Wedding photo albums - which pictures should you include?

What kinds of pictures do I want in my wedding photo album? The photographer will allow the bride and groom to look through all the proofs, and then decide which pictures will make the final cut and appear in the wedding photo album. You will get the chance to choose the size and sequence of the photographs, and the album will relate to the events of the wedding in a way that you would like it to. Your favourite shots can be enlarged, and sequential candid photos can be grouped together.

There are some traditional pictures that rarely fail to appear in the standard wedding photo album. Although you do not have to conform to this norm, it is always a good idea to work from a basic list so that nothing is left out by accident. Typical formal shots include the bride and groom, the couple with each set of parents, the bride with her Maid of Honour and bridesmaids, and the groom with his Best Man and groomsmen or Ushers.

Each major wedding moment should have been caught on film, and it is usual for the newlyweds to want these events documented in their wedding album. Consider including the ceremony moments such as the bride and her father walking up the aisle, the exchange of vows, the bride and groom kissing and then walking back down the aisle, and a close up of the couple’s hand displaying their new wedding rings. Equally important are the classic reception events such as the cutting of the cake, the first dance and each of the speakers giving their toasts.

Group shots are a great addition to any wedding album, and you should seek to include photographs of the bride and groom’s respective extended families, the couple’s friends, and the entire wedding party together. A ‘comedy’ shot of the groom with all the young women, and the bride with all the young men (perhaps even being carried!) can add a light-hearted note to the collection of photographs too.

Candid shots can add something above and beyond the usual formal shots. They give the sense of reportage — so any viewer of the photograph album can aPreciate the background to the wedding day. Candid photos you should consider including are the bride and her mother attaching the veil, the bride dressing, the newlyweds entering the reception, the bride tossing her bouquet, and the couple being showered with confetti.

If you have children involved with the wedding, a shot of the couple surrounded by them is a lovely addition, and if the newlyweds arrived in a limo or antique car, it is a good opportunity to photograph their arrival. When you select your pictures for the album, ensure that there is a good mix of close-ups and full length shots.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Wedding Photo Albums