How to Make Family Photos Fast and Easy for Everyone at Weddings

To tell you the truth – Family Photos can be one of the most stressful parts of a wedding day for couples. People don’t know where to go, they leave before they’re done, photographers are shouting over people, no one can find Uncle Jim… and you just want to go get a drink and a snack and relax after getting officially MARRIED!

Don’t get me wrong – I understand that family photos are important to people because it is one of the only chances you get to have a lot of people in your family together dressed all nice. However – a wedding is not a “family reunion” for the couple, it is a day all about the two people getting married.

Here are a few tips I have being a wedding photographer myself on how to make family photos fast and easy for everyone:

#1 – Create a concise shot list

Keep your list of family shots to roughly 10-12 or less if you want to get through them quickly and easier. If you have a long list, it’s going to take a very long time and more likely someone is going to wander off.

Some example shot list ideas:

*Note: not all weddings include a bride and groom, I am using those terms as examples. All couples are welcome with Abi Jane Photography. LGBTQIA+ Safe*

1. Bride + Parents
2. Bride + Parent #1
3. Bride + Parent #2
4. Bride + Parents + Siblings (+1 adding the groom)
5. Groom + Parents
6. Groom + Parent #1
7. Groom + Parent #2
8. Groom + Parents + Siblings (+1 adding the bride)
9. Bride + Groom + Bride’s Grandparents
10. Bride + Groom + Groom’s Grandparents
11. Optional: One large family photo on each side
12. Optional: JUST bride’s parents + JUST groom’s parents (they often haven’t had a nice photo of them taken in a long time, they’re already dressed up and ready and it will take 5 seconds!)

#2 – Tell family before the wedding day where / when

Give your parents, siblings, and grandparents a heads up that there is a schedule time for family photos (after you have confirmed with your photographer where / when you want to do those!)

#3 – Ask the officiant to announce

Having the officiant remind everyone at the end of the ceremony to stick around for family photos (or where to go) is EXTREMELY helpful! They can say “if you are immediate family + grandparents please stick around for family photos after the ceremony”. It reminds them that they have to stick around and not go hop on the open bar.

#4 – Recruit help from a friend

Assign someone either in your bridal party or another friend that is family with most of your family and can help the second shooter identify who is on deck while the main photographer is capturing the photos.

#5 – Drink + snack on deck

Assign someone to have a drink and snack on deck for when you’re done taking photos because staying hydrated and fed on your wedding day is important!!!!!