Tips About Family Pictures on the Wedding Day

Hello! Hello! You are here With the most experienced wedding photographer in Chicago. Ha Ha! Just kidding 🙂  Let’s jump right into it! I have a lot to share with you on this subject. Weddings, even with the most precise schedule, are usually running behind. Why? I shared my thoughts on this post: The perfect wedding timeline, but here, let’s talk about Family Pictures on the Wedding Day to make the day more efficient and stress-free.

My method as a professional photographer for family photos

Family Pictures on the Wedding Day are important. It is, in fact, part of the history of a family. It usually takes place right after the ceremony, where everybody (hopefully) is available.

In the questionnaire I send to my couples, a week before the wedding, I ask them to list the immediate family members to make everything easier. Ask your parents to contribute. They are usually good at it. lol!

Right after the ceremony, I quickly set up my light for the family pictures. (The ceremony is shot with ambient light, for flashes are not allowed because it is distracting)

First, I make sure to take a posed picture with the bride and groom, standing in the chapel, then, I move forward based on the list. Easy 🙂

I ask someone who knows everyone to call people based on the list, for example, the bride’s sibling or best friend, otherwise the family pictures take forever and we may lose the time to get enough couple’s portrait pictures after the ceremony or cover the cocktail hour.

Here are the things you can consider while making a list of your family

• List only the immediate family, and very close friends who are like your family.
• You have time later, at the reception, to have pictures with all of your guests.
• Consider the elders first! Grandparents and parents should be the first people on your list, so that they can leave, possibly rest and regain energy for the reception.
• After elders, photograph families who have kids. They get impatient soon.
• Make a list of the combinations! If you want to have pictures with your family in different combinations, mention it on your list. Here is an example:

14 Family composition for wedding photography

1. Bride and groom
2. Bride, grandma, grandpa
3. Bride, grandma, grandpa, bride’s parents
4. Bride, groom, grandma, grandpa, bride’s parents
5. Bride, and her parents
6. Bride, groom, and her family
7. Bride and her mom
8. Bride and her dad
9. Bride, Parents, and siblings
10. All the above combinations for the groom side.
11. One big group picture of the bride and groom and all the immediate family from both sides
12. Bride and her siblings
13. Groom and his siblings
14. One big group picture of the bride and groom with both side’s siblings.

Read more: Choose your wedding storyteller wisely!

As you see there is an order in designing the combination, which saves some time. It also assures you didn’t miss anyone.

Tips on how to pose for family pictures at your wedding

For formal pictures, as a professional photographer in Chicago, I ask men to stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder, button up the top button of their suits, and have their hands in their pockets to have a unified look.

I also ask the girls to stand up in a line, just like men, and hold their bouquets in front of them. If they don’t have a bouquet, I instruct them to strike a formal pose, usually holding one wrist with the other hand works best if comfortable.

I take three (sometimes more) shots of each group just to make sure that no one has blinked.

As you see, I have plans throughout the day and I stick to them. I try to be clear with my clients before the wedding and educate them as I can, by sharing my experiences

I hope you have found this blog post helpful.

Give me a call to talk about your Family Pictures on the Wedding Day. I will be all ears.