We have heard plenty of stories from couples who didn’t realize until the wedding day that it was totally up to them to figure out how to execute the family photos and wedding party photos, while the photographer waited on the sidelines for the photo to be taken. This creates unnecessary stress and chaos that could have been avoided completely.
It’s important to ask a potential photographer how they handle group photos and what their strategy is, because believe it or not – not all photographers have a strategy.
Some photographers are only good at documenting the candid moments.
Chiha Studios photography has created this ‘How To’ article so that couples can be informed regardless of which photographer they hire for their wedding. The couple and their wedding is what’s important.
Chiha Studios is proactive when it comes to family photos and wedding party photos on your wedding day.
Here is our fool proof strategy.
STEP 1 – WEDDING PARTY LIST
Write a list of who’s in your wedding party and what their relationship is to you or your fiance. This is to help the photographer get a lay of the land of who is who. It will also help the photographer make sure everyone is present when it’s time for photos. The size of your wedding party may also affect the location the photographer chooses for the photos.
STEP 2 – FAMILY PHOTO LIST
Family photo time should be focused on who you consider to be your close family. This is usually just the immediate family and grandparents. However, everyone’s ‘close family’ looks different. Take this into account and you decide.
There will be plenty of other opportunities sprinkled throughout the day and night to capture photos with extended family and everyone else.
Once you’ve established this group, write a list of the different combinations you want photographed. Such as:
- Bride and siblings
- Bride and dad
- Bride and groom with both immediate families
- Groom with grandparents
- Etc
STEP 3 – DELEGATE THE LIST
This part is critical.
The photo list should not be the responsibility of the couple.
Choose someone that you trust to be in charge of this list. This person will be responsible for making sure everyone on that list shows up on time and in the right location.
As the bride or groom, you want to be stress free and relaxed on your wedding day. Delegate.
Leading up to the wedding, the photographer and the couple will decide on the time and place for family portraits and wedding party photos.
The person you’ve chosen to delegate this task to will then communicate all the information to the group.
STEP 4 – SEND THE LISTS TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
Send the family photo list and your wedding party list to your photographer. This is your fail safe on your wedding day.
Have you ever written a list and then said to yourself, “I don’t need to look at the list anymore, I did it all.” When in fact, you forgot something on the list. If you have never experienced this, I can tell you now that plenty of couples on their wedding day have forgotten about certain family photos after they were sure they wouldn’t forget.
It’s a terrible feeling to realize you forgot an important family photo from your wedding day and you cannot go back in time.
Your wedding photographer should have your list so that they can use it as a checklist to verify that all the important photos have been taken.
STEP 5 – PICK A TIMING STRATEGY
We’re not done yet. Last step.
STRATEGY A
If you and your fiance are having a First Look with each other, then the best time to do your wedding party photos and family photos would be BEFORE the ceremony. You’ll begin with the First Look and then transition into family portraits and wedding party photos.
STRATEGY B
If you’re not having a first look, you’ll want to schedule your wedding party photos and family photos directly after the ceremony ends. It’s best to do it before people become distracted at Cocktail Hour with eating and drinking. We recommend that your officiant make a reminder announcement about these photos before and after the ceremony.
You are now fully prepared. We hope this was insightful.
