Your wedding day is a beautiful whirlwind filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments—and capturing wedding family photos with your loved ones is one of the most meaningful parts. From heartfelt family portraits to those big, joyful group photos, making time for your group shots should be stress-free and fun. With the right family photo list and a few smart wedding planning tips, you can ensure your wedding photos include every important face without cutting into the magic of the day. Here’s how to organize your wedding family photos like a pro and soak in every second with the people who matter most.

1. Create a Wedding Family Photos Shot List

Start your wedding photography planning by creating a detailed family shot list. List down every combination of family members you want in your photos, from immediate family to extended relatives. Think about groupings like [Please input names in to be more specific and/or to fit better with your gender identification]:

• Bride and groom with mom and dad
• Bride and groom with siblings
• Bride and groom with grandparents
• Bride and groom with aunts, uncles, and cousins/ extended family

2. Communicate with Your Photographer

Share your family photo shot list with your photographer well in advance. A professional photographer will greatly appreciate having a clear plan to work from. This list ensures that no important group shot is missed. Our clients receive a questionnaire from us a month before their wedding. This questionnaire includes everything from the family dynamics (such as a possible divorce between the brides parents who don’t want a photo together – important to know!) to the photo groupings.

3. Designate a Family Coordinator for your Wedding Family Photos

Appoint a trusted family member, friend or bridal party member, who knows all the faces and names to act as the “family coordinator.” This person plays a crucial role in gathering family members for photos and keeping things organized on your big day.

4. The Officiant’s Announcement

Before the ceremony begins, have your officiant make a brief announcement asking all family members to stay close after the ceremony. Stress the importance of their presence for photos before they go off to enjoy the cocktail hour and that it will be a brief, yet significant, part of the day.

5. Timing is Everything

Plan the family photos right after the ceremony. This timing works well because everyone is already gathered, emotions are high, and you’re still in your ceremony attire. It’s efficient and captures the day’s emotions beautifully. Once family members are finished their photos, they can settle into the rest of the evening and relax. If you’re doing a first look, you can do immediate family photos before the ceremony to expedite the process and allow you and your partner to enjoy the cocktail hour.

6. Call Out Names

Your family coordinator should have the shot list and be ready to call out names and groupings. They can say something like, “Smith family, please step forward for photos,” or “Bride’s immediate family, it’s your turn!”. Sometime it’s necessary to have each and every persons name down in order for their attention to be grabbed during this process. You know your friends and family best! If you think they’ll need their name called to get the message, include it in advance for a stress-free process.

7. Capture Candid Moments

While posed photos are lovely, don’t forget to let your photographer capture candid moments too. Some of the most heartwarming family shots happen when no one is expecting them, and are a great addition to your wedding album. Prioritize thanking your family members for coming before posing for the shot, to allow for these moments to happen naturally.

8. Stay Relaxed and Enjoy

Remember, these family wedding photos are a celebration of love and togetherness. Stay relaxed and enjoy the process. Your photographer and family coordinator will handle the logistics of the portrait list.

9. Express Your Gratitude

Again, it’s worth mentioning again as it’s one of my biggest photography tips when it comes to these portraits. Before or after the family photos, take a moment to thank everyone for their cooperation. It’s a nice way to express your gratitude and keep the positive energy flowing, while saving an opportunity for some candid shots.

With this information, you’ll be well-prepared to capture beautiful wedding family photos that will become treasured memories for years to come. It’s all about ensuring your wedding day is not just a celebration of your love story as a couple, but a celebration of your entire family. 📸❤️👪

If you want your family photos on your wedding day, to feel fast, fun and natural, hire candid photographers, like us!

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