FAMILY PHOTO TIPS

In the lead up to a clients wedding day, I’m regularly discussing the types of images they hope that I’ll capture on their awesome day of celebration. The topic of family photos constantly comes up in these discussions and it’s usually accompanied with a few innocently concerned looks illustrating their wonder of how it will all go down without Uncle Gary or Aunt Judy splitting each others heads. Wedding schedules are often tightly packing and gathering the tribe to be in one place at the same time can feel like way more effort than it’s worth. An impossible task even. I GET IT. It feels daunting, but it doesn’t need to.

Although I fully understand the complexity of family dynamics from my own experience, I can’t stress enough the importance of making TIME for your people to be documented all together. Family photos are SO important. Even if you don’t like ‘formal’ photos, I guarantee that these images we take of your family on your wedding day will be the photos that you cherish the most throughout your life.

How can I be so sure? I’ve lost count of all the people over the last 3 years who have thanked me for their family photos, telling me how much they appreciate having all their loved ones in the same frame. For many, these photos take on an even deeper meaning after a family member passes away. I’ve even had people tell me they used family photos from their wedding day at a funeral. What better way to celebrate a person’s life than by displaying an image of them surrounded by their family (and wearing their fanciest clothes)? While all this may seem a bit morbid, it can be comforting to know that you have some lovely images of older family members to bring back cherished memories when you look at them in the future.

If I seem overly insistent on the importance of family photos, it’s because I’ve been burned before. At one of the very first weddings I ever shot, I made the mistake of letting the bride talk me into skipping family photos entirely. She was adamant, I was inexperienced, and I let my fear of upsetting my client get in the way of my judgement. Wouldn’t you know it, I got an email from that same bride a short while ago asking if I’d managed to sneak any family photos. If not, she wondered, could we somehow do some family photos now? If only that day could be recreated! Unfortunately, my extensive collection of photography equipment doesn’t include a time machine, and I was unable to give this regretful bride the images she was missing.

Wedding Family Photos | The When

Prepare to get rushed by all your loved ones right after you say “I do!”

Some time after the ceremony is the normal time to take the wedding family photos. Couples normally plan for the portraits to take place immediately after the ceremony, but this isn’t always possible.

I find that right after you get married, all your friends and family will want to come and congratulate you and give you hugs and kisses!

We should allow at least 20 minutes for this to die down, depending of course on the size of your wedding and how talkative your friends are :p

That means that the wedding group portraits will usually start about 20 or so minutes after you get married.

There’s a couple of options of here.  If everyone is civil, comfortable around each other, no delicate dynamics etc. – I’ve got a method in my head for these family photos that works 99% of the time, you don’t need a list.

Wedding Family Photos | The How

I typically only include immediate family at this time, which I call – parents, siblings, (their partners and children, if applicable) and grandparents.  From experience, as soon as you involve all of the aunties, uncles and cousins at this time – the family photos can quickly become chaos.  And remember I’m always there for a decent amount of your reception too – so I can get any of those shots later in the day.

However, if there is some ‘delicate’ dynamics; if you could make a list of the specific combinations of family photos you want to be taken, that can help make things run a lot smoother, makes sure no one misses out and saves me putting my foot in it too.  I also ask if you could delegate one or two ‘loud’ family or bridal party members who know a majority of the people in the photos to assist me in ’rounding up the troops’ – this can also save a lot of time.  You don’t need to give me that list prior, but please just make sure one of those people has it on hand on the day.

Wedding Family Photos | How Long

To work out how long these might take; assign around 1 – 2 minutes for each small combination and 3+ minutes for larger groups. That is dependant on the fact that we can find everyone too.  On average, about 7-10 different combinations taking about 10 – 15 minutes is ‘normal’.

95% of the time, these photos are done straight after the ‘post ceremony congratulations’, while the rest of the guests head to canapés.

Wedding Family Photos | The Who

Whilst you’ll want to plan for a few of the standard portrait combinations, don’t go too overboard with the group shots.

Aside from the time factor, your guests might get a bit impatient if their group photo is no. 16523 on the list!

I’d strongly advise you not to hand your wedding photographer a list of wedding photography family group combinations (such as this terrible one!) which you’ve found on the popular wedding websites.

Here’s a list of the basic combinations that I think every bride and groom should at least consider:

Bride with mum and dad
Bride with family

Groom with mum and dad
Groom with family

Bride and Groom with mums and dads
Bride and Groom with both families

If there’s room and your guests don’t mind, we can also try a group shot of the whole wedding group. This will usually require me balancing on a stool precariously, while everyone laughs at me…

If the couple wants one, I’m more than happy to do it!  In all honesty, they can be a bit of buzzkill, though.  Guests are often wanting just to congratulate the bride and groom, or get to the bar, or do anything other than be in a photo where you can see half of their face.  In reality, the group photo can take about 5 – 10 mins to round everyone up.  (People don’t listen, they go missing, they’re usually too focused on finding the bar, etc., haha) So I think it’s way more beautiful to use that time letting everyone hug/kiss you/congratulate you – without me interjecting.  I believe photos of those moments will be treasured much longer anyway.  And you’ll have way more rad individual images of your guests, as opposed to just one big one.  Also, some venues/wedding co-ordinators like to cut this time from the schedule, what !?  Some of the best photos of your guests happen during this time.  Do it. (if you want)

Wedding Family Photos | The Where

I’ll try and take the group portraits as close to the ceremony location as possible, in a shaded area.

If we’re constrained for time/space, or if there are elderly people in the portraits who can’t walk easily, we can take the group portraits right where they’re standing and just do our best.

In the end, it’s not important that the group portraits look like a structured school photo – what is important is that all your family are in the photo and can see the camera (because that means the camera can see them!)

Wedding Family Photos | Final Words

Whilst it might be the awesome panoramic shot from your portrait session or your best man spinning on his head on the dance floor that you share on Facebook, it’s also the wedding family photos that you’ll treasure for years to come.

The photo of you and your mum on your wedding day, moments after putting a ring on your finger is priceless, and I’ll make sure we get it right
Apart from the actual family photos, giving me examples of specific photos is not required.  As I’m an Adelaide wedding photographer who captures the day organically in my creative style, I wouldn’t want to stare at a big list of photos or poses you saw on Pinterest to detract from that.  However, if there was a specific shot, person or location you wanted to be used, please certainly let me know!