A Comprehensive Wedding Video Shot List

A Checklist Specially Made For Wedding Videographers

There are tons of checklists out there for what shots you should have your wedding photographer take. This makes sense as photography is a mainstay in wedding vendors. Less common is the wedding videographer, and so it would make sense that it would be harder to find a good wedding video shot list to help you decide what shots you need to make your wedding video look spectacular.

Hopefully this article will be able to help you in deciding what shots you want your videographer to get for you. Some are obvious, but I am also trying to reach beyond the obvious here, and hopefully provide some unique shots as well.

I will go into detail about the shots, what they will be used for, and why you should want them in this post. There will be a more in-depth shot list without the explanations that you can get by downloading the wedding videography checklist by clicking the button below.

The Pre-Ceremony Shot List

A cinematic wedding trailer that makes use of interviews, music overlay, and B-roll from the day.

The Ceremony Shot List

A beautiful wedding kiss, caught on video.

The shots you get during the ceremony will be pretty straight forward if you have 1 camera. The cameraman will have to be getting a shot of the main action, your ceremony, from the best vantage point possible. If you have 2 cameras, you can have the second cameraman be a little more creative.

It is always important to make sure your videographers are following church and venue rules.

Here is the breakdown for 1 and 2 cameras:

1 Camera

• • The Main Action
    • Your Entrance
    • Your Ceremony
    • Your Exit

There isn’t a whole lot extra that can be filmed with just 1 camera. This camera has to be focused on the main action of the ceremony and not on the smaller details, or some of the ceremony will be missed. Great footage can still be taken with 1 camera, but you will miss out on some of the details.

Make sure you are allocated a good enough spot for your videographer to get your walk down the aisle as well as a good vantage point of the ceremony.

This may require some moving around for the videographer.

2 Cameras

• Camera 2 gets detail shots
  • The rings being placed on the fingers
  • The reactions and closeup of faces
  • Close-ups of wedding party
  • Audience members reactions

Camera 1 should always be recording everything from more of a stand-still position, and camera 2 should be moving around, still staying out of people’s way, but zooming in, getting different angles, and capturing all the detail that can be cut into your ceremony in the editing room to provide a fully immersive and beautifully edited piece.

Between Ceremony and Reception Shot List

The time between your ceremony and reception is the very rushed period where you are trying to cram as many photos into an hour as you can before you either go off to have a quick drink or head to the reception. This is a good opportunity to get some B-roll shots checked off the list.

The shots your videographer gets here are likely to be more laid back and candid as there are no events going on, and most of your time will be spent taking pictures. Be sure to have fun interactions with your spouse and be happy between photographs. That is when the videographer will get the best reaction shots for your wedding trailer.

• Interactions between photos again
• Getting on the bus/ in limo
  • If you have multiple videographers you can have some shots on the bus
• Bride and groom interacting
  • Kissing
  • Walking and holding hands
  • Laughing together
  • If there is time, a spin around kiss where you kiss and the videographer circles around you

Reception Shot List

Couple interviewing for their wedding video!

The time for the party has finally arrived! Your videographer will mostly be filming the reception events as they happen, along with a little dancing. Again, if you have a second videographer they will be able to get more close-ups and details of the event.

Make sure to utilize your videographer to the fullest. Instead of having them stand there filming dancing from a tri-pod after the main events, make sure they get the camera off the tri-pod and travel around the room a little bit. Have them get right in the middle of the dancing, talking to guests, and getting an update from you and your new spouse on how the night is going.

Expect the footage to be loud in the background, but the point is to capture the fun and festive atmosphere, not to get perfect audio.

Shots to get:

• Arriving at the reception hall
• Entering the reception hall
• Bridal party eating dinner/ enjoying cake
• Decorations & Atmosphere
  • Any pictures you have around
  • People signing the guest book
  • A pan shot (sweep) of the room
  • Centerpiece close-ups
  • Cake Close-ups
  • Any other cool snacks you have set up
    • Popcorn bar
    • S’mores bar
    • Candy bar
    • Milk and cookie bar
• Events
  • Cake cutting
  • Cake smashing (or hopefully nice feeding)
  • First dance
  • Father/Daughter dance
  • Mother/ Son Dance
  • Dollar Dance
  • Anniversary Dance
  • Shoe Game
  • Garter Toss
  • Bouquet Toss
  • Speeches/ Toasts
• Interviews
  • Wedding guests
  • The newlyweds giving an update
• Dancing
  • Shots from different angles of the dance floor
  • Taking the camera off tri-pod and moving around the dance floor

Hopefully this wedding video shot list has given you some great ideas to ask of your wedding videographer. Like I said in the intro, some shots are pretty straight-forward while others you may not have thought of.

If you want a list of these shots, along with a list of bonus shots, be sure to download our Wedding Videographer Shot List by clicking the button below!

Did your videographer get a really cool shot at your wedding? Have you heard of other really cool shots on Pinterest or other sites?

Sound off in the comment below and we may work it into the list!