“We wanted to thank you a million times again and again for being with us on our wedding day. Thank you for capturing our family and friends. you can truly hear their laughs and voices through their smiles – something we will cherish and hold on to forever. We couldn’t have imagined a more perfect fit for someone to be with us in our intimate moments and with great professionalism and character to capture every detail of such an important event in our lives! Looking through the gallery you delivered solidified that we made the right choice and you listened to all of our needs! We absolutely love all of the moments you documented and are in awe of your creativity and dedication to the perfect shot. We are so lucky to have had you as our wedding photographer, and we are so thankful that you’ve made the offer to stick around for other milestones.”
Scrolling through Steffanie and Eric’s wedding gallery brings me so much joy. Not just because they’re adorable (they are), but because of how deeply intentional they were with every moment on their unspoken wedding shot list.
From handwritten vows during their first look to the long walk down the aisle with her dad (and yes, those pearl-studded Stuart Weitzman shoes), they thought of everything… except the perfectly posed shot. Which, honestly? More of that, please.
Their wedding shot list wasn’t filled with must-have poses or Pinterest-provided checklists. Instead, it focused on presence. Emotion. People. And trust— trust that I’d be there to capture what mattered most as it naturally unfolded.
And here we are, a whole summer later, and their entire wedding gallery is still so raw and so… real. The emotion is still there because they designed their day around it.
So instead of giving you a standard wedding photo checklist, I thought I’d walk you through the candid moments that deserve a spot on your wedding shot list— and that as a former bride who’s been there, done that, and would LOVE to do it all over again, I’d never want you to miss.
Because while posed portraits have their place, the emotional legacy of your wedding lives in the in-betweens.
Vendors | Venue: Wellers Carriage House | Bride’s Dress: The Wedding Shoppe | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse | Hair: Team Glam Detroit and Bridal by Emily Anne | Makeup: Team Glam Detroit | Florals: Lily’s Garden | Dessert: Gwen’s Cake Decorating and Etc. | Band: Bluewater Kings Band | Rings: Tappers | Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzmann | Invitation Suite: Minted | Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo
Wedding Shot List With Detail Photos That Tell Your Story
I’m a sucker for a good shoe. (Things only a wedding photographer would say, am I right?)
But really, I’m a sucker for thoughtful wedding details—because they’re about more than aesthetics. The right wedding detail photos tell the story of your taste, your style, and how deeply you care about the experience you’re curating for your people.
Steffanie and Eric’s wedding had so many of these details.
Take Steffanie’s elegant Stuart Weitzman shoes, for instance. Beaded heels? Gorgeous. The seven pearly beads across each strap? Timeless. The black background? Iconic. Together with her pearl earrings and a glass of bubbly in hand, her getting ready photos felt like a spread from Vogue meets a page from her memory.
Her bridesmaids each wore mismatched silhouettes in the same soft, porcelain blue hue— the perfect blend of cohesion and individuality— that would later complement their wedding tablescapes.
Even the sculptural bow on her gown had a life of its own. Every time she turned, twirled, or hugged someone, it peeked into frame like a signature.
Nothing went unnoticed, but all of it felt natural. Even their guests brought their own sense of style, with little fashion moments that made every candid portrait feel the slightest bit more editorial.
A good wedding shot list doesn’t just include the people—it includes the pieces that reflect them. And the quiet nods to your style and sensibilities deserve their moment, too.
Private Vows and First Look Wedding Photos You’ll Feel Forever
Some moments are so intimate, they feel like they shouldn’t be seen. And yet—they’re exactly the ones worth remembering.
Steffanie’s first looks with Eric, her father, and her brother are some of the most heartfelt examples.
What made it even more special was how Steffanie held space in that quiet corner of the garden, letting herself feel it all as each of the three men she loved most walked toward her.
Eric came first, beaming at her like he’d clean forgotten anyone else in the world existed. They chose to read their handwritten vows to each other during their first look, joined only by white hydrangeas, blue skies… and me.
