For many couples, one of the most stressful parts of a wedding day is their family photos. It can feel like a lot to think through. Who is going to be photographed and in which combinations? Where will everyone be and how do we get them together quickly? As a seasoned wedding photographer, I can tell you there’s a few easy tricks to make organizing your wedding day family photos quick and efficient – the best things they can be on a wedding day! So, today’s blog is about how we can make your family photos, arguably one of the most important sets of photos to happen on your big day, as stress-free as possible! 

When to Capture Family Photos

If you are doing a first look, many family photos can be done earlier in the day since you’ll have seen each other. Usually, we’ll make sure to get your immediate family done then but if you have your extended family around, we can capture those too! If you are not doing a first look (which is fine!), the best time to photograph the extended family is right after the ceremony, before anyone slips away to cocktail hour or disappears for hors d’oeuvres. If you’re doing extended family photos regardless, I’d recommend the start of cocktail hour whenever possible! 

How to Notify Your Family

First and foremost, the more instructions you can give your family ahead of time, the better!  Advance planning and clearly defined expectations are the secret sauce to capturing a perfect 30-person family wedding photo without stress or delays. I would even send a text message to all family members so everyone is on the same page about who is staying for photos before the wedding day. This helps people know – not assume- they’re included, which also helps with the big emotions wedding days can bring. Although I’ll have your list of family photos, I also recommend having a family enforcer to gather everyone. They can chase down whoever is running behind and make sure we have everyone. 

Building Your Family Photo List

Many wedding photographers have their own way of gathering your family formal list. Generally, the smartest way to actually photograph the group is to start with the biggest group and peel off individuals. For example, we’d start with the bride’s entire family (parents, step-parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents). Then we peel off the extra family and get to the core family (parents/stepparents, grandparents, siblings). We then move to immediate family then the nuclear family (parents and siblings) and start doing smaller groups from there – like the bride with her parents, then just mom and just dad. 

First Looks & Family Photos

Like I mentioned before, if you choose to see each other before the ceremony in a first look, we have a lot more options for your wedding day photos. Still not sure if you want to do a first look? Check out my blog here for more pros/cons, and here’s how they can impact your family photos! 

• When all portraits (bridal party, family, and couple) are scheduled after the ceremony, we’re usually limited to one location—often the altar—which may not offer the best lighting or background. A pre-ceremony photo session gives us the freedom to explore the most flattering and scenic spots on-site.
• We arrive early to scout the venue and find the most complimentary light for your portraits. Having that extra time before the ceremony ensures we can make the most of golden light and avoid harsh shadows.
• When family portraits happen before the ceremony, your loved ones are happy, fresh, and often enjoying a glass of champagne. There’s less pressure, more smiles, and a lot more time to capture both posed and candid moments.
• One of the biggest stressors on a wedding day is squeezing all the must-have photos into the short window between the ceremony and reception. Taking photos beforehand allows you to actually enjoy cocktail hour with your guests.

The more time and space we have, the more variety, creativity, and storytelling we can bring to your wedding photos. Family photos are some of the most special images I capture on a wedding day. How often do you have all of your loved ones in the same space like this? So, creating a master list and planning the time carefully into your wedding day schedule is crucial to ensure we capture all of the wedding day family photos you want!

Learn more about Myra Roman:

Myra is a Modern & Fashion-Forward Wedding & Portrait Photographer based on the East Coast. Ready to plan your wedding day or portraits for your growing family? Complete the contact form here!