It never fails to astound me how many different combinations of photos exist at a wedding. It’s like a game of Whac-A-Mole — just when you think you’ve got them all, another stray guest appears, ready for a photo op. Use this template to help.
Want to download this for free? Here’s the Google Doc. You might also get value from my book.
Who do I include on a wedding photo list?
Below is literally every single option so use it as a menu to pick and choose what photos you and your partner(s) actually want from your wedding. Any people below who don’t apply to your wedding? Skip ‘em!
I also made this template specific to two people who are getting married or celebrating their marriage but, of course, if more partners are included, please adapt.
If you each have people who are accompanying you during the ceremony:
The people getting married or celebrating their marriage with:
Partner 1’s party
Individual members of Partner 1’s party
Partner 2’s party
Individual members of Partner 2’s party
Officiant(s)
Partner 1 with:
Partner 1’s party
Individual members of Partner 1’s party
Partner 2’s party
Individual members of Partner 2’s party
Officiant(s)
Partner 2 with:
Partner 1’s party
Individual members of Partner 1’s party
Partner 2’s party
Individual members of Partner 2’s party
Officiant(s)
If you have any family — biological or chosen — attending the wedding:
Partner 1’s side of the family
The people getting married or celebrating their marriage with:
Partner 1’s immediate family
Partner 1’s parent(s) or guardian(s) — individual (a photo per parent or guardian) and together
Partner 1’s sibling(s) — individual and together
Partner 1’s maternal grandparents(s)
Partner 1’s maternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 1’s maternal relatives (additional)
Partner 1’s paternal grandparent(s)
Partner 1’s paternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 1’s paternal relatives (additional)
Partner 1’s chosen family (additional)
Partner 1 with:
Partner 1’s immediate family
Partner 1’s parent(s) or guardian(s) — individual (a photo per parent or guardian) and together
Partner 1’s sibling(s) — individual and together
Partner 1’s maternal grandparents(s)
Partner 1’s maternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 1’s maternal relatives (additional)
Partner 1’s paternal grandparent(s)
Partner 1’s paternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 1’s paternal relatives (additional)
Partner 1’s chosen family (additional)
Partner 2 with:
Partner 1’s immediate family
Partner 1’s parent(s) — individual (a photo per parent or guardian) and together
Partner 1’s sibling(s) — individual and together
Partner 1’s maternal grandparents(s)
Partner 1’s maternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 1’s maternal relatives (additional)
Partner 1’s paternal grandparent(s)
Partner 1’s paternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 1’s paternal relatives (additional)
Partner 1’s chosen family (additional)
Partner 2’s side of the family
The people getting married or celebrating their marriage with:
Partner 2’s immediate family
Partner 2’s parent(s) — individual (a photo per parent or guardian) and together
Partner 2’s sibling(s) — individual and together
Partner 2’s maternal grandparents(s)
Partner 2’s maternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 2’s maternal relatives (additional)
Partner 2’s paternal grandparent(s)
Partner 2’s paternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 2’s paternal relatives (additional)
Partner 2’s chosen family (additional)
Partner 2 with:
Partner 2’s immediate family
Partner 2’s parent(s) — individual (a photo per parent or guardian) and together
Partner 2’s sibling(s) — individual and together
Partner 2’s maternal grandparents(s)
Partner 2’s maternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 2’s maternal relatives (additional)
Partner 2’s paternal grandparent(s)
Partner 2’s paternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 2’s paternal relatives (additional)
Partner 2’s chosen family (additional)
Partner 1 with:
Partner 2’s immediate family
Partner 2’s parent(s) — individual (a photo per parent or guardian) and together
Partner 2’s sibling(s) — individual and together
Partner 2’s maternal grandparents(s)
Partner 2’s maternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 2’s maternal relatives (additional)
Partner 2’s paternal grandparent(s)
Partner 2’s paternal aunt(s), uncle(s), and/or cousin(s)
Partner 2’s paternal relatives (additional)
Partner 2’s chosen family (additional)
Don’t forget any groups of people whom you may not be related to but whom you consider family. This might be a tight-knit group of friends from college, people with whom you’ve made a community in your city, coworkers — add them to your list and plan to take those photos sometime during the party part of your day.
Also worth including on this list: Any particular moments at the wedding that you want to make sure to capture. Examples include when one partner sees the other partner walking down the aisle, a VIP’s toast, etc.
Bonus points if you give your photographer a heads-up about this list.