7 Steps to Making Family Portraits at Your Wedding Easy and Enjoyable
The family portraits you take on your wedding day often end up being some of the most cherished heirlooms as the years go by. Capturing the love and connection between you and your closest loved ones on your wedding day is a major priority. But if we’re being honest, getting large numbers of people organized and ready for photos can feel overwhelming and chaotic. That’s why I want to share some tips with you on how to make family portraits on your wedding day easy and enjoyable - so you can capture the important people in your life and get back to enjoying your big day without missing a beat.
1.Organize the Family List: From Biggest to Smallest
One of the easiest ways to streamline the family portrait process is by organizing the list of groupings from largest to smallest. This method makes it so the biggest groupings are photographed first, allowing those family members to head off to cocktail hour and start celebrating so that we can continue with smaller, more manageable groups. Not only does this keep things moving quickly, but it also helps keep everyone relaxed and happy since they won’t be standing around waiting for too long.
2. Using Names
As your photographer, I want to make your family and friends feel special. One of my favorite tips is to have couples list the names of each person in their groupings. This allows me to communicate with everyone by name, which not only adds a personal touch that makes us all feel more connected but also helps things run more smoothly.
3. Assign a Family Member to Help
Another great tip is to assign one person from each family to help ensure that everyone is present and accounted for during the portraits. This person can be a sibling, cousin, or close friend—someone who knows the family well and is comfortable helping direct everyone into place. Having a designated point person makes things run more smoothly and reduces the chances of anyone going missing when it’s time for their photo.
4. Send a Mass Email or Text
To further ensure that everyone is on the same page, I recommend sending out a mass email or text message with the exact groupings ahead of time. This way, your family and friends can hold each other accountable, and no one has to worry about someone being MIA during the photos. It’s a small step that can make a big difference in keeping the day stress-free.
5. Finding the Perfect Spot for Photos
On your wedding day, I will find a location that goes with the flow of your day that will be perfect for family portraits. In most cases, it’s best to have family members stay put after the ceremony for these photos. This way, they don’t get caught up in the excitement of cocktail hour just yet, ensuring that everyone is present and ready to go when it’s time for their group shot.
6. Do Not Worry About Blinking
I always take multiple photos in a row during family portraits to ensure that we capture everyone at their best. I know it sounds silly, but people do blink, and I want to make sure we get a perfect shot every time. When it comes to perfect shots, I also want to make sure that you, as the wedding couple, know that you don’t have to smile the entire time. It’s perfectly okay to take smile breaks between portraits. I’ll be guiding you through the process, and we’ll keep the energy light and fun throughout.
7. Give Clear Direction
As we mentioned, family portraits can feel hectic at times. But my goal is to direct everyone with clarity to keep things moving smoothly so that this part of your wedding day is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.
Family portraits can often feel like a task to check off the list. But my goal in sharing these tips is to make family portraits a fun and memorable experience that adds to the joy of your wedding day. After all, these are the people who mean the most to you, and I’m here to help you capture that love in a way that feels effortless and genuine. Together we will make this moment easy and stress-free but also fun and filled with love.
