Wedding Photography & Video Checklist

Photos are one of the few things you’ll keep long after the day, and popular photographers can book early, especially for weekend dates in peak season. Booking once your date and venue are fixed lets you check availability properly, compare full galleries rather than highlights, and make sure their style, coverage and delivery times fit the way you want to remember the day.

Photographers will need your confirmed date and venue before they can hold it for you.

• Often forgottenCouples often forget to check how and for how long the online gallery will stay available.
• Full galleries show how a photographer handles low light, family groups and busy moments, not just the best shots.
• Ask whether they’ve worked at your venue before.

• “Could you share a full gallery from a wedding similar to ours?
• “How long until we receive our photos?
• “What happens if you’re unable to attend on the day?
• “Are travel, overtime and a second shooter included?

Video captures voices, vows, speeches and movement in a way photos can’t, and many couples value hearing those moments again. Like photographers, videographers can only cover one wedding a day, so popular ones book early. Deciding now also lets your photographer and videographer coordinate, and keeps the budget clear before other costs grow.

• “How do you record clear audio for vows and speeches?
• “Have you worked alongside our photographer before?
• “Can we get the full ceremony and speeches unedited?

The getting-ready hours are often some of the most photographed and personal of the day. A cramped, dark room makes hair, makeup and photos harder and adds stress. Rooms near popular venues can also book up early, especially on peak dates. Securing both the getting-ready space and your wedding-night stay now means you know where the day starts and ends, and can plan timings around them.

• Often forgottenCouples often book a getting-ready space that’s too small once hair and makeup artists, helpers and the photographer are all in the room.
• Send your photographer a few photos of the room ahead of time.
• Some hotels offer a wedding-night package; ask what’s included.

• “What time can we access the room on the wedding day?
• “Can we check out late the morning after?
• “Is there somewhere safe to leave luggage and gifts?

An engagement session lets you get comfortable in front of the camera and get to know how your photographer works before the wedding day. Some photographers include one in their packages. If you want to use the photos on save-the-dates or your wedding website, scheduling it now leaves time for editing and design.

• “How soon after the session will we receive the photos?
• “Can we use the images on printed save-the-dates?

Photographers are experts at capturing the day, but they don’t know your family. A focused list of groupings and important people makes family photos quicker and ensures no one who matters is missed. Keeping it short leaves your photographer free to capture the moments you didn’t think to ask for.

• Order group photos from largest to smallest so people can leave as they finish.

• “How long will our family photos take?
• “Where will group photos happen if it rains?

Wedding photos can’t be retaken, and a single lost phone, failed drive or expired link can erase them. A simple rule many people follow is three copies, on two types of storage, with one kept somewhere else. You don’t need to be that thorough, but two copies in separate locations protects the files that matter most, including when professional galleries arrive later.

• Often forgottenProfessional online galleries sometimes expire, so download the full set rather than relying on the link.
• Name the folder clearly with your wedding date so it’s easy to find years from now.
• Download professional galleries before any gallery expiry date.

Professional photos and video can take weeks or months to arrive, depending on the vendor and season. Contracts usually state a delivery window, but it’s easy to lose track once the wedding is over. Noting each date and checking in politely if one passes means nothing is forgotten, and you can download and back up files before any gallery links expire.

• Often forgottenChecking how long online galleries remain available before they are taken down.

• “When can we expect the full gallery?
• “How long will the online gallery stay available?
• “Are we allowed to share and print these images?

Digital galleries are easy to forget about, while printed photos get looked at and shared across generations. If an album is included in your package, there may be a deadline for choosing images. Making selections while the day is still fresh is easier and more enjoyable than sorting through hundreds of files years later.

• Include a few guest photos for a fuller story of the day.
• Mark favorites as you browse, then return to decide later.