Essential Guide to Wedding Family Portraits and Group Photos
Wedding photography allows you to look back on all the special moments of your big day. But just as important to your parents and relatives are the posed family photos. These are images that will be shared and framed, and while they’re certainly less fun to take than your wedding party and couple portraits, they’re still an important part of the day.
Group wedding photos can be a challenge. The goal is to get them taken as quickly as possible so that your guests don’t have to sit at the reception waiting for you to arrive. While there are a lot of variables that can create chaos, there are certainly some things you can do to expedite the family portrait process.
Compile a shot-list
Your wedding photographer will likely ask you to put together a list of family groupings you want to be photographed. Think through all the different configurations—e.g. parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family—and list out what posed group photos you want your photographer to take. By planning ahead, you can communicate to your family who needs to be where and when.
Enlist someone to round everyone up
One of the biggest challenges of group photos is making sure everyone is in the same place. Consider asking a cousin or friend to round up all your grandparents, aunts, and uncles to ensure they’re ready for the camera. Just make sure that whoever you assign this responsibility knows what everyone looks like—otherwise, they’ll be lost! Pro tip: Choose one person from each partner’s family.
Explain sensitive relationships to your photographer
Every family is different, and a wedding can often put people with strained relationships in close proximity. Be sure to talk to your photographer beforehand about any awkwardness or discomfort that may arise, as well as any people who need not be in the same photo. Professional wedding photographers have worked with hundreds of families, so they are definitely familiar with the strain of divorced couples or other issues and will certainly be understanding.
Set aside plenty of time for group photos
When building your wedding day timeline, make sure to set aside a significant chunk of time for your family and group portraits. If you choose to do a first look with your partner, you may even consider capturing your family photos before the ceremony, allowing a much shorter gap between the ceremony and reception. If you decide to take family photos after the ceremony, make sure you schedule in plenty of time to get all the necessary configurations that you want.
To help you organize the timeline, your photographer will help with this but generally you should plan for the following durations per grouping:
| Group Type | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| Small grouping (less than four people) | Two minutes |
| Larger group | Closer to five minutes |
| Groups with kids (until six) or mobility challenges | Adds time to each grouping |
Utilizing a Wedding Photography Shot List Template
This editable Wedding Photography Shot List Template is the ultimate tool for professional and aspiring photographers to plan and organize every stage of a wedding day. Designed specifically for weddings, this template includes customizable shot lists, a wedding day timeline, a family portrait guide, and essential photography checklists to ensure no moment is missed. Perfect for capturing getting-ready moments, pre-ceremony portraits, ceremony highlights, and reception details, this Canva-based template makes wedding photography planning simple and efficient.