Must-Have Wedding Photos (Ideas Gallery & Tips)

It’s important to plan ahead with your wedding photographer so we have prepared the absolutely must-have wedding photos that will help you with putting together your dream album checklist.
From the getting ready shots to the popular sparkler exit photos, it’s important to plan ahead and review your with your photographer at least a week before the ceremony to ensure all moments that are important to you are captured on your big day. Before jumping into the Must-Have Photos Gallery, make sure to PIN this checklist!

Bride Morning – Getting Ready

Getting ready photos are the perfect place to start documenting your special day. You’ll want to capture how you feel as you realize that you’re about to spend the rest of your life with your best friend. Make sure there’s a camera (or photographer) handy as you start the day’s journey.

Wedding photography ideas are waiting for you on Pinterest!

Bride Tribe In Custom Denim Jackets

Capture the modern bridal fashion vibe with a photosession featuring the bride and bridesmaids in custom denim jackets. These personalized jackets add a trendy touch to the traditional bridal party look. The bride’s jacket will be specially adorned with her name, making her the center of attention. The bridesmaids will wear matching jackets, creating a stylish and coordinated group. Whether against a rustic or urban backdrop, this photosession will showcase the bride and her squad in a fun and edgy way while still maintaining the wedding’s elegance and charm.

Elevate your bridal style with this exquisite personalized pearl-studded white jean jacket!

Elevate your bridal style with this exquisite personalized pearl-studded blue jean jacket!

Hanging Wedding Dress

Aside from the bride and groom, the gown is the star of the show. While it’s pristine and perfectly hung, you’ll want to try a variety of wedding dress photos. Your venue is sure to host a wide range of interesting textures and colors to set the gown against. Head outside if you want to capture an artistic shot of your dress flowing in the wind.

Behind-the-scenes memories with the bridal party. Champagne time

You’ll be celebrating with your guests all night long. At some point, you’ll want to pull aside all of the people that made it happen. This creates a great opportunity for photos of Behind-the-scenes memories with the bridal party. Place this on your list to look back on popping bottles to a great mission accomplished.

Putting On The Dress

This isn’t a normal “going out” kind of night. This is a process! Putting on the dress photos are a great way to look back at what some brides describe as the ‘moment it all became real’. It’s very likely that your bridesmaids will have to help you into your gown, and there will definitely be a lot of movement providing tons of opportunities for a lot or artistic layouts.

Bride Putting On Garter

This is the moment that walks the line between romantic and sexy. Grooms are sure to appreciate a few pictures of the bride putting on garter. A slightly seductive photo that’s also innocent enough to share with the family combines the hint of lingerie and a little leg tactfully concealed by the gown.

Hairstyle Closeup – Wedding Photos

A lot of thought goes into the bride’s hairstyle. Photos are a must! Make sure to capture the entire head-to-toe ensemble so that you can see how it all flows together. You’ll also have to make sure to zoom in to keep a memory of all the close-up details. But, make sure to do it before all the dancing starts!

See more: 45 Half Up Half Down Wedding Hairstyles Ideas

Getting Ready With Bridesmaids

Your girls have been with you since the beginning, often before you even met the groom, and today is crunch time! Although you may be a ball of nerves at this point, they have your back. Snap as many pics as possible of teamwork at it’s best and look back to how everyone came together.

See more: 30 Must Take Wedding Photos With Your Bridesmaids

First Look Of Your Close Ones

Traditionally the first look refers to that moment where a groom’s eyes experience his bride in her gown for the first time. Recent trends have opened up this photoshoot time to more of the bride and groom’s close ones. Whether it’s the groom alone or a group of your closest connections, the looks on their faces can’t be missed.

See more: 30 Must Take Wedding Photos With Your Bridesmaids

Mother And Bride

A mother and daughter share a special bond, especially on this day. The entire event will consist of a wide range of emotions as you both reflect on the past and dream of the future. Instruct your photographer to keep an eye out for all these candid moments.

