Because Your Family Matters

How to capture precious memories without getting a pain in your face :)

Your Wedding Day has arrived and as everyone knows, the family formal photographs play an important part. But not everyone looks forward to them. Why? I will cover this a little later in this blog post.

As a family man myself, I appreciate how few family photographs are taken in our lifetime that we can actually hang on the wall. Your wedding is an ideal opportunity to correct the balance. But there are pitfalls.

95% of the photographs I capture on your wedding day will be natural and unposed. This is one of the reasons we will be working together, you like the style of photographs we capture. But the family formal photographs are posed and here are some tips:

Getting started

Once we have decided where to capture the family formal photographs (more on this later) we need to ensure everyone is present. The best people to involve in this are the bridesmaids and groomsmen. In advance of the wedding day, I recommend that you explain to them who is needed for the family photographs as well as where and when they will be happening.

How long do family pictures take?

We will capture your family photographs very efficiently as long as we have everyone present. We give 20 to 30 minutes as a guideline. However there will be delays when everyone who is needed for the family photographs is not present at the location. We want to capture the family photographs efficiently so that you have time to spend with your family and friends at your drinks reception so it is important that family members are informed in advance when and where they will be needed and it is important that they are there on time. We recommend that at least one person from each family is tasked with gatherng the people that are needed for the photographs.

Family photos – Photo List

It is a good idea to have a list of family photos so that we know who we need and that no one is forgotten. That is why I have sent you the list of formal photographs I will take.

It’s important to get the balance right between the time we spend taking family photos and the time you have enjoying your drinks reception. While we are happy to capture any family photographs that couples request, we recommend that couples consider carefully before extending our recommended list as it will reduce your time at your drinks reception. Be selective. Ask yourself, will this photograph hang on our wall or be in our wedding album?

Recommended Photo List

With many years of experience, I send all couples the list I have just sent you. This will cover all the essential photographs. It is a guide so edit it to your needs.

We can add many different and varied photographs to the list but remember, the more photographs that you add, the less time for you to spend with your family and friends during the drinks reception and the more tired you will be.

Group photographs are nice to have as a record of the day but as with all large gatherings, not everyone will be seen or will be looking at the camera. We can discuss the best location and use of time for this photograph if its something you would like captured.

Extras on the day

Once the list has been completed, if there are people closely that you would like your photograph taken with, of course that will be my pleasure to capture. That holds for any time during the day, just ask.

Photos with Friends

I recommend that you take your friends photographs after the meal and before the first dance. These are less formal and it is usually easier to find people in the reception room. Also people can be a lot more relaxed at this point in the day so a laugh can be had while capturing them.

Where to capture the family formal photographs?

We need to factor in a number of things when deciding this. The weather is always important and not just whether its raining or cold. Direct sunlight also needs to be avoided.

A simple and quick option is to take your family photographs at the church after the receiving line finishes as everyone that you need is there.

If it’s cold or wet, your family can congratulate you and come back inside and wait for us to join them.

Photos at the reception venue

We often take family photographs in the gardens of the hotel or on the staircase of the venue.

It can be difficult to organise people for family photographs in the venue without losing valuable time. People are checking in, walking around the venue and someone can easily be missing from the family photos. There are often delays in trying to find someone that is missing.

Family Formal Photographs