While it may feel like a hassle to get everyone together for family portraits at a wedding, this may be the first time in years that your whole family has been together in the same room, dressed nicely, with someone around to take a good photo of them. It’s important to document your family.
The good news is that you don’t have to spend hours locked in a church to get all of the formal photos your mom wants – we can get nearly everything you need in just seven quick photos. You could spend hours taking 20 different permutations of family photos, but these are the top seven that most people want. Anything extra that is requested gets done as well, but these are the staples I shoot at every wedding, no matter what.
- Bride and Groom full length, looking at the camera. You have to get at least one of these, preferably two or three so Mom has options. Then we can go take some more interesting portraits.
- Bride/Groom alone
- Bride with her parents
- Bride and Groom with bride’s whole family – this can include siblings, significant others, grandparents, and any extended family members you’d like.
- Groom with his parents
- Bride and groom with groom’s whole family- again including siblings, significant others, grandparents, and any extended family members you’d like.
- Bride and Groom with entire wedding party, including the flower girls and ring bearers.
I like to have about an hour to do all of the portraits. The key is to finish these seven important photos in under 20 minutes so that you can spend the rest of the time taking photos of just the two of you, or a few more fun photos of the wedding party. Then you can get to your reception and enjoy it!
Awesome, awesome, awesome post!!!