How to Create Your Wedding Family Photo List
If we are being totally honest; family photos can be one of the most stressful times during your wedding day. Everyone has a completely different family dynamic, sometimes people aren’t where they shouldn’t be, and as your photographer I totally understand that you want to get to cocktail hour and celebrate with friends.
To make this process run smoother it’s so essential that you create your family photo list ahead of time with a detailed list of each photo combination you want captured! By creating this list you’ll ease tension and can rest assured that you have photos with everyone that is important to you.
How do I know which photos I should put on my shot list?
Making your shot list might seem daunting but in reality it should only take you 15-20 minutes to create and here are some things to keep in mind:
What family members are truly important to you?
Will you frame these photos or put them in your album?
Is this a photo you really want or is it expected by others?
How much time do you want to spend taking family photos?
When should we do family portraits?
PRE-CEREMONY: If we are planning to do a first look it is always a perk to also capture family portraits prior to the wedding. By doing this everyone can go straight to cocktail hour following the ceremony and get the party started! This option also allows us to capture sunset photos with the bride and groom after the ceremony.
POST-CEREMONY: If you are planning a first look but it’s too hot or we don’t have time there is no problem with capturing family portraits following the ceremony. This is generally an easy process as long as you communicate to your family members to stay at the ceremony site and not wander to cocktail hour just yet.
RECEPTION SHOTS: If there are friend groups or extended family members that you really want but are unable to squeeze into family portraits then you can make a list of 3-5 reception photos for us to capture when time permits.
Example of a Family Photo List
BRIDE’S SIDE
Bride with mom
Bride with dad
Bride with both parents
Bride and groom with bride’s parents
Bride and groom with bride’s immediate family (bride’s parents, siblings, and siblings’ spouses and children)
Bride and groom with bride’s maternal grandparents
Bride and groom with bride’s paternal grandparents
GROOM’S SIDE
Groom with mom
Groom with dad
Groom with both parents
Groom and bride with groom’s parents
Groom and bride with groom’s immediate family (groom’s parents, siblings, and siblings’ spouses and children)
Groom and bride with groom’s maternal grandparents
Groom and bride with groom’s paternal grandparents
BOTH SIDES
Bride and groom with both sets of parents
Bride and groom with both families all together
Please be sure to copy this list as a template and change out each grouping with the names of everyone in that specific shot. This will make it easier for my assistant and I to call out the names of everyone in each shot as we make our way through the list!
Other things to keep in mind
It is generally expected that your family portraits includes immediate family and grandparents only; as these are generally the people the you are closest with. Your reception is the perfect time to capture extended family photos, college friends, work friends, etc.
Typically I will reserve 30 minutes in our timeline for family photos and this will include 15-20 groupings. If your list is longer, that is totally fine, but please keep in mind we will need to add more time for our family portraits.
As your photographer I don’t know what your family dynamic is like! If you have an aunt that practically raised you then add to the list. It’s your wedding day and we can add groupings that are truly important to you!
It’s your special day!
Family is truly such a gift and remember that is your special day. I can’t wait to celebrate with you and to make this process run as smoothly as possible.