Hey it’s Dave with Dave McIntosh Photographics. I love each and every part of photographing a wedding day, but the logistics of getting the group wedding photos sorted can be tricky! I wanted to break it down so you can plan them ahead of time, then you can enjoy them and get back to your guests. Here are my ways on how to make group wedding photos easy.
Keep the Number of Group Wedding Photos Down
I recommend no more than 10 individual combinations. Do you really need all 20 of the groups you initially considered? Are you really going to print all of them? Do you really want to spend the whole of your reception taking group wedding photos? Prioritize which shots you really want within the formal photo time, e.g. immediate family, bridal party, parents. Don’t forget, your photographer is generally there for most of the day, so there will be a time during the day to grab them for more spontaneous photos of other groups and people. The formal photo time should be kept for the closest and most important groups.
Allow Enough Time for Each Shot
Not allowing enough time for the groups is the most common mistake made when working out the wedding reception timings. For groups of 6 people or less, you should allow 3 minutes to round up, arrange and take the photo. For larger groups, allow for 5 minutes. A photo of everyone at the wedding can easily take 10-15 minutes to sort out. It is also a good idea to allow another 5 minutes for any unexpected things, such as family members going awol! It happens…a lot!
Who is Included?
Who is included in the ‘family’ shot? Parents, siblings, cousins, siblings other halves? Are friends classed as everyone who isn’t family? It can be a bit of a minefield if you leave things open, so it helps to be specific. Write the names of the people in each shot so you know who is needed. This is also helpful for your photographer to understand family dynamics. It will help your ushers or those allocated to help round people up for the groups. Which nicely leads me to my next point.
Have a People Chaser
Let the ushers ush, or something along those lines! Choose someone who will be happy to help and who is responsible enough to be useful! I say this from experience. Having a ‘helper’ who vanishes to the bar when they should have been collecting Aunty Mavis, it’s useful. Often it’s helpful for one of the helpers to be a family member so they will know who the guests are. Some people are naturally better at this job than others. They will need to be nice but firm in rounding guests up and someone who has a slightly louder voice can be useful for making announcements! I am happy to help gather people, but guests are generally more responsive to a charming bridesmaid or smooth-talking usher.
Talk to Your Parents Ahead of Time
This is sometimes the point in the day where there are differences of opinion on who should and shouldn’t be included in a photo. It can also be the point where it all goes pear-shaped and what was supposed to be a handful of photos turns into many, many more! To avoid any conflict or issues, or spending ages lining up extra people for photos, have a chat with your parents beforehand. This way you can either add in ones they would like before the day or at least discuss what you want to do.
List Your Shots in an Easy to Follow Way
To make the best use of the time, you have it’s good to arrange the order of the shots in a way that makes logical sense. If you have one person in shot 1 and then again in shot 5, the chances are you will lose them and it will take time to get them back again. I tend to start with the larger family shots, which is especially helpful if they include grandparents who don’t want to be standing around for too long. From there, you can slowly remove people and work down to shots with parents. It’s good to leave the wedding party photos until the end, so there is time for something a bit more fun.
Let Your Photographer Guide You
My primary concern when choosing a place for the group wedding photos is somewhere that has good light. I’m not going to suggest you stand in front of the bins, but the beautiful spot you thought would work might not work so well if it’s in the glaring sun, leaving you squinting with panda like shadows under your eyes. This is never going to be flattering! If you really have your heart set on a particular location, have a chat with your photographer about it. It might be that you will need to do these photos later in the day when the sun is lower and the light softer.
Have a Reserve List
This is the follow on from point 1. The reserve list is the people who you would like a photo with, or of, but groups that can be a little more spontaneous or informal. They might not even need to include the bride and groom. These could be relatives who have travelled from far away or friends who are there with their new baby. The reserve list doesn’t need to include every guest! Just a handful of people who don’t need to be included in the main formal list, but those you would really like a photo of. I always remind my couples that I am there for the day, so there is no panic in getting photos with friends or more distant relatives. I am available to be grabbed during the reception or later in the evening and these spontaneous photos can be a lot of fun for everyone.
They Don’t Have to be Static
For the most part, your group wedding photos will be arranged in a line or group where everyone can be seen. However, you don’t have to have all your photos done this way. While your granny might not be up for doing anything too unusual, you can do something a little different with a wedding party photo. I always take a guide from my couples about doing group wedding photos that are a little less static. Not everyone wants to do that (which is totally fine), but if you do, you can add some movement (walking, jumping, holding a pose, it’s up to you), or do something a little out of the norm with where you have the photo taken or how you set it up (use chairs, use a part of the venue that is particularly striking). Have fun, a brilliant group photo doesn’t always need everyone looking to camera. Sometimes the loveliest ones are when the people in the photo are interacting.
My aim is to make this part of the day as efficient and easy as possible and to scoot through in about 20-25 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to celebrate with your guests and have a canapé or two.
Bonus: Recommended Group Shot List
- the couple’s extended family
- the couple’s immediate family
- the couple’s parents
- one half of the couple’s parents
- the other half of the couple’s parents
- the couple’s friends
- one half of the wedding party (the bridesmaids, maid of honour)
- the other half of the wedding party (the ushers and best man)
- the wedding party (the bridesmaids, maid of honour, ushers and best man)
About Dave McIntosh Photographics
My talent helps you remember each moment fondly. This means not only gorgeous photos and video but also a positive experience. When you look at the photos, you recall how you felt. Capturing special moments is more than picking up a camera. Sometimes is it creating a safe space for you to relax and be yourself. Sometimes it is creating a moment. Once you relax and be in the moment, the magic begins. I will guide you to create memories perfectly suited to you based on over 10 years of photographing weddings.