Family photos might not be the most glamorous part of your wedding day that you’ve been dreaming of for years and years, but decades from now, they’ll likely be some of your most treasured keepsakes. As a wedding photographer who has guided countless couples through this process, I’ve seen firsthand how proper planning transforms what many dread into a smooth, and even enjoyable experience! So in this post, I’m going to walk you through how to organize family photos at your wedding in a way that doesn’t feel rushed or take time away from you getting to greet everyone at cocktail hour.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why Wedding Family Photos Are Important
- Wedding Family Photo Shot List: What to Include
- Wedding Family Photos Timeline Planning
- How to Handle Divorced Parents in Wedding Photos
- Recommended Wedding Family Photo Combinations
- Wedding Day Family Photo Organization Tips
- Must-Have Candid Family Wedding Photos
- Wedding Family Photo Planning Checklist
- Why Wedding Family Photos Don’t Have to Be Stressful
- Let’s Plan Your Wedding Family Photos
- Hiring Your Luxury Wedding Planner
Why Wedding Family Photos Are Important
When the cake is gone and the flowers have wilted, your photographs will be the tangible memories that remain. Family photos in particular hold special significance:
- They capture rare moments when all your loved ones are gathered in one place
- They become increasingly precious as families change over time
- They’ll be cherished by future generations
As one of my brides told me about her approach to family photos: “These photos may one day be all I have left of the people I love most”. Wow. What a powerful truth and mindset to have about family photos!
Wedding Family Photo Shot List: What to Include
Start with the VIPs
Begin with immediate family members (or who you are closest with and absolutely must have a photo with) and work outward. A typical foundation includes:
- You + spouse with your immediate families (together and separately)
- You + spouse with each set of parents (together and separately)
- You + spouse with siblings (together and separately)
- Any special family members who played significant roles in your lives
Be Specific and Thorough
As one of my wedding clients, I help walk you through this process of creating your family photo shot list! We’ll do this in your wedding planning questionnaire, but here is one of my biggest tips for organizing your wedding family photos!
- On your shot list, list each grouping with everyone’s full names and their relationship to you. This level of detail might seem excessive, but on your wedding day when emotions are high and time is short, having names I (and my second shooter) can call out confidently makes all the difference!
Wedding Family Photos Timeline Planning
Pre-Ceremony Photos: The Game-Changer
One of my top recommendations for your wedding day: Schedule as many family photos as possible before your ceremony. This allows you to:
- Enjoy more of your cocktail hour
- Take photos when everyone looks and feels their best
- Reduce stress by spacing out photo sessions
If you’re not seeing each other before the ceremony, we can still capture individual family photos and complete the combined family portraits afterward.
How to Handle Divorced Parents in Wedding Photos
In your wedding planning questionnaire, I will specifically ask if there are any family dynamics I need to be aware of to help you and your family have the best experience possible. But my biggest piece of advice? Be upfront with your photographer about any complex family situations. Have divorced parents? Blended families? I’ve seen it all and can help navigate these sensitively, honoring your wishes!
For example, if your parents don’t speak to each other, we can plan separate photos without anyone feeling uncomfortable. My second photographer and I will be directing these moments, so you won’t have to worry about navigating these dynamics the day of.
Remember, these photos are for you – you decide who’s included!
Recommended Wedding Family Photo Combinations
When you start working on your planning questionnaire, you will see these example combinations listed out with your names so you can copy, paste, and edit! To help you get started planning your family photo shot list, here is my recommended list:
Example Wedding Family Photo Shot List
Both sides:
- You + Your Spouse with both of your immediate families
- You + Your Spouse with both siblings and siblings’ spouses
- You + Your Spouse with all parents
- You + Your Spouse with your parents
- You + Your Spouse with your spouse’s parents
- You + Your Spouse with both grandparents
Your side:
- You + grandparents
- You + all immediate family
- You + Your parents + siblings
- You + Your parents
- You + siblings
Your Spouse’s side:
- Your Spouse + grandparents
- Your Spouse + all immediate family
- Your Spouse + Your Spouse’s parents + siblings
- Your Spouse + Your Spouse’s parents
- Your Spouse + Your Spouse’s siblings
Wedding Day Family Photo Organization Tips
Here are a few more ways to help prepare for family photos on your wedding day:
- Designate a family coordinator – Someone who knows most family members and can help gather people (but isn’t in the family photos themselves). This person can help us quickly identify faces and gather people for the photos. We will do the heavy lifting, but it is so helpful to have someone who isn’t you, or in the family photos, help point out the people we need.