Touching Wedding Photos: Bride With Father

There is nothing that prides a dad more than witnessing his princess transform into a queen. You won’t want to miss a father’s first look at his daughters happiest day. Make sure to get as many close up shots as possible – even the toughest dads can’t help but shed a tear on this special occasion.

Wedding Bouquet Closeup

The bride’s flower selection is tremendously thoughtful and always beautiful. A perfect wedding bouquet closeup is a definite must-have for any wedding photo album. Try a few close-crops of the bouquet by itself, being held by the bride, or flying through the air towards the guests.

See more: 18 All White Wedding Bouquets Inspiration

 

Creative Shots Of Wedding Rings Before The Ceremony

It takes a long time to decide on the perfect combination of engagement rings and wedding bands. A picture of each goes on the list along with a group shot. There’s a lot of different ways you can arrange them together, and you can try a lot of different surfaces to find a perfect wedding album addition.

See more: 18 All White Wedding Bouquets Inspiration

Wedding Dress Full Size

The gown will get a lot of attention from the camera, but something so stunning deserves to be in the spotlight. You absolutely need some memories of you in your wedding dress: full size. The other shots will have accessories, people, or action. This top-to-bottom shot is just for you.

See more: 17 Elope Wedding Dresses For Any Bridal Style

Wedding Shoes

Wedding shoes don’t always get the attention they deserve if covered by a flowing gown. Even if they are on full display all day, they are gorgeous and NEED to be part of your album. Wedding shoes are usually a little more ornate than your date-night go-to heels. Take a picture from every angle until you find the perfect frame.

Groom Getting Ready

Most men put effort into how they look on a daily basis, but never so much as on his wedding day. There’s an ever-growing list of options of suits for grooms. A staple of any wedding album includes a series of the groom transforming himself into prince charming for his bride.

 

Touching Photos: Groom With Parents Before Ceremony

His parents taught him how to be a man and there’s sure to be more than a few emotional interactions throughout the night. Touching photos with the groom’s parents are a highly recommended inclusion to your wedding night memories.

Groom With Groomsmen Before Ceremony

The Groomsmen are responsible for getting your husband-to-be to the altar, and they’re ecstatic for him!. You’ll need to coordinate with your photographer in advance to plan the perfect photo of all the comradery and charm. There are a few different scenarios to consider a formal formation or in the midst of celebrating. Try a little of each to capture both their serious and fun-loving sides.

Cute Flower Girls Photos

You’ve never seen flower girls that weren’t absolutely adorable. Flower girl dresses never fail to deliver a smile and an “awwww” from anyone who happens to catch a glimpse. Flower girls are usually very young and may not have the patience for a formal photoshoot. So, make sure there are a few opportunities to capture all the cuteness.

Adorable Ring Bearers

Ring bearers have a very important package to deliver and adding these photos to your wedding album are always adorable. A well-planned serious shot can be extra cute. Make sure to include the flower girls to bring the awww to the next level!

 

Aisle

Whether packed with people or tentatively waiting for the magic to happen, wedding aisle photos tell a story. The aisle is the main event of the venues and a great way to encapsulate all of the feelings before, during, and after “I Do”.

Wedding Arch Photo

A wedding arch photo commemorates the very spot where the bride and groom will stand. Wedding arches are gorgeous by themselves. Embellished with flowers, leaves, vines, and fabrics, arches can play tricks in the wind or make the light dance. However, the real magic is the metaphor. This is where it all began.

See more: 21 Floral Ceremony Arch Decoration Ideas

 

Touching First Look Photos

Besides the “I Do” moment, the first look just may be the most significant event of the evening. The location of this occasion is important and a photo of the first look near the aisle is a great option to consider.

 

Wedding Ceremony Photos

There’s so much going on just before “I Do”. Photograph the bride and groom together at the altar to capture all the nerves, joy, quivers, and love. Take lots of photos here including lots of close ups of your happy faces and full scene shots of the suit and gown.