To be a part of a moment most people don’t get the privilege to is something I don’t take lightly. You’re not just seeing each other for the first time. You’re sharing the most amazing culmination of all the moments that led up to this one, before the day rushes on. If saying your vows lets you hold on to it for as long as possible, I say do it.
Then her dad stepped forward, and she looked up at him with that sweet, almost shy smile that only a daughter can give. And finally, her brother, arms wide and face lit up like he couldn’t wait another second to see her.
One by one, each man in Steffanie’s life offered his own kind of reassurance and you could tell how much it meant to her. The garden became her own private ceremony before the big one, giving her everything she needed to feel ready and rooted.
That’s the beauty of a first look. Not a timeline hack, but a moment to catch your breath and anchor into the day before it all begins, to remember what all the planning was for in the first place.
The Aisle Walk That Says Everything (Without Words)
This is the part of a wedding day that gets me. Every time. I love my relationship with my own dad so when Steffanie told me how much she was looking forward to walking down the aisle with hers, I was with her completely.
Feeling present is everything in this moment when time turns to molasses, and I am so happy they had the 150 foot long aisle they did to really draw it out, together. Yes, it was cinematic and beautiful to photograph, but you don’t realize how momentous this walk really is until you’re standing at the top holding onto your dad’s arm.
When you’re at the top of that aisle, arm-in-arm with the person who raised you, the past and present collapse into each other. Every bedtime story, every pep talk, every ride to school… it all flashes by.
I watched Steffanie walk with peace, presence, and purpose. The aisle didn’t just lead her to her partner—it gave her a moment to honor where she came from.
Don’t underestimate this one. It’s a quiet cornerstone of the day. And it deserves a front-row spot on your wedding photo checklist.
Dance Floor Photos That Let the Night Live On
If you’ve never experienced the Bluewater Kings Band for a wedding reception… you’re missing out. Every wedding I’ve photographed that they’ve been part of, the dance floor is constantly popping.
Nothing against DJs (truly), but a live band has a way of making the celebration feel more alive. The dance floor never empties, your closest friends forget they’re being photographed, and you feel the energy in your chest.
For a few short hours, you’re sharing in a live experience with your favorite people.
When I look at those dance floor photos—guests throwing out their best (or worst, who’s to judge) moves, arms in the air, Steffanie and Eric in the middle of it all—it feels like the purest kind of joy.
If there is anything that will capture your family and friends at their most authentic, most present, it’s them in the throes of singing their heart out to every song you love.
If you want photos that feel alive, make sure these make your wedding shot list.
Candid Wedding Guest Photos That You Can Hear
When Steffanie first reached out to me, she said something I’ll never forget: she wanted to look through her wedding gallery and feel like she could hear her people. Not see them— hear them.
Not the stiff smile-at-the-camera kind of shots. But the soundbite kind. The ones where people are laughing through their wine, leaning in during toasts, or tearing up while watching the first dance.
Steffanie and Eric knew they couldn’t be everywhere at once. That’s where I come in. That’s why candid guest photos matter. And that’s why they’ll always be part of how I build a wedding shot list—with heart, not just logistics.
I paid attention to the in-betweens. The small moments that often slip by unnoticed. Some of my favorite images came from that quiet noticing. Steffanie’s movement throughout the day, always with a devoted bridesmaid gathering her dress with her. The happy tears at their wedding reception and warm, full-bodied embraces.
As someone who wishes my grandparents were able to at least meet my husband, let alone attend my wedding, I don’t take the opportunity to document those fleeting snapshots-made-soundbites for granted. You won’t always notice as they happen, but I certainly do.
If you take anything from Steffanie and Eric’s day, let it be this: the best wedding photos aren’t captured—they’re witnessed.
This gallery didn’t feel special because we followed a shot list to the letter. It felt special because they trusted me, stayed present, and let the day unfold with intention. Their wedding shot list wasn’t a list at all, but a mindset— Capture us as we are. Capture the people we love. Nothing more, nothing less.
And that’s what I did.
So yes, we’ll get the family formals and your editorial favorites. But we’ll also get the real stuff, the moments that are happening right in front of us.