- My second photographer will organize people “on deck” – My second photographer is always looking ahead on the list, organizing the next grouping to keep photos flowing smoothly. They are also checking for phones, sunglasses, and keys in pockets to avoid delays once your family members step up for their turn.
- Make sure you tell family members they will be in photos – Don’t surprise family members the day of with the news they are in formal portraits! Let your loved ones know ahead of time when they will need to arrive for photos and how long it may take. Setting this expectation ahead of time helps provide a better experience for everyone.
- Guided direction for posing – It’s not you or your family’s job to know where or how to stand! We will help place you all so that we can see everyone’s face and for an overall flattering composition. This is the part of the wedding day where we really step up and take charge to direct these moments.
By the time we are done with the list, my couples are often surprised and say, “Wait, that’s it? That was so easy!” That’s exactly how it should feel and proper planning will get us there!
Must-Have Candid Family Wedding Photos
While organized family portraits are essential, don’t forget about those spontaneous family moments:
- Your dad seeing you in your dress for the first time
- Grandparents on the dance floor
- Quiet moments with siblings during prep
- Parents’ reactions during the ceremony
- Multi-generational dance floor moments
My second photographer and I will be sure to capture them all. In your wedding planning questionnaire, I will ask you if there’s anyone you’d like us to pay extra special attention to! These candid shots often become the emotional favorites that truly tell your family’s story.
Wedding Family Photo Planning Checklist
To ensure smooth family photos on your wedding day:
- Make your list early (at least a month before the wedding; you’ll receive your planning questionnaire 3 months before your wedding date)
- Share it with key family members to ensure you haven’t forgotten anyone (I will also help you review it)
- Communicate the photo schedule to everyone involved so they know when to be where
- Plan for more time than you think you’ll need – 2-3 minutes per grouping is typical, most of my couples complete family photos in 20 minutes
- Consider family members with mobility needs when choosing your photo location (we can always move locations to accommodate anyone’s needs)
- Let your photographer know about any family dynamics that might need to be considered when creating groupings and physically posing people on the day of
Why Wedding Family Photos Don’t Have to Be Stressful
Many couples approach family photos with dread, viewing them as an obligation to check off. I’d like to challenge that perspective. These photos aren’t just a tradition to endure – you are creating the heirlooms that will be cherished for generations!
When I deliver wedding galleries, do you know what images couples often download first? Not the stunning sunset portraits or the elaborate reception details – it’s the family photos. They’re the images that grow more precious with each passing year.
With thoughtful planning and the right approach, your family photos can be not only stress-free, but a meaningful part of your wedding day.
Let’s Plan Your Wedding Family Photos
For my dear wedding clients, if you have any questions while you’re working on your wedding planning questionnaire, please email me and we will work through it together!
If you are still searching for your wedding photographer, I’d love to help make family photos (and your entire wedding day) as stress-free as possible! Hi, I’m Logan, a Colorado and Destination wedding photographer who is deeply passionate about helping couples enjoy their wedding day and walk away with stunning images. You can read more information about my wedding photography packages, then when you’re ready let’s chat about your wedding day dreams!
Hiring Your Luxury Wedding Planner
If you don’t already have a wedding planner, I highly recommend these amazing ladies to help you bring your vision to life (and plan a day where you have time to breathe):
