Planning your wedding photos can feel like a whirlwind of excitement, that’s why today we have the wonderfully talented Dani Bartlett of Dani Bartlett Photography explaining how to create a must-have shot list for your wedding photographer. We know that you’re going to love all of Dani’s insights. Enjoy dotties! 

I know, I get it, you’ve booked your photographer and now your Instagram is filled to the brim with all these incredible wedding photos from all around the world and it’s giving you more and more ideas and you’re starting to think “we could easily add all of these into our day”.

Now you start screenshotting, saving, and creating your absolute must-have list for your photographer.

It sounds like a great idea, right? Where could it possibly go wrong?

Why A”Must-Have” Photo List Can Backfire

Well you remember that photographer you’ve booked, who (I hope) you have an immense amount of trust in, feel comfortable with and adore their work? Did you know that a heavy, “absolute” must-have list of photos can be detrimental and take away from (your day &) their ability to capture your day properly (& a lot of photographers will not like or even accept a must have list)?

Doesn’t make much sense right? Let me explain.

How a “Must-Have” List Can Disrupt the Flow

When you give your photographer a must-have photo list that’s full of examples, lists and poses it means that instead of being in the moment and catching some genuine “unposed” moments of yourselves or your guests they are constantly checking the list to check what they have and have not done so far and where can they fit in the ones they haven’t done yet.

Opt for an “Inspiration” List Instead

Instead of a “must-have” list, a lot of photographers are open to an “inspiration” list. You know those ideas floating around in your head? Well take a handful of those and make notes for your photographer but with the mindset of “if we have time” or “we would love if we could”. This way your photographer can keep those inspiration photos in their head through your day and fit them in where it works best with the flow of your day.

Be Thoughtful About What You Truly Want

None of this means you must stay silent and not let any requests be known because of course you can BUT have a think about what is most important to you and your day.

For example, a wedding earlier in the year saw a bride come to me with a few inspiration photos and a couple of requests. One of those requests was that the couple wanted each member of their party (aka their favourite people) to each have a photo by themselves while they’re all done up and looking their absolute best. I was totally ok with this, it’s a simple request and was easily fit in at the end of their party portraits.

Share Your Inspirations, Not Demands

As for the inspiration photos, the bride sent me about 8 photos that she had found and followed it with “we would love some of these in our gallery if possible, but we also don’t want to take away from our day”, I was also more than happy to fit in what I could and make them work where possible.

I’ve also had couples send me some of my own photos from past weddings saying “absolutely love this/these, would love to have this in my day”.

Trust Your Photographer’s Creative Eye

When you go into it with less of a “must-have” mindset and more of an “inspiration”/“if we can” mindset, I promise everything will feel so much smoother and less stressful.

Besides, remember that photographer I mentioned. You know, the one you booked because you love their work and who (again, I hope) you trust – they’ve got this, I promise you.

They’ve done this wedding thing before, and I imagine they have a fair few weddings under their belt and have their creative style (or flair if you will) and will create so many amazing memories of your day!

Special thanks to Dani Bartlett for such an insightful post today on Polka Dot Wisdom! We truly loved your perspective of creating a must have shot list for the wedding day. Instead, embrace “inspiration.” Trust the expertise of your wedding photographer – you chose them for a reason, after all!

About the author: I didn’t actually set out to become a photographer, I just knew that I loved the way photos make me feel. I loved the vivid colours, the contrast, the joy, the nostalgia, the honesty of it all. And so, when my husband and I began spending most of our time on the road, I knew that I had to document these moments so that we could relive all of our epic adventures. I didn’t know it at the time, but I also took these photos to share our lives with our kids (proof we had one before they came along!). Slowly but surely, friends and family began asking me to photograph moments for them, as well. The attraction was instant, and it wasn’t long before photography became my full-time thing. I’ve been immortalising life’s biggest moments and greatest adventures for people just like you since 2016, and I’ve never looked back.