5 Tips for Stress-Free Family Photos on your Wedding Day
Hey there, friends! Through all the COVID-19 craziness, I’ve been incredibly impressed at how the wedding industry has really banded together and used this as an opportunity to network and collaborate in whatever way possible! One way we’ve been doing this is by swapping blog posts with some of our favorite vendor friends! I’m excited to be featuring Rachel Graff on our blog today with a post she wrote for us! She’s an incredibly talented wedding photographer in the Twin Cities, and has got some killer tips on how to make your family photos a BREEZE on your wedding day! Virtual cocktail glass clinks as you keep reading!
Your wedding day is a fantastic opportunity to capture formal family portraits. Everyone is present and dressed up, so it’s the perfect time to capture this year’s holiday card photo or replace the picture on the mantle at home. However, family photo time is often the most stressful part of the wedding day for couples. With so many people to wrangle, the key to stress-free photo time is planning and communication! Here are 5 tips for stress-free family photos on your wedding day so you can focus on what really matters!
01. C R E A T E A S H O T L I S T
Many photographers will ask their wedding couples for a shot list for family photos. Even if your photographer doesn’t request this, I highly recommend you sit down with your fiance and make a list of all the photos and combinations of family images you would like! This helps your photographer know who and what photos are important to you on your wedding day and allows you to make family photos much more quick and organized on the day-of!
Consider not just the family members you want photos with, but also all the combinations of people. For example, you’ll want a photo with your immediate family (you, your fiance, your parents, and your siblings). However, you may also want pictures with just your siblings, just you and your mom, etc. Add all these combinations to your list!
02. K E E P I T A S S M A L L A S P O S S I B L E
Keep your photos and shot list as small as possible without missing anyone important! Some couples opt to capture a full, extended family photo with all aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. While your wedding day is a great time to capture this group, it is by no means required. The more people you need to corral, the more stressful this process can be. This is by no means to discourage you from getting the shots you want!
03. S H A R E T H E L I S T W I T H Y O U R P H O T O G R A P H E R A N D F A M I L Y
Send your shot list to your photographer a few weeks before your wedding. This allows them to print the list off and bring it to your wedding day, and sending it early will allow the photographer to know how much time they will need to capture all the shots you need. Even “just one picture” with 50 people can take some time to gather and place everyone.
Also be sure to share the list with your family before the wedding! This informs your family members that they are expected to be in a family photo and eliminates any awkward conversations on your wedding day.
04. P L A N + C O M M U N I C A T E
After sharing your shot list with the photographer, ask them to suggest the best location to capture family photos. The photographer will be able to help you determine a location that can accommodate the group size and/or the easiest place for everyone to meet for a picture. Typically, I recommend doing family photos just before or after the ceremony at the ceremony venue. Once a time and meeting spot is decided, be sure to communicate this with family members on the week of your wedding so they know where they are expected to be and when.
05. P U T S O M E O N E I N C H A R G E
Choose a responsible and organized family friend, bridesmaid, or attendant to be in charge of running the family photo time. The best person for this job is typically someone who knows the families well and who isn’t afraid to speak up and corral people. Give them the list along with your family and photographer, and they can help call out names, track down family members, and take the responsibility off of you so you can enjoy your day!
Your wedding day should be joyful and fun! There’s nothing worse as a photographer than watching your couple get stressed with all the details. A little pre-planning for photo time can go a long way in making your day carefree!
Rachel Graff is a Wedding and Senior photographer in the Twin Cities. Her natural, timeless, and affordable photography is what her clients rave about. She values the importance of celebrating life’s pivotal days, as well as the small moments in between. View her work on her website and follow her on Instagram.