A guide to family photos
“Ok – family photo time!” Cue eye rolls, toilet breaks, and lots of dragging of the heels…
Just when everyone was having a lovely time celebrating the end of the wedding formalities, the wedding photographer shows up with a list as long as their arm, corralling family members away from all the fun… GROAN.
Ain’t nobody got time for that on a wedding day! But…there’s absolutely no need for it be a total drag – in fact, quite the opposite! And the resulting photos don’t have to be boring groups of stiff-necked rellies with plastered on smiles either. Think outside the box in terms of the location, positioning of the family members – and have a laugh about it!
Here are a few simple tips to make it a fun, even ‘bonding’ time, for the family to share:
Get organized…
Before the wedding day, make a (concise!) list of the groups you want to capture, being mindful of any family politics and being realistic on your priorities (is it really worth your precious time and effort to round up the 17 cousins you haven’t seen since summer ’09..?). Rather, the sweet spot tends to be between roughly 6 and 10 group combinations (I make the list with couples in our final meeting a few weeks prior).
For example, start with your parents, add siblings, then partners and kids, and grandparents. This can be repeated two to four times depending on the structure of each family. Then – choose a photographer who’s a good fit for you and your family – as they will then strike the right balance of friendly assertiveness and organisation (and will hopefully throw in a few laughs along the way – because, no, it doesn’t have to be so serious!). Surprise the family by making it much less painful than they were imagining.
The ‘whole group’ photo
Is the group photo worth it? Well, it depends. Logistically, it can be a helpful way of creating a focus point to then direct family members to photos and the guests on to drinks, particularly if the timing between the ceremony and reception is tight. However, it can really break up the flow of congratulations and well wishes, which is such a joyous part of the day. So if you feel luke-warm about it – then give it a miss, and enjoy the moment! Otherwise, if you really really want a shot of your whole group in a single photo. ensure you have a photographer who can work a large crowd.
Kids
Ah, working with kids. Only one suggestion here: be flexible! If the kids are good to go – grab the opportunity before it passes, and if they aren’t, try to change up the order of things until a more suitable moment arises. Well-meaning family members can often make things more difficult by trying to cajole the kids into looking at the camera, which results in said child eventually looking at the camera…while everyone else looks at the kid! Try to just stay in your own lane and let the photographer use their tricks to make it happen.
The real family photos
At the end of the day, remember what it’s all about – celebrating your marriage with family and friends. More than likely, your favourite images will be the ones you don’t even notice being taken; a kiss from dad, a cuddle from your bestie or that glance from your new spouse. So don’t get so wrapped up in getting the ‘perfect’ shot, that you miss the real moments.