06/28/2024
⭐️ Hi all! We’re starting a new series called “Pro Tip Thursday” where we will have advice from various local vendors about all things wedding! First up is our very own moderator, Caitlin, owner of Solasta Photography with some helpful advice regarding formal family photos on your wedding day! Read on for more!
Hi everyone! Since we’re in the busiest few wedding months of the year, I thought it would be helpful to share some tips with you on how you can make you family photo time less chaotic and more efficient. Sometimes you’re working with strict timelines or rules from a church that you only have limited time for these photos. These are some things that have worked well for me over the years to keep things running smoothly:
- Let your photographer run the show. When there are too many cooks in the kitchen calling out names and what group to do next, it can create chaos. Letting the photographer run down the list you provided saves time.
- Keep your list to 10-15 groupings maximum if possible. The more family groups you have, the longer these photos will take (duh. lol). Also be sure to ask parents what groups they’d like BEFORE the wedding day. That will prevent any confusion on the day of and anyone adding groups at the last minute.
- Keep formal family photos to immediate family only: parents, siblings (and their families), and grandparents. Extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) and large groups (college friends, etc.) can be taken at the reception. Your photographer can work with the DJ to call up groups toward the end of dinner.
- Give your photographer a list with the family members’ first names so they can call them out and make sure everyone who needs to be is in the photo. This one is a personal preference, but I’ve found that yelling out “I need Kathy, Jim, Sally, and Ron” rather than “I need the bride’s family” expedites the process.
- Alert family members to stay by the ceremony site for photos! Family likes to scatter and socialize after the ceremony. Make sure anyone who will be in a photo knows to save bathroom trips or socializing for 15-20 minutes until photos are done!
- Having a family member or friend who knows what everyone looks like can be helpful to locate missing people or get groups ready for the next shot.
Family photos don’t need to be stressful! If you follow these tips, they’ll go quickly and easily. Then family can get to the reception and you can move on to other photos!
I hope you found these tips useful!
Caitlin
Solastaphotography.com