It is here! The wedding day and the time for family portraits has arrived. This part of the day is often the most chaotic and stressful. While they are not the most creative photos of the day - they can be some of the most important. I, myself, was not looking forward to it on my wedding day but today, I am so glad that we took the time to take them. Four months after my wedding, my uncle passed away in a skiing accident. The family pictures from our wedding are the last photos that we have to remember him by.
While family portraits are not the most fun, don’t cut this part of your wedding day short. Instead, I recommend that you use some of these tips to make your family photos go smoothly and efficiently. Your family will thank you and it will be less stressful for you.
1. Have a trusted "Family Wrangler" To Help With Family Photos
Put someone other than yourself in charge of finding and assembling the family members to be photographed. Make sure it is someone who knows the majority of those family members by sight. This can be your wedding planner, a close family friend or a member of your wedding party. Most importantly, make sure your photographer knows who the “family wrangler” is! Having a separate person in charge can help take the stress off you.
2. Make a Family Photo List
Make a list of the shots you want to capture. Give this list not only to your photographer but keep one for yourself. As you craft this list, take time to make sure you have all the family members you want and the groupings you want.
For example:
Mom, Dad
Mom Dad Sister,
Mom Dad Sister husband and kids
Etc.
Once you have a completed list, make sure to hand it off to either your planner or the “family wrangler” so you don’t have to be the ring master and everyone will know when and where they are expected to be.
3. Share any Special Considerations for Your Family Photos
Let your photographer know about and divorces or remarriages. It is important that your photographer know of any critical family dynamics so he or she can minimize tensions on your wedding day. Don’t forget to include any special considerations such as grandparents that may not be able to stand and may need a chair for pictures.
4. Focus on Your wedding VIPs You Want Photographed
Make sure you get your most important people cued up first in the process. It has been my experience that by no fault of my own, weddings run late. You never want time concerns to cost you those key pictures you expect. Make sure your VIP’s are photographed! Also, make sure you have a conversation with your fiancé. Take time to agree and come up with a complete list of the family members you want in your photos.
5. Try to Get Family Photography finished Before the Ceremony
Try to get all the family photos done before the ceremony. I cannot emphasize this enough! Trust me when I tell you that more than one family member will disappear after the ceremony and you may never have the chance to catch them again. This is especially true if your ceremony and reception are in different locations.
However if you and your partner have chosen not to see each other prior to the ceremony, try to do your individual families prior then do large groups after the ceremony. This will allow you and your family to get to the cocktail hour sooner.
Family portraits don’t have to be the part of your wedding that your family dreads. The process can be done efficiently and actually be fun for you and your family. If you are well organized, and you delegate to the right people, these family pictures can be one of the best parts of your day and the pictures can be among the most cherished in your album.
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