A Guide to Stress-Free Family Portraits on Your Wedding Day

Before I begin, I want to remind you that your wedding day is about you and your love—but it’s also about the people who supported you along the way. It’s about your grandparents watching their first grandchild walk down the aisle. It’s about your dad shaking your soon-to-be husband’s hand just moments before you say “I do.” It’s even about that group of friends you shared countless college nights with, crammed into a tiny house, playing board games and eating pizza. Your wedding day is a celebration of your love and the journey that brought you here. It’s a chance to gather your people and say thank you. It’s a chance to capture all the love that surrounds you—and preserve those precious people and fleeting moments on film.

Your wedding day is yours. If carving out time for posed, portrait-style photos doesn’t feel like you, then don’t do it. But if you want to make sure the people who mean the most to you are documented in a meaningful way, I highly recommend making space for it. I won’t just be focusing on posed, smile-at-the-camera shots. I’ll be watching for the in-betweens—the small, quiet, powerful moments that often go unnoticed but mean the most. For me, family portraits are a chance to catch those.

So let’s do it. Let’s sit down and plan a way to preserve these memories—so you’ll always have them to look back on.

Here I will take you through all the tips and tricks you need to make family portraits at your wedding go smoothly (and quickly!) so that you can get back to the celebrating!

Make a List and Add Names!

Creating a solid shot list is the key to stress-free wedding day family portraits, especially when emotions are high and time is limited. Before the big day arrives, sit down and really think through all the combinations and groups that you would like photos of or with. I suggest going through both sides of the family (yours and your partner’s). Here are some of the most common photos you may want to include! 

Now duplicate that but switch out for Partner 2’s side! 

Be sure to add specifics if you want individual pictures with any cousins, aunts, or uncles! This shot list is also a great place to add in if you would like pictures with your officiant or close friends who are not in the bridal party. 

Once you’ve made your list, adding names can really help things run quickly. If I, or your point person, knows the names, we can easily call them out to get people into place. Trust me, it is one of those small details that makes a big difference!

Next, Let’s Pick a Time! 

This one can be tricky, but we want to find a time that isn’t too disruptive to the rest of your day. Finding the right time in your schedule for wedding day family portraits can make a huge difference in how relaxed and fun this part of your day feels. There are a few different options for this, pick one that feels right to you! 

Option 1: Before the Ceremony! 

This is great if you are doing a first look. We will schedule your first look early enough that you can enjoy that time together, just the two of you, without being rushed! Then we will gather the family and get through your shot list so that after your ceremony, you get to party with your bridal party and really focus on celebrating! 

Option 2: After the Ceremony! 

If you aren’t doing a first look, or maybe you do not want to be seen by your family before the ceremony, or you just don’t want to have them come early, this option is a good one too! With this, you will be able to focus on preparing to walk down the aisle, being with your bridal party, and having a slower and more relaxed hour leading up to your big moment! 

Option 3: A combo! 

If you are doing a first look, but don’t want the WHOLE family hanging around before the ceremony begins, I recommend we split things up a bit. We can grab photos with your immediate family and whoever else is around before the ceremony, and then finish up the bigger group shots after! 

Choosing the right time for wedding day family portraits can really help you feel more relaxed and present during your celebration.

Pick a Point Person! 

I am always there to help coordinate these photos, but it really makes things run much more smoothly and quickly if you have a designated person helping you run this portion of the day. The ideal candidate is someone who knows a good portion of the group (so they can run and grab your Uncle John if he wandered off) and who is nice and loud. They’ll be in charge of getting the next group ready to roll. 

A Few More Things to Consider

Tricky Dynamics

 If there are any sensitive or challenging family dynamics that I should be mindful of, please feel free to share with me. My goal is to create a comfortable and stress-free environment for everyone on your special day.

How Much Time Do Wedding Day Family Portraits Take? 

This usually depends on how big your family is, how many groups you’ll be separating your family into, and how easy it is to coordinate everyone during the session.

What If I Don’t Love Portrait-Style Photos? 

I am a documentary photographer, meaning I love storytelling. For me, the moments in between the portraits are some of the most precious and important to capture. We will get all the wedding day family portraits, but don’t worry, I want to capture those little, candid, in-between moments too, those are the ones that tell your story.

Ready to make family portraits at your wedding stress-free and meaningful? Let’s create a plan that honors your people and your peace. Reach out and let’s start crafting a photo timeline that fits your vibe—no stress, just beautiful memories.