Wedding Photography Checklist for Photographers

My wedding photography checklist is something I never shoot a wedding without and today, I’m sharing it with you! With wedding season just around the corner, I thought it would be helpful to give you a peek inside how I prepare my camera bag the day before the wedding and what other essentials I bring along.

Whether you’ve been photographing weddings for years, or this is your first, I hope this quick guide becomes a valuable resource as you prepare for this year’s wedding season.

I like to keep things simple with a two-bag system that I’ve used for years.

One bag is my camera bag. This is the one I carry all day. It has everything I need to shoot an entire wedding.

The other bag stays close by. I don’t carry it everywhere. It’s mostly for the reception or backup.

I created a wedding photography checklist I use before each wedding I photograph to make sure that I never miss anything. Because there’s nothing worse than driving to a wedding and realizing you forgot something important.

Bag One: My Go-To Camera Bag

• Main Camera Body
• Backup Camera Body
• Extra Batteries (I always charge all my batteries the day before the wedding so that I don’t have to worry about it on the wedding day)
• Battery Charger (just in case)
• Lenses
• Macro Filters (I use these for ring shots and they are phenomenal)
• Cleaning Cloth (it comes in handy if there is any kind of stain on the lens)
• Memory Cards (I make sure to format all my memory cards before the wedding day)
• Flashes + Flash Batteries
• Transmitters
• Reflector
• Diffuser Reflector
• Styling Kit
• Business Cards
• Cell Phone + Charger
• Printed Wedding Day Timeline
• Printed Family Shot List
• Emergency Kit (safety pins, bobby pins, band aids, a small sewing kit, sticky roller, new chapstick, hand sanitizer, super glue, etc.)

Bag Two: The Reception/Just-in-Case Bag

• Light Stand
• Reflector Umbrella
• Laptop + Charger
• Card Reader
• Video Light
• Portable Hard Drive
• Wedding Survival Kit
• Extra Outfit + Comfy Shoes
• Nice Hanger (just in case the bride forgot to bring one)
• Bottles of Water + Snacks
• Clear Umbrella (perfect for pictures in case it rains)
• Change for Parking

💡 Pro Tip: Add a Styling Kit

One of my favorite little additions lately? A curated set of styling items. If you love detail shots, this can really elevate your flat lays. Think fabric swatches, ribbon, ring boxes, and more. Mine includes:

• velvet ring boxes
• spools of ribbon
• fabric backdrops
• acrylic styling blocks
• small scissors
• neutral trays
• floral clippers
• was seals

My Favorite Styling Items

So there you have it, my tried and true two-bag system. It’s not fancy, but it works! This wedding photography checklist has saved me more than once. Want a printable version? I’ve got you! 👉 Grab it here, it’s free!

Do you have a wedding day checklist? I would love to see what’s on your list if you have one. If you don’t, I hope this post serves as a great resource to you in getting all set for a wedding day. Happy shooting!