FAMILY + WEDDING PARTY PHOTOS

FAMILY PHOTOS ARE SO IMPORTANT AND I TAKE THEM TO HEART

While your day is focused on being in the moment and being fully present with the people you love. I tend to document the natural, unplanned moments, but I realize that family photos are just as important and I take them to heart. It’s not everyday that your favorite people are all together at the same time and same place!

FAMILY PHOTOS ARE OFTEN THE MOST EXHAUSTING PORTION OF THE DAY

We can chat to come up with a list closer to your date, but I recommend limiting to 10 FAMILY FORMAL GROUPINGS during our family photo time. I know it can sometimes be difficult to get your list down to 10 groups, however, I’d encourage you to think about which arrangements are most important to you and stick with no more than 10 groupings for our time slot. Family photos are often the most exhausting portion of the day, and instead of tiring yourselves out with dozens of family groupings, I recommend sticking to 10 groupings and photographing the extras during your reception.

I recommend allowing for more time with family during reception while I capture all the candid moments along the way.

If you find yourself going over the 10 groupings, no worries! We can prioritize the list by who is most important to take a photo with and any extras we can write down to get a photo with during the reception when you make your rounds to say “hi” to everyone. If you need some help figuring out how to start your groupings list check out my examples below:

Please Consider

Any family members that have disabilities or can’t stand for very long, put them at the beginning of the list so we can photograph them first, or we can move to a different location that’s more comfortable for them on the day of.

If you have children of your own or you have little nieces and nephews we can photograph with them at the beginning or very end if they’re full of energy.

If there’s any tension between family members, please let me know and we can separate the members if they’re in the same grouping.

Family Groupings List

 

 BRIDE’S IMMEDIATE FAMILY

  • Bride + Groom with Bride’s Parents + Siblings

  • Bride + Groom with Bride’s Parents

  • Bride + Bride’s Parents

  • Bride + Bride’s Mom

  • Bride + Bride’s Dad

  • Bride + Groom + Bride’s Siblings

  • Bride + Bride’s Siblings

  • Bride + Bride’s Sister(s)

  • Bride + Bride’s Brother(s)

EXTENDED: AUNTS/UNCLES/COUSINS

  • Bride + Groom with Bride’s Parents + Bride’s Siblings + Bride’s Grandparents + Bride’s Aunt(s) + Bride’s Uncle(s) + Bride’s Cousin(s)

  • Bride + Groom with Groom’s Parents + Groom’s Siblings + Groom’s Grandparents + Groom’s Aunt(s) + Groom’s Uncle(s) + Groom’s Cousin(s)

GROOM’S IMMEDIATE FAMILY

  • Bride + Groom with Groom’s Parents + Siblings

  • Bride + Groom with Groom’s Parents

  • Groom + Groom’s Parents

  • Groom + Groom’s Mom

  • Groom + Groom’s Dad

  • Bride + Groom with Groom’s Siblings

  • Groom + Groom’s Siblings

  • Groom + Groom’s Sister(s)

  • Groom + Groom’s Brother(s)

EXTRAS

  • Bride + Groom with dogs/cats/goats (I’ll photograph any of your fur babies lol)

  • Bride + Groom with the entire family (aka one big family photo of both sides)

  • Bride + Groom with entire family and guests (aka one big photo with literally everyone)

  • Bride + Groom with special guests

    (this can be anyone who flew 10,000 miles for your wedding, your officiant, those who helped contribute to your wedding day, or anyone who means a lot to you that you’d love a photo with relative or not)

BRIDE + GROOM’S IMMEDIATE FAMILIES

  • Bride + Groom with Bride’s Parents + Groom’s Parent’s

  • Bride + Groom with Bride’s Parents + Bride’s Siblings + Groom’s Parents + Groom’s Siblings

GRANDPARENTS

  • Bride + Groom with Bride’s Grandparents

  • Bride with Bride’s Grandparents

  • Bride + Groom with Groom’s Grandparents

  • Groom with Groom’s Grandparents

  • Bride + Groom with Bride’s Grandparents + Groom’s Grandparents

  • Bride + Groom with Bride’s Parents + Bride’s Siblings + Bride’s Grandparents

  • Bride + Groom with Groom’s Parents + Groom’s Siblings + Groom’s Grandparents

  • Bride + Groom with Bride’s Parents + Groom’s Parents + Bride’s Siblings + Groom’s Siblings + Bride’s Grandparents +

  • Groom’s Grandparents

Pro Tip

Both wedding party and family photos work best prior to the ceremony because they’re already there to prepare/decorate/get ready which makes it so much quicker to get everyone in the same place. Once people see food and booze after the ceremony it’s harder to rally the ones that need to stay for photos. Grandma is likely to get lost in the crowd or didn’t hear the officiant announce for family to remain seated and it’s easy for the best man to find himself at the bar instead of lining up for wedding party photos. This corralling can really eat into the time we have for photos and for you to enjoy your reception!

Wedding Party Groupings List

 

 BRIDE + BRIDESMAIDS

  • Bride with all bridesmaids + flower girl + ring bearer

  • Bride with all bridesmaids

  • Bride with each individual bridesmaid

  • Bride with flower girl + ring bearer

  • Bride only (have your moment to take photos of just you in your wedding gown)

BRIDE + GROOM WITH ENTIRE PARTY

  • Bride + Groom with all bridesmaids + groomsmen + flower girl + ring bearer

  • Bride + Groom with all bridesmaids + groomsmen

GROOM + GROOMSMEN

  • Groom with all groomsmen + ring bearer

  • Groom with all groomsmen

  • Groom with each individual groomsmen

  • Groom with ring bearer

  • Groom only (a moment to take photos of just the groom in his attire)