The day of your wedding is a whirlwind of fun, excitement, and lots of rushing around. And for whatever reason, one of the most dreaded parts of the day is often the family formal portraits. It feels like they take forever, at least one family member goes missing, and tensions can tend to rise. It doesn’t have to be this way! Your entire day should be stress-free and beautiful. And we assure you it can be done.
Here are some tips to help ensure your formal portraits go smoothly and quickly…and everyone has a good time in the process!
1. Appoint a family ambassador. Designate one person that knows your family well to assist your photographer with finding and corralling family members. The less time we spend seeking people out, the quicker the images will go.
2. Maintain focus. Fact. It’s your wedding day. Everyone wants to have a photograph of you…many, in fact. But please remind your guests to be respectful of the professional photographer you hired to document your day. Once we’re sure we’ve captured the image, we will be glad to step aside so others can use their own cameras. This way, everyone’s attention, and eyes are focused on us. Must we really point out that our camera equipment is of far higher quality than an iPhone?
3. Plan ahead. Make sure you have reached out to everyone that you would like to be in your photographs so they are aware and know the what, where, when, etc. This simple gesture will save time and headaches, and your photographer can help you put a schedule together to keep things moving.
4. Set realistic call times. If you know you have a relative that perpetually runs 15 minutes late, tell them to be there 15 minutes before the scheduled time. One late arrival can break the schedule and take away precious time with your guests.
5. Expect the unexpected. You’ve planned for months. You’ve covered every detail. And unfortunately, some things will still fall outside of your control. Don’t panic. Just plan for some added hiccups. 15-20 minutes of cushion should help in keeping your stress level down and make your portraits more enjoyable.
6. Know what you want. Have a formal shot list ready for your photographer at least one month prior to your wedding day. Having an easy to read shot list will make everyone’s day easier. The shot list should start with grandparents, then flow into each side’s extended family.
Example of the perfect shot list:
• Bride and Groom with both sides of their extended family
• Bride and Groom with grandmother grandfather (names)
• Bride with grandmother (name)
• Bride with grandfather (name)
• Bride and Groom with grandmother grandfather mother father (names)
• Bride and Groom with grandmother grandfather mother father sister brother (names)
• Bride with grandmother grandfather mother father sister brother (names)
• Bride and Groom with grandmother grandfather mother father sister brother aunts uncles (names)
• Bride with mother father sister brother (names)
• Bride with mother (name)
• Bride with father (name)
• Bride with sister and brother (names)
• Bride with sister (name)
• Bride with brother (name)
Repeat with the same combinations for the Groom’s side of the family. Including names will help to track people down and prepare in advance for the next set of shots.
If there are any special combinations of family members, let us know in advance so we can plan extra time. If your parents have remarried please inform us so we can accommodate for those combinations as well. Becoming familiar with the family dynamics helps your photographer to avoid awkward circumstances and make sure everyone is comfortable.
A little bit of organization can go a very long way in keeping your wedding portraits smooth and enjoyable. All you need to do is plan ahead. Your photographer will handle the rest.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Megan Carrie has been the lead or second photographer on most weddings at Chorus Photography for the past two and a half years. She is a Maine College of Art graduate, loves to travel, is a brilliant boudoir photographer and in her off time loves to spend time making pancakes with her boyfriend Bill.
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