the most stressful part of a wedding day: family photos
The bride should not be stressed on her wedding day, and family photos sure can have their way of making that happen. As a wedding photographer, I want to shoulder as many burdens as I can for my couples, and one thing that I try my best to prevent is the STRESS. This is why I always give my clients a heads up about family photos: often the most stressful and chaotic part of the day.
HeeGeon & Elle requested that their family portraits resemble an old Victorian painting. I loved getting creative with them and making their vision come to life!
What makes family photos arguably the most chaotic part of the day? Picture this: The ceremony has just ended, and all you want to do is relish in the fact that you are married to your honey and soak in the moment. But there is a space full of hundreds of guests all beginning to spark up conversation with the long-lost friends they only see at weddings, and half of them are flocking toward you. The room is loud, you can’t hear yourself think, and family photos are supposed to start promptly, but Uncle Bill and his kids didn’t know they were supposed to be in them, so they already went to the reception space. The bride’s mother, who is also supposed to be in most of the family photos, is now searching the crowd of hundreds for Bill and his four kids, who have all went their separate ways. While you’re waiting on mom, Sister Sally had to pee, and no one can find the best man, because he had to go get a beer “just really quick.” By the time everyone is gathered, the kids are grumpy, and the elderly need to sit down. You’re frazzled, and most likely, you decide to give up halfway through the family photo list because you are tired of it. This has happened on more than one occasion, but don’t worry, with proper communication and a solid timeline, this part of the day can go as smoothly as any other!
Over the years as a professional wedding photographer, I’ve learned a few things that prepare my clients and help to avoid these types of situations, so the family portraits go smoothly. Here is my list of master tips, for smooth, organized, family photos with a cool, calm, and collected bride and groom.
PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME:
1. Make a list of each grouping you would like photographed. Number them and use first names so your photographer can easily call them out and organize them.
2. Try to keep family photos to 10-12 groupings max. If there are more group shots you'd like, I suggest taking those during the reception. Save family photo time for the ones you would hang on the wall.
3. When you are making your list, put photos with elderly and children first. This way, the elderly do not have to stand around and wait long, and the children don't get fussy.
4. Prepare your family. Trust me on this! You need to notify everyone you would like to be present for family photos ahead of time. There is almost always confusion surrounding this. Tell them something like: "You will be needed for family photos directly following the ceremony. Please remain seated and wait for instruction from the photographer."
5. Have your officiant make an announcement after the ceremony to remind family that family photos will be occurring promptly and not to go anywhere. Most hiccups during family photo time occur when family begins scattering and have to be located and brought back. It might be best to have the announcement clarify that only those who were previously notified are needed. Lots of times, distant cousins and extended family members will hang around because they think they have to. Communication is key!
6. Set aside enough time in your timeline. If everything goes smoothly and you only have 10 groupings, I normally say 25 minutes is plenty of time. But that is in perfect conditions, so always allow for more.
7. Lastly, establish an exact location for family photos with your photographer ahead of time. I suggest somewhere with even lighting, that is quickly and easily accessible following your ceremony. You aren’t going to want to require grandparents to climb steps or hills to get there, so keep that in mind, or plan to do theirs elsewhere. Make note of these things on the family shot list that you give to your photographer.
These details are easily overlooked in the thick of planning a wedding when you’re caught up with the way everything looks. Just remember to prepare for each part of the day ahead of time so you can enjoy a low-stress wedding to kick-off and celebrate your marriage to your special person.
Preparation and communication is key to a low-stress wedding. Check out my weekly blog posts for more tips like these!
