If you’ve found yourself Googling “must-have wedding photos” and ended up staring at a 67-point checklist that includes everything from “shoes on the bed” to “close-up of couple feeding each other cake” You’re definitely not alone. But I will be honest, if this is the case I'm not the photographer for you.

It's not very common for couples to send me these sorts of lists ahead of their day. Sometimes these list they have pulled them from Pinterest, other times they’ve crafted one themselves. And while I always appreciate the thought behind it (and the excitement that fuels it), here’s the honest truth: I don’t work from a detailed wedding photo checklist. And trust me — that’s a good thing.

It’s Not About Ticking Boxes

Weddings aren’t a styled shoot or a performance. They’re living, breathing events full of unexpected laughter, teary moments, and fleeting glances. My job is to see those things and capture them as they unfold — not to stage them or force them into a box.

I know that trying to follow a long checklist too closely can actually pull me away from the very moments I’m there to capture. If I’m focused on hunting down “photo #36: emotional shot of the bride with her mum,” I might miss the spontaneous moment when your mum pulls you in for a hug when you least expect it. And that’s the kind of stuff you’ll want to remember.

What I Do Focus On

I’m never winging it. I’ve photographed hundreds of weddings and I'm coming up to almost a decade of shooting wedding, and there are certain rhythms and beats I’m always tuned into, the getting ready moments, the ceremony nerves, the wild dance floor energy.

The only list I do stick to is a group shot list, and I’ll send you a little schedule form before the big day so you can note down any key family or group portraits you want. That keeps things running smoothly without us losing the flow of the day.

Trusting the Process

When you book me, you’re not just hiring someone to “take photos.” You’re hiring someone to see your day, the way I see it, while you live it, to find the story in it and tell it back to you in a way that feels honest, emotional, and in tune with the feeling of your wedding.

So if you’ve got a few inspiration images you love, by all means send them over, I love getting a feel for what draws your eye. But once the day arrives, you can let go. Be present, soak it in, and trust that I’ve got you covered. So, Forget the checklist. Focus on the real time moments. I’ll be there to capture them, just as they are — beautifully, naturally, and without interruption. I can only shoot what's in front of me at any given time.