Give THIS To Your Wedding Photographer Instead Of A Shot List
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“Shot list” is a buzzword you’ll likely hear at some point during the wedding planning process and refers to a list of photos you want your photographer to capture on the big day. Not sure what to include on your list? If you’re thinking about a shot list in the traditional sense, let us shift your perspective and show you how to give your photographer something *truly* helpful to them and beneficial for everyone involved in your wedding. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t actually include specific shots! Keep reading for all the deets.
Photo // Julia Davis Co. Photography
How to Create a Shot List for Your Wedding Photographer: The Do’s and Don’ts
Simply put, when you hire a professional wedding photographer to capture your special day, you’re paying them (and trusting them) to do a professional job. However, there are some details you can and should send your photographer that will help them capture your day in a way that most accurately tells your story and reflects who YOU are as a couple.
DON’T:
- Don’t instruct your photographer to capture standard wedding events (getting ready, walking down the aisle, the kiss, first dance, cutting the cake). They’re there to capture the day as it unfolds and these events are a given.
- Don’t give your photographer descriptions or screenshots of specific poses or shot setups to emulate. What you see on Pinterest and Instagram is meant to serve as inspiration, not something for your photographer to try and recreate or copy.
- Don’t expect your wedding photos to look exactly like any others you’ve seen. Lighting, location, weather, and endless other factors play into how your photos will turn out. It’s your unique day, after all!
DO:
- Make sure your photographer knows both who and what are most important to you to capture, outside of you, your fiancé and your wedding party.
- Make sure you have a photography timeline (typically created by the photographer with input from you and your main vendors) and that your vendors are on the same page, schedule-wise.
- Work with your photographer to create a list of the family groupings you’d like photos of.
- Do let your photographer know if you have a desire to have your wedding photos published. There are certain types of photos many publications look for, so your photographer will need to approach certain things with a keen eye.
Let your photographer know if there are any special moments you’d like to happen, like a first look with your bridesmaids or your dad, a letter or gift exchange, touching or talking to your S.O. prior to the ceremony without seeing them – it’s totally okay for you to tell your photographer about things like this you’d like included in your day. They’ll make sure these events get captured beautifully!
Your wedding photographer does need to be made aware of special personal details to which they may not otherwise pay special attention. Are you wearing any special jewelry? Including any family heirlooms in your ceremony? Highlighting something borrowed or blue? Let them know about these items so they can be sure to capture them!
Do you have any extra-special family members or friends you’d like to make sure to get a photo with? Definitely tell your photographer! Think about your VIPs and give your photographer a heads up so they’re sure not to miss those people.
How to Make a Family Shot List for Your Wedding
The one actual checklist your wedding photographer WILL need is a list of family groupings with first names listed out for each set. Your photographer should have a template or suggestions of groupings to help you get started, but if you’re stuck, we have a few pro tips!
The family groupings usually include three segments: your family, your fiancé’s family and both families combined. Depending on the timeline of your day and whether or not you choose to do a first look, some of these groups may be captured before the ceremony and some after. To make it easier to think about who should be included, start with the biggest group (i.e. extended family with aunts, uncles and cousins) and have your groupings get smaller from there.
IMPORTANT TIP: Be sure to let your photographer know about any potentially awkward family dynamics. Divorced parents, estranged relatives, someone recently passed away – knowing any details like this ahead of time can help your photographer avoid having to ask uncomfortable questions or say the wrong thing in front of your family on the actual wedding day. Remember: your photographer knows you, but they’ve most likely never met your family!
What to Give Your Photographer Instead of a Traditional Shot List
In sum, your wedding photographer doesn’t need a checklist or collection of shots for “inspiration”. But DO let your photographer know about special items, personal details and special people they’ll want to highlight. Get specific with your family groupings list and include as much helpful information as possible.
Trust your wedding photographer to capture your day’s events as they unfold in a way that reflects their creativity and style as an artist (remember, you hired them because you liked their work) and that also reflects you, your family and your story. Your love is like no one else’s, so your wedding photo album shouldn’t be, either. Cheers to beautiful photos of the most special day!
El Corazon Photography
Behind the Lens: Led by Cris, El Corazon Photography takes a thoughtful, personal approach to capturing couples and weddings. Her focus is on preserving genuine emotion and personality while creating images that feel distinctly yours.
Style: A dreamy mix of documentary and editorial photography, balancing candid moments with thoughtfully directed portraits. El Corazon also incorporates digital and analog film for images that feel timeless, artistic, and full of texture.
Pricing: Inquire for pricing.
Other Info: El Corazon Photography specializes in weddings, elopements, engagements, and couples sessions, with availability for destination work. Coverage can include both film and digital photography, with options for additional hours, second shooters, and albums or prints.
Photos By Yaz Photography
Behind the Lens: Photos by Yaz is led by Austin photographer Yazmin Moreno, who focuses on capturing the joy, personality, and little moments that make each wedding unique. Her goal is to make the photography experience feel fun and relaxed while still creating images that feel elevated and timeless
Style: Yaz blends classic portraits with creative, candid photography. She gives couples direction when needed, using prompts, movement, and conversation to create natural moments rather than overly posed images. Her work has a vibrant, polished feel while still capturing the genuine emotion of the day.