 

Romantic Wedding Photos Of The Bride And Groom

Although there are many people involved on this special day, it’s really only about one thing: the romance between soul mates. There will be plenty of chances for fun and candid photos, but make sure to reserve some time for romantic wedding photos of bride and groom. Be natural and the photographer will have an easy time capturing all of the love.

Wedding Kiss

One would usually steer clear of PDAs, but your wedding day is completely different. Wedding kiss photos grasp all of the love and passion that your special day is meant to represent. This isn’t just a kiss, this is THE kiss! Don’t be shy.

See more: Breathtaking Wedding Kiss Photos

Creative Wedding Shoot Ideas

Every bride will be happy to take some creative wedding photos with the groom. All eyes are on you, but this day is about two lives coming together. Take some time to scout the venue with your photographer to plan the perfect creatively staged moment with the two of you.

 

Family Photos

Although the main event is the union of bride and groom, your wedding is also when your family combines and grows. Your new family photos will shine in your album. So take plenty of them with different combinations of all the people that you can always count on.

Wedding First Dance

The Wedding First Dance is the first truly intimate moment after the official “I Do”. It’s when the couple can forget about everyone around them and the hustle of the day, and begin falling in love with each other all over again. This moment will obviously be an indelible photo in the album.

Father-Daughter Dance

A photo of the traditional father-daughter dance will represent so much. Even though you’ve grown up and started your happily ever after, you’re still his little girl. This is a father’s proudest day and should be remembered forever.

Wedding Party Photos

The groomsmen have known the groom for years and are his trusted advisors. The bridesmaids are the bride’s closest confidants. Each group has their own inside jokes and their own personality. This union is between bride and groom but expands beyond to the besties. Capture the moment when this extended group meets and greets.

Group Shot Of Bride, Groom, Family And Wedding Party

Get everyone! A group shot of bride, groom, family and wedding party will commemorate the moment that everyone came together to celebrate your most special day. Some people you may not have seen for a long time and others will have traveled from far away. Make sure to keep this memory.

Reception Tables

The venue is a piece of art on its own. Make sure to include a wide shot of reception areas on your wedding album list. Have your photographer try a couple of vantage points to get the best of table settings, floral arrangements, decorations, and entire layout.Reception Tables are one of the smaller details you’ll want to remember to photograph. The centerpieces, flat, silver, and stemware, the tablecloth, and candles and other decorations are all details that you won’t want to miss.

Close-Ups Of Reception Details

Getting photos of the entire reception area is important, but so is capturing all of the thoroughly planned finer details. The table settings, floral arrangements, decorations, lighting, and everything else all have their own story to tell.

 

Funny Wedding Pictures

Humor goes hand-in-hand with love. Although love and romance rule the day, it’s impossible to avoid a little silliness. Keep your photographer on alert for impromptu comedy to add to the funny wedding pictures section of your album.

 

Favors

The parting gifts you put together for your guests come with a lot of preparation a metaphor. Photograph your handmade favors to keep the record of your stylized message and the official date of wedded bliss.

 

Wedding Centerpieces

Centerpieces come in all shapes and sizes like tons of candles, a little bit of nature, lots of flowers, and sometimes jewels. Your centerpiece is unique and deserves a designated spot in your wedding album. Although your centerpiece may include a lot of colors, you may be surprised at how well a black and white photo will turn out.

 

Wedding Cake

Dessert chefs win awards for their wedding cake designs, and you’ve put a lot of thought into which one will be showcased on your special occasion. Make sure this tasty symbol bliss is on your wedding album list.

See more: 18 Simple Romantic Wedding Cakes

Wedding Exit Photo Ideas

A traditional wedding exit features a significant portion of rice being tossed into the air. More modern wedding exit photo ideas are much more appealing to some. If you’re a more fun and progressive type of bride and groom, consider balloons, streamers, floating lanterns or even some simple flower petals. Whatever you choose, place this fun moment on your album list!

See more: 30 THE BEST WEDDING PHOTOS IDEAS YOU SHOULD TRY