A Softer Image

I saw an article on Weddingbee.com called Kill the Shot List. The photographer who wrote the article lamented situations in which couples supplied a full-blown list of must-take shots, which in turn limited her ability to be artistic and photojournalistic. I immediately thought about our choice to always have our couples fill out a shotlist questionnaire before their wedding, but after thinking long and hard, I still stand by it.

“Standard” is different for everyone

The biggest issue is that what some couples think are standard shots may not be for the photographer, and vice versa. I have read bride’s comments on wedding sites about seeing lots of shots of their food after the wedding, which they didn’t want or need - they didn’t understand why the photographer took those shots. Meanwhile, one client made sure to ask me to get pictures of the flower arrangements at the reception site as well as the food so she could pass the photos on later to her vendors. For each couple there is a different idea of what is important and what they want after the wedding - one couple might want photos of their rings, another couple couldn’t care less about that image, and would wonder why I took it.

The first commenter on the article said, “to me, there might be things that seem like common sense to one party (like a ring shot), and need to be spelled out.” Another commenter added, “I didnt have a shot list and he of course knew the general pictures to take. But there were still a few missed out on/ a few key people pictures that I regret not having.” This is why A Softer Image works with you up through your wedding date to make sure we understand exactly what is important to you with the photography.

Full shotlist vs. must-take list

Most importantly, there is a difference between a full-blown shotlist and a shorter must-take list. What we hand to our clients and ask them to fill out is a questionnaire about location rules and timelines, not a big list with checkboxes. However, we do include a short suggested list of typical formal portraits and ask our clients to indicate which they’d like. There is also a huge space at the end for them to write what else they’d like to make sure we capture. Moreover, we encourage our clients to send us images that they like and want to emulate or reproduce.

What we do is shape an overall idea of what a client is looking for - not a list that we will cross-off as we go. Make sure that your photographer knows what photos are important to you, since our goal is the same: to make sure that you have photos that you’ll treasure long after the wedding.

Have a conversation, don’t make a list

Be sure to talk with your photographer about:

• any special guests that you want to make sure are photographed (distant cousins that you won’t see again for a while, your group of college friends who aren’t in the wedding party, etc.)
• any details that you’re proud of and the photographer might miss while capturing people (like DIY elements or particularly meaningful details, like your grandmother’s hankerchief or the bouquet in memory of a loved one)
• any portrait styles you like and want to use (your reflection in a window or a body of water, your silhouette in the sunset)
• any other important images that, no matter how silly or mundane, you want to make sure are taken (the bulletin board at the church, your dinner plate)

While going overboard on requiring your photographer to take these shots might limit their ability to be creative in other areas of the wedding, it’s important to us to make sure you’re happy with the photos. A conversation with the photographer rather than a list of the photos you want is the best way to achieve this goal. That’s why A Softer Image photographers have an ongoing dialog (not just one Word document) up through your event, so that the photos will be a product of our collaboration and understanding of what you’re looking for.