Pricing: Inquire for pricing.
Other Info: Wedding packages include two photographers, eight hours of coverage, a customized timeline, a complimentary engagement session, sneak peeks within 72 hours, and a full gallery delivered within six weeks. Photos by Yaz also offers proposal photography, content creation, and associate photographer options
Amairani Thomason Photography
Behind the Lens: Amairani Thomason Photography is centered around giving couples a wedding experience where they can slow down, enjoy the day, and trust that the moments worth remembering are being captured. Serving Austin, Dallas, and destination weddings, Amairani takes the time to get to know her couples and offers guidance throughout the planning process, creating a comfortable experience from the first conversation through the wedding day.
Style: Her photography pairs a bright, romantic look with an editorial touch. Amairani focuses on genuine connection and the moments that happen naturally, while also creating beautifully composed portraits. The result is a gallery that feels polished and timeless without losing the emotion behind each photograph.
Pricing: Starting at $5,000
Other Info: Amairani offers engagement sessions, bridal portraits, and second-shooter coverage, with customized collections that can include additional coverage and heirlooms. Her approach is especially well suited for couples who want their photographs to bring back the feeling of their wedding day, not simply document what it looked like.
Raquel Davidowitz Photography
Behind the Lens: Raquel Davidowitz Photography brings a relationship-driven approach to wedding photography, focusing on the real emotions and connections that make each celebration personal. Texas-born and based in Central Texas, Raquel creates images with plenty of heart, artistry, and intention.
Style: Her work combines documentary storytelling with an artistic, modern feel. Raquel is known for true-to-color images, rich color, natural lighting, and elegant compositions that feel timeless without looking overly posed.
Pricing: Starting at $3,600
Other Info: Raquel offers bridal portraits and second-shooter coverage, with an experience designed to keep couples present while she captures the day naturally. She also provides sneak peeks within 3–4 days, with full galleries delivered within eight weeks.
Boettcher Films
Behind the Lens: Boettcher Films is a husband-and-wife team, Gracie and Jonathan, who create wedding films with a slower, more intentional approach. They’re passionate about preserving the day as it genuinely happened, focusing on the moments, emotions, and connections that make each wedding unique.
Style: Their films have a nostalgic, cinematic feel, captured on Super 8 and 16mm film. The result is raw, romantic, and personal, with an emphasis on real moments rather than staged production.
Pricing: Inquire for pricing.
Other Info: Boettcher Films offers wedding films as well as photography, with options for Super 8, 16mm, and film-and-digital coverage. They also travel for destination weddings, making them a great fit for couples who want something artistic and deeply personal.
Rebekah Paul Photography
Behind the Lens: Rebekah Paul Photography is centered on the people and connections that make a wedding day meaningful. With a photojournalistic approach, Rebekah takes a thoughtful step back to observe the day as it unfolds, capturing the relationships, emotions, and fleeting moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Style: Classic and timeless, Rebekah’s photography is less about following trends and more about creating images that will still feel beautiful years from now. Her work has an honest, emotional quality, with an emphasis on genuine connection and the story behind each celebration.
Pricing: Inquire for pricing.
Other Info: Rebekah begins the process with a personal discovery call, taking the time to learn about each couple and what makes their relationship unique. For couples looking for a photographer who values connection over poses and storytelling over trends, her approach offers a calm, intentional way to document the wedding day. She also offers associate photography, albums, and photo and video options.
Sierra Marie Photography
Behind the Lens: Sierra Marie Photography is led by Sierra Dolan, an Austin photographer who has been capturing couples and families since 2019. Her approach is centered on creating a comfortable experience while documenting the genuine connection and joy of each wedding day
Style: Sierra describes her style as natural and photojournalistic, with an emphasis on romantic, candid moments. She offers gentle direction throughout the day, helping couples feel comfortable while keeping their photos true to who they are.
Pricing: Ranging from $2,400 – $5,250
Other Info: Wedding packages of six hours or more include an engagement or bridal session, a second photographer, and hundreds of edited images. Sierra also offers shorter coverage for courthouse weddings, elopements, and micro weddings.
Jingaling Photography
Behind the Lens: Jingaling Photography is led by Jing Yang, a filmmaker-turned-photographer who brings a strong sense of storytelling to every wedding. Her approach is centered on genuine emotion, personality, and the moments couples may not even realize are happening.
Style: Jing’s work blends photojournalism with a cinematic, artistic feel. She focuses on candid images and natural connection while using thoughtful composition and creative lighting to give each gallery a distinctive look.
Pricing: Inquire for pricing.
Other Info: Along with wedding photography, Jingaling offers engagement and bridal sessions, videography, and unique cinemagraphs that combine still photography with subtle movement. The team also serves destination weddings.
Julia Davis Co. Photography
Behind the Lens: Julia Davis Co. Photography is all about preserving the feeling of a wedding day,not just what it looked like. Based in Austin and available worldwide, Julia takes an intentional approach to documenting the people, emotions, and in-between moments that make each celebration meaningful.
