Wedding Day Family Picture DO’S and DON’TS

Oftentimes wedding day family pictures can be a drawn out, hectic task. With so many people involved and such an extreme time crunch, this picture session can really be thought of as a photo chore. But the reality of wedding day family photos is that these images can easily be some of the most special photos you’ll take all day. Think about it. They’re pictures of the people you love most in the world – your family!

So instead of creating a time gap that will home a stressful family portrait session, take the time to create an atmosphere that will be easy going, simple, and fun for the people who are the most special to you.

We’ve put together some Wedding Day Family Picture Do’s and Don’ts that will help you do just that during your family pictures and will help keep your group happy and smiling.

1. DO TELL YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER: While photographers should expect to take family pictures on your wedding day, don’t leave your photographer in the dark. Make sure they know that you want formal family pictures taken, and also how many people they can expect to have in the photos. This will help them determine an appropriate time in your itinerary and also location for these photos.

2. DO PREPARE A FAMILY GROUPING LIST: Help your photographer out by putting together a list of family groupings that you would like to have taken. This will help your photographer for a few reasons. A: They don’t know the relations between your family members. They don’t know your mom’s side, dad’s side, or who’s an aunt. This list will help them out. B: A list will allow your photographer to move quickly and smoothly. Instead of standing around trying to figure out who’s related, they’ll be able to call off names, position the photo, and take the shot in a snap. C: This takes the pressure off them. A list shows them exactly who you want pictures with so they don’t have to worry about forgetting a shot that may be important to you. Instead, it’s all in black and white. { TIP: Include your parents and your groom’s parents when compiling this list. Make sure everyone has a say in who gets a photo and the groupings that will be taken. This will reduce the amount of input and “suggestions” the day of. }

3. DO KEEP YOUR FAMILY IN THE KNOW: Be sure to inform any family member who is in these pictures with the plan of when and where they will be taken. If you’re taking these pictures in the sanctuary immediately following the ceremony, be sure to tell your Grandma Moore or Sister-In-Law Lisa to stay put for a few snapshots. This will keep you from having to chase down family members during this time.

1. DON’T FORGET TO WARN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER OF BAD BLOOD: If you have some family members who really can’t stand each other, warn your photographer. This will help them position a family grouping that’s all smiles, and no snarls. { TIP: If you come from a family with some members who can’t stand to be next to each other, don’t stress! Your photographer will take care of the situation by simply positioning these individuals apart. }

2. DON’T LET FAMILY DRAMA HOLD YOU DOWN: If you have divorced parents or siblings who can’t stand each other, don’t let this hold you down. If you want pictures with these people together, do it. It’s your day! Mention the situation to your photographer and your family members and don’t think a thing of it. They’ll behave for you.

3. DON’T INCLUDE EVERY SINGLE PERSON: Wedding days are on a tight time budget. Time with your photographer and time between your cocktail hour or before your ceremony is extremely limited. While family pictures are important, don’t let them take over your entire photography session. Instead, keep your family groupings minimal and immediate and save the extended family photos for the reception. This way they can be fun and casual and taken at any time. Here’s an example of a successful formal family grouping list:

• Bride and Mother
• Bride and Father
• Bride and Mother and Father
• Bride and Siblings
• Bride, Groom and Mother, Father, and Siblings
• Groom and Mother
• Groom and Father
• Groom and Mother and Father
• Groom and Siblings
• Groom, Bride, and Mother, Father, and Siblings
• Bride and Groom and Grandma and Grandpa Forest
• Bride and Groom and Grandma and Grandpa Hays