What Wedding Photos Should Every Couple Have?

Okay, friends, here’s the deal… your wedding day is going to fly by. Time moves quickly. But you know what you can do to fix that? Have the coolest, most badass wedding photographer there to capture the day as it unfolds. Because one minute you're getting ready with your favorite people, and the next you're on the dance floor, wondering where the last eight hours went. That's where your photos come in. They aren't just there to show what your wedding looked like. They're there to remind you how it felt.

While every wedding is different, there are a handful of moments that deserve to be documented at every celebration. Here's what you should expect your wedding photographer to capture, along with a few tips to help you get the most out of your gallery.

Wedding Details + Getting Ready

Don't underestimate getting ready photos. Some of my favorite moments happen before the ceremony even begins. Why’s that? Because the morning is full of excitement, nerves, laughter, and those little moments you can't really plan for. Your best friend is helping you into your dress. Your dad is seeing you for the first time.

Your partner may be reading a letter you wrote that morning to give them. Someone is inevitably making everyone laugh while hair and makeup are still happening. These are the best moments you’ll see in an album later on,, and you'll go, “thank god my photographer captured this, it was one of the funniest moments of the day.” My goal is to capture everything naturally as it unfolds, so when you look back at your gallery, you remember exactly what the morning felt like, not just what it looked like.

You have spent months choosing the little details that make your wedding feel like you. Incorporating every aspect of your life into this wedding. They deserve their moment, too. Before the day gets busy, I always recommend gathering your invitation suite, rings, jewelry, shoes, vow books, perfume or cologne, and any sentimental items in one spot. Having everything together saves time and lets me create the most beautiful detail photos without interrupting the rest of your morning.

The First Look

Whether you decide to have a first look or wait until the ceremony, that first time seeing each other is a moment you'll never get back. If you choose a first look, you get a chance to slow down for a few minutes before the day really takes off. It's just the two of you, no guests watching, no pressure, just taking it all in together. Some couples laugh, some cry, and some just stand there smiling because it finally feels real.

If you're saving that moment for the aisle, don't worry. I'll be ready for that too. Those reactions are just as special, and my goal is to capture them without getting in the way.

The Ceremony

This feels like a given, but this is why literally everyone you know is in attendance. The ceremony is full of moments you'll want to remember for the rest of your life. Walking down the aisle, seeing your partner's reaction, exchanging vows and rings, your first kiss, and walking back down the aisle together as newlyweds. This is the most important part of the day for us photographers to capture. My job isn't to become part of the ceremony. It's to document everything as it happens.

Couple Portraits

Your wedding portraits are likely the images you'll display in your home for years to come. These portraits should reflect your personalities, your connection, and the excitement of beginning your next chapter together.

Whether you're exploring the streets of downtown Detroit, walking through Belle Isle, or celebrating at one of the city's beautiful venues, a talented Detroit wedding photographer will guide you into natural poses while allowing genuine moments to happen organically.

Family Portraits

For some people, family photos may not be the part of the day you're most excited about, but they often become some of the most meaningful over time.

One of the best ways to keep this part of the day running smoothly is by creating a family photo list before your wedding. Having everyone's names and groupings planned out means we don't have to remember combinations while guests are heading to cocktail hour. I have a template I send to all my clients to specify which group photos they want and when they want them. I’ll be making a separate blog post about family photos and how to maximize your time so you can get back to enjoying your wedding.

Wedding Party Photos

Your wedding party has been with you through one of the biggest seasons of your life. They deserve more than one quick group photo. We'll capture the classic everyone-looking-at-the-camera shots, but we'll also make time for the moments that actually feel like your group. A great Detroit wedding photographer like myself balances posed images with authentic interactions that showcase the personalities of everyone involved. However, some groups are loud and energetic. Others are more laid back. Either way, I'll work with your group's vibe instead of trying to force everyone into the same poses.

Reception Highlights

Once the formalities are over, it's time to celebrate.

From your grand entrance and first dance to the speeches, cake cutting, and a packed dance floor, your reception is filled with so many moments worth remembering. Some are planned, but some of the best ones happen when no one realizes a camera is nearby.

One thing I always tell my couples is this: once we've photographed everything we need, go enjoy your wedding. Spend time with your guests, grab another drink, dance with your friends, and soak it all in. The more present you are, the more genuine your photos will be. My biggest rule of thumb: if you aren’t on the dance floor, no one else will be. Keep ya booty shakin’ on that dance floor, and you’ll have the most lit reception photos in the world.

Sunset and Golden Hour Portraits

If your timeline or the weather allows, I will almost always recommend sneaking away for 10 to 15 minutes around sunset for some golden hour portraits. What is the golden hour? Golden hour is the hour leading up to sunset, when the light becomes soft, warm, and incredibly flattering. It creates a completely different look from the rest of the day and often produces some of my couples' favorite photos.

It's one of the few chances you'll get to step away together. The ceremony is over, the nerves are gone, and you finally get a few quiet minutes to soak in the fact that you're married before jumping back into the party for the rest of the night.

Trust Your Photographer to Capture the Moments You Don't See

As much as I love a good photo checklist, some of the most meaningful images from your wedding day are the ones no one could have planned. I know I have some couples that would have to agree on this too.

There are those times when your grandparents are laughing together during cocktail hour. Or your mom is staring at your dad during a speech that your best friend is making about how you guys used to take their alcohol when you were younger. Or your flower girl showing off her dance moves. Your dad wipes away a tear when he thinks no one's looking. Your best friend is absolutely losing it during the speeches. A quiet hug with your mom before the ceremony begins.

Those moments happen in between everything else, and they're often the ones that mean the most years from now.

That's why I'm always paying attention, even when nothing "important" is happening.

At the end of the day, your wedding gallery should feel like your wedding, not someone else's. My job isn't just to take beautiful photos. It's to tell the story of your wedding in a way that feels honest and completely you.