Question: Would you like to spend less time posing and more time partying? If your answer is ‘yes’ then keep on reading!
Family photos are a wedding day staple, but they can also become a source of stress and frustration. From managing different personalities to coordinating with your photographer, it’s easy for things to get chaotic. The key to keeping your family portraits smooth and enjoyable is preparation. With a little planning and clear communication, you can avoid the common pitfalls and make sure the photo session goes off without a hitch.
Is having family photos really such a big deal to do?
It easily can be, but it doesn’t have to be! Family photo time is the part of the day where everyone gets a lovely, professional portrait with the newlyweds! It’s got to be done, but I’m not going to lie, this is hands down going to be the most tedious part of your wedding day; (and not just because of your constant standing and smiling!) which makes it all the more important to prepare in advance to make it run as smoothly as possible so you can get back to the festivities!
Your family photos usually take place after your ceremony but before your wedding breakfast; this is so everyone is still clean, sober and no one’s lost a shoe or anything (yet!)
It is completely up to you whether you take my advice, but if you want to spend less time posing and more time partying, then I highly recommend taking it on board!
Why it’s important to prepare
Something to keep in mind is that no one else will appreciate is that the longer they take to get into their photo, or the more demands they make of you, wanting infinite combinations, the less time you two will have for your couple’s photos and the rest of your day afterwards.
It’s entirely up to you how you both want to spend your day, and I am on board with you 100%. So if you prefer to spend more time taking family photos than enjoying prosecco, canapés and your couples’ portraits, no worries at all! Let’s rock those shots. Totally your decision.
If, however, the celebration time and the couples’ portraits are more important to you and you know you’ll be looking at those photos for the rest of your life, let’s try to maximise that time and following the steps above is probably the best way we can do that.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Family Photo Madness
1) The magic family photo list
Create a list of must-have family photos to avoid waking up and realising we missed important people. I’d recommend a family photo list of about 10-15 photos; after that point you’ll probably start to feel fed up, trust me!
If the list is too long, split it into two groups, high and low priority shots. That way, we can take a break between the two sets to keep things stress-free.
2) Designate a photo wrangler
Choose your loudest, most organized friend or family member as the “Photo Wrangler” – this cannot be either of you! This person will keep things moving while you stay in one spot.
They should be comfortable directing others and focused on the task, not distracted. Make sure they have a printed photo list and are briefed on the shots ahead of time.
3) Keep your groupings small
You can have as many family photos as you want and it’s up to you how you’d like them to be; but I recommend keeping groupings small. Larger groups, especially without elevation, make people look smaller and leave lots of unused space in the photo.
Smaller groups create more intimate, personal moments for everyone involved. Plus, they’re easier to manage for your Photo Wrangler, making the process faster and less stressful.
Big groups also increase the chances of someone blinking or looking away. Even with a countdown, it still happens more than you’d think!
4) Beware the mobile phones!!! 🤳
During formal family photos, there’s often someone behind me snapping their own shots. I’m totally fine with this—more photos of your day are always a plus! However, it can cause everyone to look in different directions during the professional photos. While it’s natural to glance at familiar faces, my focus is on getting the perfect portraits for you.
As I check everything in the shot – composition, exposure, posture, outfits, and more – I can’t always tell where people are looking since their pupils are too small for me to see clearly.
How do I handle this?
If the phone-tographer is getting in my personal space or delaying the session; I’ll politely ask them to take their photo and let me have some more room to work in. If they’re nowhere near me and not causing everyone to look the other way, I’ll leave them to it!
Why is this important?
My priority is you two, and I want to capture amazing, cherished family photos with your loved ones. I also want everyone to feel good about how they look in the photos and not feel embarrassed because they look like they’re in a world of their own.
Most importantly, I want to leave a positive impression on both you and your guests, and this approach helps ensure everyone is happy during the photos and when they see the results!
5) Be precise and in control
It’s really helpful for your photo wrangler (and me) if you write down the names of people in each group shot. People respond better when they hear their names, like:
Us with: Bridesmaids (Chelsea, Leanne, Charlotte, and Amy)
Us with: Maid of honor (Chelsea) and best man (David)
Us with: Bride’s parents (Colin & Michelle)
Us with: Bride’s parents (Colin & Michelle) and our kids (Tyler, Lola & Ben)
You’ll likely get someone suggesting extra shots, but remember, every additional photo means less time to party! It’s important to stick to your priority list to avoid getting sidetracked.
Don’t let guests or family take over the photo schedule. It’s your day, and pushing too many extra shots will tire you out, which shows in the photos. Having your list ready ensures we capture all the key portraits without wearing you out!
I really hope this helped!
By taking the time to prepare and communicate your expectations, you can ensure that family photo time is efficient and enjoyable. Discussing the schedule with your photographer, providing clear instructions to family members, and staying calm under pressure will help prevent unnecessary stress. With these steps in place, you can relax and enjoy the memories captured in your wedding portraits, knowing the process was as smooth as possible.
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