How to create your List for Formal Family Photos

After having photographed so many weddings, we've learned that if there is one part of the day that feels most like hard work, it's the family photos 🤣. It's not easy keeping everyone attentive and in place during such an emotional day, but these are very important photos and we want to make sure we get through them quickly and efficiently so that you have more time to enjoy your wedding day! In the following paragraphs, we're going to include some tips and examples for creating a list of family photos for your wedding day.

To start, here's why you definitely want to have a list

  • removes the pressure of figuring out combinations you would like
  • making the list before the wedding means you get to tell everyone when and where they need to be for the photos so that they (hopefully) don't miss the photo
  • helps get through the groupings much faster
  • avoids having too many "cooks in the kitchen"

How much time do we need for family photos

Just like every family is unique, the amount of time needed for your family photos will be unique to your family. This will mostly depend on how many groupings you need.

  • Typically, each grouping takes an average of 1 minute to call the names, arrange and photograph. Assuming everyone is present and cooperating, a 30 minute segment would give us about 30 photos. If you have a list and already know that you need 45 groupings, we'll need to allocate 45 minutes in the timeline. Once you have your list, we'll do a timeline review to make sure we've allocated the right amount of time.

USE FIRST NAMES

  • THE MOST VALUABLE TIP we give for creating a list is that you use FIRST NAMES in each grouping. Calling out each person by first names is the best way to get them to respond and join the photo group. If we use terms like "mom, dad, siblings, cousins" it's more likely we won't be heard by the person that need to be in the photo

Lastly, the example below shows the format we need for the list you'll create. Be sure to group family units together to minimize movement and save time. For example, bride's immediate family (start with parents and siblings, then just parents, then just siblings). Then we can do the same with the groom's immediate family.


INSTRUCTION: Create a list like the one below replacing all relations with FIRST NAMES



Bride + Groom Families Together

  • Bride + Groom with bride + groom’s immediate families + grandparents
  • Bride + Groom with bride + groom’s immediate families
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s parents + groom’s parents
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s siblings and groom’s siblings
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s siblings and groom’s siblings + sibling-in-laws

Bride’s Family 

  • Bride + Groom with bride’s immediate family + grandparents
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s grandparents
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s immediate family
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s parents
  • Bride with bride’s parents
  • Bride with mom
  • Bride with dad
  • Bride’s parents together
  • Bride with grandmother / grandfather
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s siblings and sibling-in-laws
  • Bride with siblings

Groom’s Family

  • Bride + Groom with groom’s immediate family + grandparents
  • Bride + Groom with groom’s grandparents
  • Bride + Groom with groom’s immediate family
  • Bride + Groom with groom’s parents
  • Groom with groom’s parents
  • Groom with mom
  • Groom with dad
  • Groom’s parents together
  • Groom with grandmother / grandfather
  • Bride + Groom with groom’s siblings and sibling-in-laws
  • Groom with siblings