planning a wedding is so beautiful and can also be complex at times...
and that's okay.
when you're dreaming of your wedding day and all of the amazing moments, often times you have a sense of how you want to *feel* throughout the day. so many of my brides use words like effortless, easy, smooth, organic...
my goal as your wedding photographer is to accomplish that feeling.
one wrinkle i see often is the family portrait section. while so many couples look forward to capturing this moment with their families, one thing they want to avoid is that "photo fatigue" feeling. iykyk
over the years, i've found that the couples that followed these steps were able to enjoy their day without that fatigue and really soak up aaaaaall the wedding bliss!!
let's chat family photos...
some brides love these and some brides don't. it's okay if this isn't your favorite part of the day.
i completely relate to that!
let's chat family photos...
family portraits will easily be some of the most treasured images from your wedding day. maybe not in the beginning, but years later you will look back on them and be so glad you have them. they’re what you’ll hang on your walls, hold tight to when you lose a precious loved one, and be the images your grandchildren will look upon for generations.
my goal for my couples as a wedding photographer is to make this portion as easy and breezy as possible. with this as the main focus, i've developed a few tips i enjoy sharing to help you as you plan!
tips + tricks
have a very simple shot list.
keeping a minimal number of groupings will really help alleviate the photo fatigue! i suggest keeping this portion of family portraits limited to immediate family only - parents, siblings, and grandparents.
i would not recommend going any further in the family because this list alone will easily take 20-30 minutes. sure, it’s nice to get a portrait of each and every close family member, but trust me when i tell you this cuts a huge chunk of time out of your timeline! not having the extended family there for family portraits doesn’t mean you can’t get a group photo later! i have had multiple weddings where we catch special groups of people at the reception to grab a quick photo, and it’s super easy!
i find that my brides with huge lists for family photos are *over it* very quickly. i don't want you to feel that way on your wedding day. shorter lists will help give you that relaxed and effortless feeling that so many people want to enjoy on their wedding!
have someone in charge of your families.
since i will not know your families, it is very helpful to have one family member from each side be “in charge” of gathering the necessary people! perhaps a sister or brother who may know everyone involved. this will also be helpful if you need to gather people who have wandered off to cocktail hour.
trust your photographer.
often times i'll hear parents of the bride and groom want to do the family portraits portion done in the ceremony space. sometimes the lighting is not ideal to accommodate this. for example, a church ceremony site often has very dim lighting. this results in photos that reflect that. trust your photographer to find the lighting that captures your family the best!
be prepared!
i highly recommend, a list of specific groupings you would like photographed during the family portrait time. every family is different with different dynamics and relationships. that is why it is SO important to provide a portrait list of specific groupings for your photographer, and to communicate with your photographer any particular family dynamics they should be aware of (disabilities, family members that don’t get along, deceased family, step-members, etc). including your photographer in on your family’s dynamics can help to ease any tension that can easily be avoided if the photographer is made aware beforehand. having a family portrait checklist will also ensure that your family portraits are captured in an organized and timely manner, keeping everyone in a good mood!
it is helpful to list your groupings not only by who is in them, but also using names -- bride and groom with bride’s parents, angel and bob). having names listed helps get the attention of the individuals needed, making the whole process even more efficient!
a resource for you...
below i've attached a checklist for you to use as a guide, or even as is!
remember, as you're planning these parts of your day, don't let this stress you out!! family photos are beautiful and cherished for years to come.
keeping it simple will help you take a deep breath and enjoy your day without running into that "photo fatigue" feeling!
about the artist.
