Wedding photographers are tasked with an incredible job. Sure, there’s the business end: The shot list, the schedule keeping, editing, albums, and a million other tiny details you can leave to us. But there’s also magic. We get to capture the day—including all of the moments you miss in the swirls of celebration.

Wedding photographers get to see each wedding as a carefully crafted story. We look for the best light, the intentional details, and the emotional connections, rather than the planned schedule of events. Wedding photographers can focus on fleeting interactions, composition, and technical, artistic, and logistical elements. We remove distractions, and identify the quiet spots worth remembering, even when you’re wrapped up in the noise.

Let’s face it. You’re a little busy, well, getting married! So leave the vision to us. What is it that wedding photographers actually see? Here’s a list of my favorite moments to capture, including the ones you’ll likely miss during the big day.

The Looks

We’ve all heard the phrase, right? “Find someone who looks at you the way ____ looks at ____.” The way we look at each other is a unique, innate, and immediate emotional response. It doesn’t require staging or intervention. It’s raw and human. It’s an outward expression of an internal feeling—a visual manifestation of a heart swell. That’s why “first look” photos are on almost every bride’s shot list! But whether you’re planning a separate “first look” before you walk down the aisle, or you’re leaving the reaction for the moment itself, there are plenty of “first looks” wedding photographers are looking out for.

Here’s a few looks you can add to your shot list:

• First look: Bride and groom
• First look: Bride and bridesmaids
• First look: Groom and Groomsmen
• First look: Bride with mom/dad/siblings
• First look: Groom with mom/dad/siblings

And here’s a few that I’ll capture just for you:

• The groomsmen’s reactions when you walk down the aisle
• The family’s reactions to your bride/groom “first look”
• The bridesmaid’s reactions to your first dance
• The flower girl/ring bearer’s reaction to your first kiss

Bonus tip: Are there any special details tucked into your wedding day? Think of the moments you won’t want to miss, like the first time your grandma sees you in your mother’s wedding gown or the first time two guests reunite before the ceremony. Be sure you communicate those details to your wedding photographer as you think of them! You might forget when the festivities take over, but we won’t, and we’ll make sure you don’t miss it.

The Emotions

Your wedding day is FULL of emotions. From overwhelming joy to deep love and excitement, anxiousness, and even bittersweet nostalgia. Wedding photographers strive to capture these emotions so you don’t just remember how everything looked. You remember how everyone felt—even if you didn’t notice it at the time! There are a few key moments guaranteed to pack an emotional punch, but there are a few others that might not be on your radar. Don’t worry. Wedding photographers will make sure you don’t miss a moment!

Here’s a few emotional moments to add to your shot list:

• Walking down the aisle
• Reading the vows
• The speeches and toasts
• Bride and groom’s exit (more about that here!)

And here’s a few that I’ll capture just for you:

• The bride and her father waiting to walk down the aisle
• Your guests during the vows
• The bride and groom’s reactions to speeches and toasts
• The parents of the bride and groom after they depart

With every detail you plan, you’re preparing to embark on a lifetime of wedded bliss, building a life full of unimaginable joy. And you get to do it in a gorgeous gown at a stunning ceremony as unique as your union! Telling stories—the whole story, beyond the shot list— is one of my favorite parts of being a photographer. And I’m so excited for the couples about to write this chapter of their very own love story!

Ready to unpack your vision? So am I. Let’s talk!