Even the most informal of weddings normally ask me to photograph a few Wedding Family group photos at their wedding so it’s really important to make adequate time that enables you to enjoy the wedding day you planned as wedding schedules are often tightly packed and gathering all the relatives can be both daunting and seem like an unnecessary and almost impossible task with many family members wanting of course to enjoy each others company rather than stand in front of a camera for the obliquity family group photograph.
Wedding Family group photos may not be at the top of your priority list when it comes to capturing the magic of your wedding day, but they should definitely be included in your photography plan.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been thanked by family members for capturing all their family members in one frame the only time in years that they have all been together and quite often these take on a deeper meaning once some family members have passed on.
My family wedding photos
I hope I’ve convinced you as a documentary photographer who loves capturing natural moments that occur between you and your guests that taking time to have a few Wedding Family group photos is well worth the time on your wedding day.
The process doesn’t have to be daunting or stressful and with a little planning and forethought with your photographer and wedding planner along with letting the relevant people know what to expect all these posed photographs can be all taken rather quickly.
A few group ideas
It’s best to split the day into sections prior to the wedding ceremony and after the wedding ceremony for your Wedding Family group photos allowing around 3 mins per group for the photographer to get the required people into place, take the photograph and then let the guests go back to the wedding party
Prior to the ceremony
- Bride
- Bride with Mum and dad
- Bride with Bridesmaids
- Groom
- Groom with parents
- Groom with Best man and Ushers
After the ceremony
- Bride & Groom with both sets of parents
- Bride & Groom with bride’s parents
- Bride & Groom with Brides parents and siblings with partners
- Bride & Groom with Grooms parents
- Bride & Groom with Grooms parents and siblings with partners
- Bride and Groom with Bridesmaids
- Bride and Groom with Best man and Ushers
Wedding Family group photos
Top Tips
- Try and nominate a person from each side of the family who can help gather all the relevant people required for the formal Wedding Family group photos
- I usually use the help of my second shooter to get the next group ready whilst Im photographing the previous group. This speeds things up considerably.
- Make sure your photographer has a specific list of precisely what groups you require. It’s really important that you stick to this and not get deviated by other guests wanting random groups.
- Make a list prior to the day NOT on the day!
- Forewarn the relevant people that you would like them in the Wedding Family group photos that are going to take place at the reception or outside the church.
- The best time to photograph the groups is directly after the ceremony
- Always choose a shady area for your family groups
- Try and take the group photographs in close proximity to the reception.
