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!
Thanks for sharing your list! I am just starting to do weddings and also a list lover.
I am curious which Macro filters you are using as I am considering these as well.
Thanks again for your insights, your work is lovely!
~michele
Hey Michele, here is more information about the macro filters I use. I hope it helps! https://alinathomas.com/how-to-use-macro-filters/
Great list!! The shoes and change of clothes is a good one. I just had a wedding, and my shoes broke. Luckily I had a spare pare. Phew.
Oh no, that’s always my biggest fear haha
We have a wedding coming up soon and this will be a BIG help! Thank you!
Yay! I hope it will be helpful to you as you prepare for your next wedding :)