Essential Wedding Photos to Take During Your Celebration

Every spouse-to-be knows that wedding photos are one of the most crucial parts of the ceremony, as it captures the magic of the event and memorialises it forever.

To make sure you have a wedding album full of stunning shots and beautifully captured candid moments, it might help to have a list of must-have essential wedding photos in your mind to talk about with your wedding photographer.

To do this, look for a wedding photographer that is excited to discuss your ideas. You can then consult with them on the wedding shots that other couples ask them to do, giving you more concepts to consider. Together, you can put a list of your must-have wedding photos, ensuring they record each memorable minute and allow you to relive your special day several years later.

15 Essential Wedding Photos

Here are fifteen essential wedding photos to take during your celebration:

• The Invitations

The first few wedding photos that many don’t think of are shots of your invitation suite. Most photographers will shoot them on the day of the wedding, think of this shot as something that won’t necessarily be hung on the wall, but more to remember something you agonised over for hours prior to your day.

It’s best to talk to your photographer about what you want out of this moment and if you want extra details, like flowers and other decorations, to be included in the photo.

Wedding invites based on uno

Wedding invite

Invite

• The Getting Ready Montage

One of the most memorable wedding photos involves the getting ready moments, such as when the bride (and even groom) have their hair and makeup done. If you have an elaborate hairpiece, you’ll want to have a few photos of it. Include a shot of your maid of honour zipping you up in your dress, a picture of your wedding shoes, and other aspects you want to be immortalised in your wedding album.

Concentrating on makeup

Putting on makeup in front of window

Putting on Makeup in car at SC Pannell Winery

Putting makeup on

• The Accessories

Traditional weddings involve the bride wearing something old, new, borrowed, and blue. It’s a great idea to take photos of these, given the careful consideration you put into choosing the perfect items for your special day.

Bridal affects laid out on tabletop

Bridal Affects

Bridal affects

Bridal affects

• The Veil

Many brides place significant importance on the veil, especially if they’ve chosen one with a complex, intricate design. Don’t be afraid of showing off your veil and have your wedding photographer take pictures from multiple angles to capture its beauty in full!

Bride with veil

Bridal veil in front of camera

Helping with the veil

Bride and bridesmaids having fun under veil on bed

• The Individual Portraits

Who can forget the individual portraits? Weddings are usually when brides shine the brightest, so it’s crucial to take a few styled pictures. Grooms can also pose for some stunning photos to show off their sleek suit. These are the essential wedding photos everyone expects from their wedding photographer.

Groom waiting for bride

Excited groom

Bride looking pretty in front of big window

Bride holding bouquet

• The Bridal Bouquet

Wedding bouquets are often made of stunning arrangements of flowers that deserve to have their own photoshoot. Be sure to take some photos of yourself holding your beautiful bouquet and allow your photographer to stage the shoot by having it in different locations that highlight the breathtaking colours of your blooms.

Closeup of bouquets in hands

Engagement ring in red bouquet

Bridal bouquet

Close up of bouquet on ground

• The Bridal Party

Your bridal party plays a vital role in the success of your wedding, so they deserve gorgeous photos, too! These photos are also some of the most natural, candid, and joyous since there are many laughs involved. You’ll hold these photos close to your heart since it commemorates a special moment between you and your best mates.

Bridal party talking to one another

Bridal party on Grange Jetty

Jumping bridal party

• The First Look

Some couples prefer waiting until the actual ceremony for the first look, while others don’t mind having it before walking down the aisle. Whatever you choose, be sure to communicate this to your wedding photographer, so they know where and when to position themselves. Capturing your spouse’s reaction on film when they first see you in your wedding garb will be something to cherish forever. 

Grooms first look at bride at Ingle wood inn wedding

grooms first look at beginning of ceremony

grooms first look at the National Wine Center

nervous groom waiting for first look

• The Candid Moments

Nothing can beat the candid moments that are abundant in a wedding. Your photographer will always be on the lookout for these precious instances of unabashed laughter and broad smiles, but it will help to talk to them about it, as it’s easy to get lost in the beauty and magic of your wedding right at the moment.

Close up of bride and groom laughing 2

Laughing groom

Laughing bride as she’s carried

laughing groom during ceremony 2

• The Dress

Don’t forget to take a photo of the dress before it gets put on! The dress is a symbol of the entire day and is bound to get a bit messy by the end of thit. It’s nice to get a shot of it in pristine condition.

Wedding dress hanging above bridal party

Bride walking towards her wedding dress

Hanging wedding dress in shed

Hanging Thorngrove Manor wedding dress

• The Wedding Ceremony Site

Talk to your photographer about getting a few choice shots of the venue of your wedding. That way, you can capture the magic of the day and easily relive the moment you walked down the aisle to marry the most special person in the world to you. 

The Watershed Wedding Setup

Wedding setup

Wedding Ceremony setup

• The Walk Down the Aisle

Another essential wedding photo to take is your actual walk down the aisle on the arm of your mother, father, both, or another person who played a massive role in raising you. This moment is another memory you’ll want to keep close to you forever.

Bride and parents approaching ceremony

Bride and father approaching ceremony

bride and father approaching the ceremony

bride approaches in front of Seagrass long Point

• The First Kiss

What moment is more magical in your wedding than the first kiss? The vow exchange is when you officially become spouses, but nothing is as electric as when you first kiss each other. Be sure to talk to the officiant beforehand, so they know to step out of the shot for this unforgettable moment.

First kiss at ingle wood inn wedding

First kiss at Partridge House wedding ceremony

First kiss on Pennington Bay

First kiss

• The First Dance

Your first dance with your newly minted life partner is easily one of the most common essential wedding photos you’d expect from your wedding, so it’s easy to feel nervous about your dance moves and how you look on camera. With your favourite song on, you’ll have an easier time relaxing, allowing the photographer to take pictures of all the fun you’re having with your spouse!

First dance at Ingle wood Inn wedding

First dance at JDF reception cernter

first dance in blue smoke

National Wine Center Wedding Photography

• Exit

There’s no better opportunity to go out with a bang than by exiting the venue, especially when you have a creative setup, like confetti or sparklers. Make sure to talk to your photographer about capturing this to ensure they get amazing shots. You can also stage the moment if your reception will last well into the evening, making sure the photographer takes stunning photos before everyone starts retiring for the night.

National wine center wedding Exit under sparklers

Bride and groom exiting Sunnybrea wedding

Exit

Your wedding will be full of unforgettable moments that you’ll want to capture forever. However, in the flurry of activity, it can be easy to forget this when you’re overcome with the joy, support, and magic of your special day. By discussing these essential wedding photos with your wedding photographer, you can focus on enjoying your wedding without worrying about recording it!

SvenStudios is an award-winning wedding photographer in Adelaide who has captured the most beautiful wedding days since 2011. Whether you need cute engagement photos, a couple photoshoot, or an innovative cinematic wedding photographer, we can do it all for you. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!