What's the best way to do family formal photos at a wedding?

I'll give you the short answer right up front: It's up to you. Like all parts of the wedding day, it's infinitely customizable and personalized. The best part of a wedding to me is capturing the essence of a couple, and the way family photos are is definitely a part of that.

Now, for the long answer I have to get through a lot of factors. I'll list through some of my thoughts and experiences working from my time as a wedding photographer over the last 6 years. I'm making this blog post for any and all of my couples to have my long-winded thoughts in one place, and as a way to hopefully educate anyone planning their wedding!

When do they happen?

Option A (most common)

Immediately after the ceremony, while the rest of the guests are at cocktail hour, or traveling to the reception venue.

Option B

In addition to the bigger family photos after the ceremony, front-load the day a little bit with smaller family groupings before the ceremony.

This is a great option if:

• Parents are going to be around and getting dressed with the wedding party anyway

• You know you're going to want photos with your parents (and/or without your spouse)

• You want to shorten photo time after the ceremony

Where should we take them?

Many photographers typically decide this as we're preparing for the ceremony and can see what the light will be like. Usually I talk with the couple before making it official, but there can be multiple great locations depending the venue.

The factors I'm most heavily considering are:

• Proximity to ceremony space (especially important for family members with mobility restrictions)

• Full Shade

• Background

Who do we include? (or not include)

This is a question I could never provide a straightforward answer to. Every family looks different, so I'm going to provide some general reminders and examples that I think are helpful to people.

Reminders:

• Estimate 1 minute for each grouping.

  • Yes, I know some of those groupings are just the same photo but with a +1, but some of those groupings someone needs to bring your grandparent in, or your uncle who thought he had time for the bar line

  • Truly a 'more is more' situation. Not many people want photos with every group of aunts and cousins just because of time.

• Easiest to start big and then shrink

  • Merged family, then one side shrinking down to just parents, then the other side shrinking down to just parents

  • Think about who might not be able to stay out as long.

• Perfectly okay to do groupings with and without +1s

• You can do smaller groupings like parents or siblings with and/or without your spouse

• There are other ways in the day to make sure that you get a photo with everyone
  

Examples of groupings:

Things I see often and groupings I see occasionally forgotten until I remind people. These are all options, couples obviously don't have to do them all, and this mold doesn't fit all families.

(For the sake of clarity and simplicity, I'm using the example of a straight couple with all parents and grandparents still alive and together)

• Full Combined Families

• Bride's Family

  • Full Family

  • Dad's side

  • Paternal Grandparents

  • Mom's side

  • Maternal Grandparents

  • Immediate family

  • Parents

  • Mom

  • Dad

  • Siblings

  • Sibling's family (partner, kids)

  • Specific family groupings (lake cousins, camping family, etc)

• Groom's Family (copy/pasted)

  • Full Family

  • Dad's side

  • Paternal Grandparents

  • Mom's side

  • Maternal Grandparents

  • Immediate family

  • Parents

  • Mom

  • Dad

  • Siblings

  • Sibling's family (partner, kids)

  • Specific groupings (lake cousins, camping family, etc)

• Merged Combos

  • Both sets of parents

  • All siblings

• Chosen Families

  • College apartment

  • Fraternity/Sorority

  • Game Night crew

  • PhD friends

  • Band friends

How do we make sure we get everything we want?

Write it down! I ask all of my couples to make a written list of every family photo that they may want. This way if their family want to chime in and help before the wedding day, they can make sure that the important groupings happen. If it's on my list, I will do everything I can to make it happen on the day and you don't have to worry about forgetting anything.

Give each grouping a title and a list of first names, and I can get people together.

"Taylor's full Family! I need Pat, Jim, Julie, Steve, Dan, Rose, Mike, Karrie, and Marty!"

"Taylor's Grandparents! I just need Pat and Jim to stay"

Let's Start Planning!

Now you've heard my thoughts, I'm interested to hear yours!

You can see and learn more about my wedding photography on my website, and you can contact me with any questions you have on my contact form!

This information is going to stay free and public on my blog for anyone who may need it, but if you like these photos on this and what I've said about planning, my wedding bookings are open! Let me know if your interested and your wedding date and we can capture the joy together.