Traditional family photos are posed, quick and straight-forward.
Please check off all the image combinations you would like to take below, so that we can make family photos a breeze and get them to cocktail hour as quickly as possible.
(Also keep in mind, the more combos you list, the longer traditional photos will take)
Once you’ve submitted your list, read up on fun family photo scheduling tips below!
Family Photo Best Practices
pre-ceremony photos
If you are doing a first look we can take your family portraits and wedding party photos prior to your ceremony. Generally we would do your first look and take pre-ceremony photos (15-20 minutes), jump into your wedding party photos (10-15 minutes) and then family portraits and then be done.
If you are not doing a first look see below.
post-ceremony photos
It is generally easier to take extended family photos (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc) immediately after the ceremony. It is easiest to have your officiant make an announcement after you have recessed down the aisle for all immediate and extended family to please stay where they are and not go to cocktail hour (to reduce wrangling) so that we can get the photos down quickly and get them off to cocktail hour.
During family photos, I will have your list organized and ready to call out combinations, so that we can move efficiently through the photos. You do not need to help me call out combinations, as it helps me best if I go in the order I have listed so that I know for sure I haven’t missed a photo. Random photos that are not on the list (your family members typically make requests while they are standing up there with you) should be held until the end so that we can get through the list of YOUR photos first.
If you are not doing a first look, wedding party photos will follow family photos and then your couples portraits will follow that. Please be sure that your coordinator leaves enough time for us to take your couples portraits (at least 20 minutes), as this will be the only time you will be taking couples portraits and we need as much time as possible.
Extended family photos generally take much longer than expected because people are talking, people are at cocktail hour when they shouldn’t be, a cousin is nowhere to be found, etc. So justttt letting you know in advance, the more family members involved, the longer this will likely take, cutting into cocktail hour, wedding party photos, and couples portraits.
Also, I know cocktail hour is like so super cool, but please remember you will have all night to chat with friends and family but only a set amount of time to take photos will the sun is up :) Also, fun fact, it is not uncommon for cocktail “hour” to actually be 1.5-2 hours because dinner is never ready on time (if that little tid bit just burst your bubble there, lo siento).