As a wedding photographer in the Syracuse, New York area since 2012, I’ve had the pleasure of capturing countless beautiful and vibrant wedding moments. One of the most memorable parts of the day is the family photos. These photos are not just for you and your partner to remember your special day but also for your family members to cherish and look back on. They can be a bit chaotic (I like to say we are heading cats!), but fear not – I’m here to share some tips to make your wedding day family photos as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Tips For Stress-Free Wedding Day Family Photos
1. Have A List Ready To Go
One of the most significant stressors during family photos is trying to figure out who needs to be in which photo. That’s why I always recommend creating a list beforehand. I usually send out a template for family photos to all of my couples so that we have the list ready to go and can call off names. This helps streamline the process and ensures that we don’t miss anyone.
2. Timing Is Everything
If you’re not doing a first look, aim to do the family photos immediately after the ceremony. This ensures that everyone is still present and dressed for the occasion. Plus, emotions are running high after the ceremony, making for heartfelt and genuine family portraits.
3. Over-Communicate With Your Family
Make sure to over-communicate with your family about where and when they need to be for the family photos. This helps avoid any confusion or delay and ensures that everyone is ready to go when it’s their turn.
4. Just Breathe
Family photos can feel chaotic, but I promise it’s normal. That’s why I have my list, so I can call the people we need in order to make sure we get all the people. You need to take a deep breath and trust that everything will work out.
5. Keep It Concise
Keep the list of family photo combinations concise, focusing on immediate family members. This ensures that the process doesn’t become too overwhelming or time-consuming.
6. Consider Significant Others
It’s okay if you prefer to have family photos without significant others in some instances. I recommend capturing both scenarios—pictures with and without significant others – for a well-rounded collection.
7. Accommodate Small Children And Elderly Family Members
If there are going to be small children or family members who don’t get around as quickly, let your photographer know and make sure they go first. This helps ensure that everyone is comfortable and taking time to keep up.
8. Designate A Trustworthy Runner
Pick somebody you know you can trust who isn’t going to be in the photos to run and grab missing people. This helps keep everything on schedule and ensures that we don’t have to wait around for people to show up.
9. Address Any Family Dynamics
If there are any weird family dynamics or tensions, let your photographer know beforehand. This helps us navigate the situation and ensure that everyone is comfortable and happy.
10. Align With Your Fiancé
Lastly, have a conversation with your fiancé to ensure you’re both on the same page about who you want in your family photos. This alignment can help avoid any last-minute confusion during the photo session.
Example Photo Combinations
Here’s a curated selection of example photo combinations to inspire and guide your wedding day family photo session:
- Bride’s Extended Family: Parents, Grandparents, Siblings – You can do an additional one with siblings’ spouses
- Bride and Groom with Bride’s Parents and Grandparents
- Bride and Groom with Grandparents – maternal side
- Bride and Groom with Grandparents – paternal side
- Bride and Groom with Bride’s Parents, Siblings, and Sibling’s Family
- Bride and Groom with Bride’s Siblings
- Bride and Groom with Bride’s Parents
- Bride with each parent individually
- Bride and groom’s family photos
- Bride’s Family and Groom’s Family
- Bride and Groom and Bride’s Parents and Siblings and Groom’s Parents and Siblings
- Bride and Groom with Bride’s Parents and Groom’s Parents
- Bride and Groom with the ring bearer and flower girls
- Groom’s side of the family
- Groom’s Extended Family: Parents, Grandparents, Siblings – You can do an additional one with siblings’ spouses
- Bride and Groom with Parents and Grandparents of the Groom
- Bride and Groom with Groom’s Maternal Grandparents
- Bride and Groom with Groom’s Paternal Grandparents
- Bride and Groom with Groom’s Parents, Siblings, and Sibling’s Family
- Bride and Groom with Groom’s Parents and Siblings
- Bride and Groom with Groom’s Siblings
- Bride and Groom with Groom’s Parents
- Groom with each parent individually
Celebrate Weddings With Alicia Pierce Photography
Your wedding day family photos are a beautiful testament to the love, joy, and excitement of your wedding day and to document the people who are most important to you. By following these tips and embracing the joyful chaos, you’ll be well on your way to creating memories that will last a lifetime. Here’s to capturing the love, laughter, and everything in between on your special day!
If you are looking for a wedding or elopement photographer, you can send me an email or contact me here, and I will get back to you. You can also head to my website for more details and see more of my work on Instagram and Facebook.
