How to Create a Wedding Family Picture List

Planning a wedding involves a lot of moving parts, but one area couples often overlook is creating a wedding family picture list. These group formal portraits are a chance to capture meaningful photos with the most important people in your life. Having a well-thought-out plan for these photos can help ensure the process is smooth, efficient, and stress-free for everyone involved. Here’s how to create a wedding family picture list that works for you and your photographer.

Why Having a Wedding Family Picture List is Important

Family portraits are often the first interaction your photographer has with your extended family on your wedding day. They are an important part of the timeline and, when done well, can provide cherished memories. But without a plan, this portion of the day can become chaotic, cutting into your celebration time and causing unnecessary stress.

Group formal portraits are especially important because these are the images that will help you remember your family members’ faces. Years from now, these photos will hold even more meaning as they document the people who supported you on such a special day.

A well-organized wedding family picture list ensures everyone knows where they need to be and when. It also helps your photographer focus on capturing the images you value most without wasting time tracking people down or rearranging groups on the fly.

How to Build Your List

When creating your family picture list, start by considering which group formal portraits are most important to you. Think about which family members you want included and how to group them in a way that makes sense. A typical list might include:

  • Couple with all combined family members (a symbolic and meaningful photo of families coming together).
  • Couple with each immediate family.
  • Couple with each set of parents.
  • Couple with siblings.
  • Couple with grandparents.
  • Individual newlyweds with parents.
  • Individual newlyweds with siblings or extended family.

This is just a starting point. You can adjust based on your family dynamics and preferences. Remember that each group takes about three minutes to set up and photograph, so limiting your list to around 10 groups ensures the process stays on schedule. Adding more groups may mean sacrificing time better spent enjoying your wedding day.

It’s also important to only stick to the list. When we start adding in other groups not on the original plan, your family members may notice and begin requesting additional photos. This can quickly lead to delays and can cause the session to run longer than expected.

The Importance of a Combined Family Photo

One photo I always recommend is a combined family portrait. This symbolizes the coming together of two families and serves as a visual representation of your new chapter together. It’s a shot that holds deep meaning and becomes even more significant as the years go by.

Even if your families are large or not particularly close, having everyone together in one frame creates a powerful image of connection and unity.

Timing Is Everything

The timing of family photos is crucial. I always recommend scheduling group formal portraits immediately after the ceremony. This is when family members are already gathered, reducing the likelihood of anyone going missing. Outdoor locations are ideal if weather and lighting permit, as they provide the best backdrop and natural light.

(For winter weddings, however, I recommend taking group formal portraits before the ceremony. With shorter days and limited daylight after the ceremony, it’s often the best way to ensure we have enough time to capture all the portraits in natural light.)

Having family pictures before the ceremony can work, but it comes with risks. If even one person is running late, you’ll have to decide whether to proceed without them or delay the timeline. This can add stress to an already busy day, so it’s often best to stick with post-ceremony portraits for most weddings.

Tips for a Smooth Process

To make the family photo session as efficient and enjoyable as possible, here are a few practical tips:

  1. Communicate Ahead of Time: Let your family members know in advance that they’ll be needed for photos. The rehearsal, often the day before the wedding, is a perfect time to make this announcement. Clear communication ensures everyone is present and ready, which helps your photographer stay on schedule.
  2. Start with Larger Groups: Begin with the biggest group shots, like the combined family photo, and then gradually work down to smaller groups. This allows most family members to head to cocktail hour sooner while keeping things organized.
  3. Prioritize Kids and Older Relatives: Include children and elderly family members at the beginning of the session. They’ll appreciate not having to wait too long, and it’ll keep everyone more comfortable and cooperative.
  4. Consider Mobility Issues: If anyone in your family has mobility challenges, let your photographer know ahead of time. This allows us to choose an accessible location and plan for any necessary accommodations.

Balancing Photos and Your Day

It’s important to strike a balance between capturing meaningful group formal portraits and enjoying your wedding day. While these photos are important, your time is limited, and every additional group adds minutes to the session. Keeping your list concise helps ensure you can spend more of your day celebrating with your loved ones.

Keep in mind that group formal portraits often take time away from your creative portraits. These are the photos where we step away from the ceremony to capture images of just the two of you. The longer family photos take, the less time we have to create these intimate, artistic portraits that highlight your connection.

Think about the moments you’ll remember most fondly—dancing, laughing, and soaking up the joy of the day. While family photos are part of that, they shouldn’t overshadow your experience. By sticking to around 10 groups, you’ll have a meaningful collection of images without spending an excessive amount of time posing.

Working With Your Photographer

When you work with me, I send a detailed questionnaire about three months before your wedding to help you build your wedding family picture list. This questionnaire ensures we’re on the same page about which group formal portraits matter most to you.

If we run out of time for certain group photos, there’s always an opportunity to capture additional images during the reception. While it’s ideal to get most of the formal portraits done early, being flexible helps us make the most of your day.

A Final Thought

A little preparation goes a long way in making your family photo session run smoothly. By creating a thoughtful wedding family picture list, communicating with your loved ones ahead of time, and prioritizing key moments, you can ensure this part of your day is stress-free and enjoyable.

Remember, the rehearsal is a great time to let family members know they’ll be needed for photos and when. This simple step prevents delays and confusion, making the process much smoother for everyone involved—including me as your photographer! Clear communication and planning help us stay on schedule, capture the images that matter most, and keep the day’s focus where it belongs: on celebrating your love.

Creating a wedding family picture list doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right approach, it can be a meaningful part of your wedding day, capturing the people and relationships that matter most.

Let’s Adventure Together

Sign up with your email address to be the first to know about exclusive updates, mini session announcements, and new blog content.

Related Posts