Family Wedding Photos | How to Plan Your Wedding Group Photos
Every wedding I photograph includes an element of formal family group photography. Family wedding photos may seem like an easy and quick part of the wedding day. However, when working with larger groups of people, things can quickly become confusing, complicated, and stressful.
Why Include Formal Photographs When I Am a Documentary Wedding Photographer?
Even though I specialise in documentary wedding photography, family wedding photos are important for several reasons:
- Parents usually want a formal photograph of you, the bride and groom, with them to display in their home.
- Some relatives and guests may have traveled from abroad. They may have invested in a special outfit for the wedding and would love to have a photograph with the bride and groom.
Tips to Keep Family Wedding Photos Organised
1. Allow Adequate Time
On the day of the wedding, I allow 30 minutes for the formal group photos. The success of family wedding photos lies in careful planning.
2. Have a List and Keep It Short
Firstly, knowing what groupings you want and the time needed for those groupings before the wedding day is crucial. On average, each grouping takes about 2-3 minutes to gather and photograph. Use first names on the list, not vague descriptions like “Bride’s Cousin” or “Bride’s Aunt.” Moreover, let people on the list know they’re on it before the wedding.
3. Have a Loud Helper
Since I won’t know most people on the list, choose someone who knows the people on the list to help out. While having everyone’s names on the list helps, sometimes they might be distracted talking. Therefore, having someone point them out helps speed things up.
4. Decide on the Location
It is essential to decide in advance where you’d like your family formals to be done. If you are unsure, allow me to choose a suitable spot that is nicely lit and distraction-free.
5. Keep It Organized
Lastly, order the list into the groom’s side and the bride’s side to help keep the photo groupings organised. Typically, I like to have grandparents first on the list so they’re not standing around for too long waiting.
I realise that formal family wedding photos are not as fun as the candid shots throughout the day. However, I hope these tips will help you organize your list of family formals efficiently. It’s nice to go through these essential shots as quickly as possible, so people don’t stand around being bored.
For more tips and inspiration, visit my blog and check out my Instagram for updates.
