How To Make Wedding Day Family Photos Painless.
I feel like we all have been there - photographers, vendors, or anyone who has had a family member get married, you’ve probably witnessed family photos and the chaotioc scene it often is.
I want better for the sweet couples I work with.
So, today I’m going to give you the inside scoop and lay out everything I recommend to all my soon-to-be brides who have booked me.
The Scoop…
Here is what I do that has worked wonders for the weddings I attend:
Ask my couples to put together a carefully thought through list of every family group they would like a photo of.
Encourage the couple to send a list of the final groupings (in the order they will be taken) to every family member involved in the photos.
Create an order that is time efficient and easier for the family members. I’ll explain more in a bit…
When possible, have family photos take place IMMEDIATELY following the ceremony in the same space that the ceremony took pace. Again I’ll explain the reasons if you keep reading!
Allow for plenty of time for family photos, when planning the wedding timeline. I like to allow for 30 mins for most families, though extra large ones may take longer.
If there is a second shooter, I give my camera to them to take the photo, while I work on posing, positioning, and reminding to smile!
Okay now that you’ve gotten the rundown let’s get into more details 👇🏼
1. Ask my couples to put together a carefully thought through list of every family group they would like a photo of.
And make it specific! Include names. Write out every name for every grouping. For example:
Kaili(Bride), Nate(Groom), Joe, Cindy, Jacob, Jonathan, Jeremy, Jordan, Grandma Linda
Including names allows me to call out who I need for a group! Since the photographer probably doesn’t know who anyone is, I rely on the ability to call their names. Thinking ahead and planning what groups are wanted is the first big step!
Bonus Tip: Don’t be afraid to include groups of close friends. Family photos doesn’t HAVE to be just family. Sometimes there are friends that are more important to get photos with. This is the time to do it! Just make sure you communicate with them that you will be wanting a photo with them.
Which leads into my next point…
2. Encourage the couple to send a list of the final groupings to every family member involved in the photos.
This is actually a BIG one that I think could save the most time on the wedding day. I can’t tell you how many times family photos have been delayed because Uncle Joe didn’t know that he was supposed to be there or didn’t know where to be. This is just a simple communication fix. I recommend emailing the final order of family photos to every individual involved. AND include the time and location to meet.
This communication is doubly important if there will be any younger kids involved! The parents need to know to be prepared!
3. Create an order that is time efficient and easier for the family members.
So this one can be a little tricky to think through but here’s what I mean and a few tips to help.
If Grandma Linda is in three groupings, then order them next to each other so that Grandma doesn’t have to keep getting up and down. I’m not just talking about Grandma but about everyone involved.
Here’s how I generally do it:
Take ALL of either the bride OR the groom’s family at time and don’t start the other side until the first side has been completed.
Then I try to order every photo that the parents are in next to the others so they don’t have to get up and down several times.
Start with the small groups and add in people. This principle allows for the most convenience and least amount of moving for the subjects. This requires a bit of thought and planning BUT it is well worth it!
4. When possible, have family photos take place IMMEDIATELY following the ceremony in the same space that the ceremony took pace.
Having the family photos right after the ceremony ensures that everyone is already there! No more having to search around a huge venue to gather everyone!
The arbor is usually such a pretty location already and has enough space for large groups that it doubles as the perfect spot for family photos.
5. Allow for plenty of time, when planning the wedding timeline.
I like to allow for 30 mins for most families, though large ones may take longer. No one wants to feel rushed. And if all these tips are implemented that helps cut down the time it will take!
6. If there is a second shooter, I give my camera to them to take the photo, while I work on posing, positioning, and reminding to smile!
It was always awkward when I had seconded to just stand around while the lead tried to manage everything. So I thought; instead of one photographer standing around while the other does everything, why don’t we incorporate both and make the process go more smoothly! I set my camera settings and hand off my camera to my second. This frees me up to be able to call names, pose, and arrange positioning!
And there you have it! These are just some of the things I have implemented that have had tremendous impact on making family photos go seamlessly! I hope these are helpful in all your planning!
Can’t wait to hangout again!
