple, not who a TikTok trend says you should be.

The Bottom Line: A great wedding photographer photo list isn't about capturing every possible combination of humans; it’s about creating a roadmap that allows your photographer to be an artist.

Trust the process, trust the "Subtraction Method," and let’s focus on the 10 shots that actually matter.