Style: Julia blends digital and film photography with a timeless, true-to-color look. Her work has an editorial polish, while still leaving room for candid, unscripted moments that bring a gallery to life. From genuine laughter to beautifully composed portraits, her images feel natural and refined.
Pricing: Ranging from $5,000 – $1,000
Other Info: Julia offers engagement sessions, bridal portraits, second shooters, albums, and film photography, giving couples several ways to personalize their photography experience and preserve their wedding memories.
Jessie Schultz Photography
Behind the Lens: Jessie Schultz Photography is focused on the real stuff: the laughs, happy tears, quiet glances, and all the little moments that make a wedding day yours. Jessie and her husband, Dylan, work together as a husband-and-wife photography team, bringing a fun, personable energy to the wedding day while keeping their focus on telling each couple’s story as it naturally unfolds.
Style: Jessie’s work has a documentary feel with a touch of editorial flair. She mixes digital and film photography to create images that feel natural, nostalgic, and full of emotion. Rather than relying on stiff poses, Jessie gently guides couples when needed and gives them plenty of space to simply enjoy each other and the people around them.
Pricing: Wedding collections start at $5,500
Other Info: Couples can expect more than just beautiful images, they’ll have a photography team that helps with the planning process, including timeline creation
Lindsey Thorne Photography
Behind the Lens: Lindsey Thorne Photography brings a personal, energetic approach to wedding photography, helping couples feel comfortable while capturing the genuine emotion and excitement of their day. Lindsey combines thoughtful direction with an eye for the moments that happen naturally.
Style: Editorial meets candid, with timeless portraits, beautiful light, and authentic moments woven together. Her images feel polished and magazine-worthy while still capturing the personality and emotion of the people in them.
Pricing: Inquire for pricing.
Other Info: Lindsey Thorne Photography specializes in weddings and also offers engagement, bridal, boudoir, and portrait photography. Her approach is especially suited for couples who want guidance in front of the camera while still wanting their photos to feel natural and personal.
Nowadays Film
Behind the Lens: Nowadays Film, led by Austin photographer and videographer Gabie Hart, is all about capturing weddings with warmth, nostalgia, and a strong sense of story. Gabie focuses on the moments that happen naturally, giving couples space to be themselves while preserving the feeling of the day.
Style: Shooting exclusively on film, Gabie blends documentary storytelling with an editorial eye. Her work has a romantic, cinematic quality, with warm tones and an appreciation for the imperfect, in-between moments. She also offers Super 8 video for couples wanting to relive their day in motion.
Pricing: Starting at $5,000
Other Info: Nowadays Film offers wedding and elopement photography, Super 8 video, engagement sessions, bridal portraits, and full-length video. Gabie is based in Austin and available for weddings worldwide.
Sweetleaf Photo + Film
Behind the Lens: Sweetleaf Photo + Film is all about creating a photography experience that feels personal, collaborative, and true to each couple. Rather than simply documenting the big moments, Sweetleaf takes the time to understand what matters to you, the memories you want to make, the people you love, and the feelings you want to remember long after the wedding day.
Style: Sweet, natural, and emotion-driven, with an emphasis on genuine connection. Sweetleaf Photo + Film captures weddings in a way that feels effortless and lived-in, balancing beautiful portraits with candid moments and the little details that tell the bigger story. The imagery feels warm and personal, focusing less on perfection and more on creating photographs that bring you right back to how the day felt.
Pricing: Inquire for pricing.
Other Info: Sweetleaf Photo + Film offers wedding photography for couples who want a collaborative and personal experience from start to finish. Their work centers around discovering what each couple values most and creating space for both the planned moments and the unexpected ones to unfold naturally.
Kelley Laws Photography
Behind the Lens: Kelley Laws Photography takes a thoughtful, personal approach to documenting weddings, focusing on the genuine emotions and relationships that make each celebration special. Based in Central Texas, Kelley works with couples throughout Texas and beyond, guiding them through the process from their first inquiry to the final gallery.
Style: Kelley combines film and digital photography with a fine-art editorial touch. Her images are bright, true to color, and full of natural emotion, balancing heartfelt candids with beautifully composed portraits and details.
Pricing: Inquire for pricing.
Other Info: Kelley has photographed more than 160 weddings and also offers engagement sessions, bridal portraits, and destination wedding photography. Her calm, supportive presence makes the experience easygoing while still keeping the day organized and on track.
Max's Golden Hour Photography
Behind the Lens: Max’s Golden Hour Photography, led by Alyssa, is all about making wedding photography feel fun, relaxed, and true to each couple. Based in Texas and available to travel, Alyssa focuses on letting couples be themselves while documenting the moments that naturally unfold.
Style: Alyssa describes her work as fun, cinematic, and vibrant, with a documentary approach that keeps things moving rather than overly posed. Her images capture genuine connection while bringing plenty of color and energy to the finished gallery.
Pricing: Starting at $3,000
Other Info: Collections include custom timeline planning, a personal print release, and options for prints or albums. Elopement packages include a complimentary pre-wedding shoot, and film photography is available as an add-on. Alyssa also offers couples and engagement sessions.
