Weddings are typically a great time to capture some really beautiful family photos. Everybody’s dressed to the nines, family members come from all over to celebrate your big day, and there’s an exciting buzz in the air. What more could you want?
Here are the most common questions I get when it comes to planning for group photos.
Who should I include in this list?
When it comes to making your list of desired group shots, be specific about who should be in each photo. I send a questionnaire to each of my couples and one of the questions on the list covers who you would like to include during the family photo time. Yes, it might seem excessive to layout every single grouping, but this will help avoid the potential for any shots being missed on the big day–when you’re thinking about a million other things besides making sure you get all the right people in the right pictures.
Consider cousins, grandparents, great grandparents, nieces, nephews, siblings, aunts, uncles, and godparents when thinking about creating your list! Don’t be afraid to talk to your mom, dad, siblings, or a close friend or family member who recently got married to get more ideas about which groupings you might want to include.
Remember, even though your photographer has been through many weddings and taken countless family photos – no one knows YOUR family better than you! It’s important to let your photographer know beforehand which photos are important to you to avoid any potentially uncomfortable situations for you or your family members during family photo time.
Are there any important generational photos I’d like to have?
Do you have a three- or four-generation photo that you want to get? Maybe you, your dad, and your grandpa lined up in your tuxes? Or a candid shot of you and your great-grandma admiring the heirloom necklace she lent you for the big day? If you’re at a loss for photos you’d like, try consulting with a family member to see if they have any ideas.
But how will my photographer know who’s who?
Here’s where us photographers might need a little help. If you can put someone in charge of lining up the groups, it will save us all a lot of unnecessary searching time. Give this job to your personal attendant or a family member who’s particularly adept at gathering people together. They should feel 100% comfortable with this task, so don’t just dump it on someone without running it by them first! I will always have a copy of your list to go off of, but it’s nice to have an ‘insider’ to help get people ready to wait in the wings before we call off their group!
These questions are a good starting point, but they may not be all you need to consider for your wedding day. You know your situation best. My hope is that this will at least get you thinking about all of this ahead of time!
For more about planning your most wanted photos for your wedding day see my post Crafting the Perfect Must-Have Photo List.
with love, Emily
