Wedding days can seem hectic, especially if you’re just starting out. When I was shooting my first weddings, I always had a shot list with me just as a reminder of what to capture. I didn’t have anything detailed, just the basic shots I gathered from some online research written down on a piece of paper. While not fancy, that shot list sure did help me a lot when the weddings seemed to move so fast and I was trying to capture everything all at once it seemed.
In the video below, wedding photographer Jasmine Star talks about why it’s a good idea to have a shot list, especially if you’re just starting out.
Thoughts
I totally agree with Jasmine on having a shot list when you’re new to wedding photography. The days move so quickly when you’re shooting your first weddings that having a list can help you focus in and get the shots that you need or want to make. Personally, now that I’ve photographed enough weddings to know what I want to shoot or need to shoot for my couples, the only time I have a shot list is for family formals. For me, family formals are the only time I feel a shot list is crucial because I want to make sure we capture an image or two of every group of family and friends that are important or special to my couple.
[REWIND: HOW TO MAKE WEDDING DAY FAMILY FORMALS PAINLESS AND STRESS-FREE]
Conclusion
The video covers just one part of a wedding day and to see the rest of Jasmine’s shot list you will have to purchase it over on her site. While we’re not affiliated with Jasmine, I felt the video was a good reminder to make sure you have a sound idea of what you want to shoot on a wedding day, helping you to deliver the best product possible for your clients. If you wanted to create a shot list from scratch, I suggest reaching out to a few local wedding photographers you’re friends with and asking them for their thoughts on what you need to capture. I will add that I had too many shots on my list for my first few weddings. I suggest keeping it simple and getting the safe shots, such as the dress, the bride getting into her dress, rings, etc. and as you shoot more weddings and the day starts to slow down for you, start to create multiple images of each detail or moment.
Via: ISO 1200
Images captured via screen grab.
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loved this
Not that long ago, SLRL had to stop people commenting on an article. Describing an photographer as ‘world renowned’ when clearly he wasn’t (or indeed isn’t) seemed to many to be, at best, a lapse of judgement. At least his work, love it or hate it, was actually his own work.
With Ms Star, we have someone known to pass off the words of others as her own. I think it’s deeply unpalatable that the SLRL editors chose to publish this article when clearly she cannot be considered to be a trusted source.
Totally agree, but at least her photos are her’s ;-)
BTW: I always wonder why almost every US-Photographer is introduced as “award-winnig” (or describes himself in a vita)… ;-)
Does it count to win some regional prizes?
Well, if that’s the case, many of my students are ‘award winning’ before they leave school. :)
I totally agree with your conclusion. A wedding coverage lives from (unexpected) moments and relations between people.
Whenever you only try to unhook a list you may miss important photos… But there’re different clients with different expections.
Maybe Jasmin Star’s clients really like photos that were scheduled scrupulously precise and she needs a list. My couples do not. So it’s important to choose your clients wisely and be honest what they can expect from you before they sign a contract.
Just wait until you forget that special shot that they mentioned at planning stage .
Then see how things can get nasty .
I don’t believe in lists on the whole but I think as a reminder for special shots and for names and timings they can be very helpful .
It appears as though she got embroiled in a bit of a plagiarism pickle around this time last year, to the point that she issued a public apology on FStoppers. Google turns up some samples.
Please do not promote Jasmine Star.
You know I’ve seen a lot of this. Just wondering why?