Why You Need a Wedding Family Photo Shot List

I have photographed hundreds of weddings, and below is the best system to be efficient with family photos, and get them all done in a smooth and timely order.

When it comes to listing and writing out your family photo combinations, you will want a very organized and clear plan so that your photographer can get amazing photos, while not worrying about some serious wrangling of people (where is uncle Joe, cousin Eddie is in the bathroom, and who knows where Sandy is).  It’s best not to put your second shooter or coordinator to work (when they have other important things to do). 

Family photos are one area of your day that can take up way more time than needed if not planned out well.  Your time on this day is super precious and goes fast, so you will want to optimize this part so that it goes smoothly.  Family photos can and should go super smoothly so that you can get back to cocktail hour and enjoying this precious day and time with your loved ones.

The most important thing you will want to do when listing your family photos, is go from large groups to small groups.  That way when people are done they can “peel away” to cocktail hour.  Everyone’s family is totally unique, but you want to focus on your immediate family first.  Below are the general grouping, but more importantly the order, that will create a smooth and efficient flow.

Immediate family are-

All parents, siblings (with their spouses and children if they have them), and grandparents.  If the bride and groom have children, then of course they are immediate family.

Below is the absolute best plan and ORDER to do your family photos in, just remember always go from larger to smaller groups.

All Immediate Family Both Sides

1. Bride + Groom + All immediate family from both sides (see above for what immediate family is)

I always make an announcement during this photo for everyone to please stay very close, do not leave, as we have a bunch of photos to get through and want to do so efficiently  

Bride’s Side Family Photo Combinations

1. Bride + Groom + All brides immediate family 
2. Bride + Groom + brides grandparents (if attending, they are first because then they can go sit down when done)
3. Bride + brides grandparents 
4. Bride + Groom + brides parents, siblings, their spouses and children 
5. Bride + Groom + brides parents (If remarried, then do each parent with spouse)
6. Bride + brides parents
7. Bride + mom
8. Bride + dad
9. Bride + brides siblings

At this point I always ask if there are any more combinations on the brides side

Then the same exact thing but on the grooms side

Groom’s Side Family Photo Combinations

1. Bride + Groom + All grooms immediate family (see above)
2. Bride + Groom + grooms grandparents (if attending, they go first because then they can go sit down)
3. Groom + grooms grandparents
4. Bride + Groom + Grooms parents, siblings, their spouses and children
5. Bride + Groom + grooms parents (If remarried, then do each parent with spouce
6. Groom + grooms parents
7. Groom + mom
8. Groom + dad
9. Groom + grooms siblings

Then ask again if there are any more on the grooms side, any more combinations

I highly advise you do not have too many family photo combinations, be sure to get what you want but you don’t want to spend too much time doing these photos.  Usually a list about 10-20 photo combinations is best.

If having photos with your extended family, meaning aunts, uncles, and cousins, is important to you, then be sure to make a list of those to get after the immediate family.  You can also get those done more “casually” during cocktail hour instead of listing them all out.

The reason the bride’s side of the family goes first because 9 out of 10 times, her dress is nicely placed and this way she does not need to move in and out of and reorganize her dress over and over.  She can stay in place as all the photos happen with her first.

When making the list, it’s best to put their name and relationship to you, so for example “Brides mom- Susan”

Special Situations (Divorce, Kids, Partners, Elderly Family)

As I mentioned every family is totally unique, so some things you might run into are what to do with boyfriends and girlfriends of siblings.  It’s totally up to you, and it’s totally ok to have them in a photo, then have them stop out of the same photo.

When parents are divorced, be sure to get each parent with their spouse and and bride and groom.

Another thing you might run into are fussy or tired young children.  If some of your siblings have children who need to be done with photos fast, then you can put them toward the top of the list to get those ones done.

Elderly family such as grandparents are listed towards the top on each side, so they can go and rest and sit down when finished.

Some other combinations that are not listed above that are options you may want are

1. Bride + Groom + Both sets of parents 
2. Bride + Groom + brides sibling and their families
3. Bride + Groom + all of both of their siblings
4. Bride + Groom + nieces and nephews
5. Bride + Groom + both moms (maybe dads too)
6. Bride + both moms (maybe dads too)
7. Bride + individual siblings
8. Groom + individual siblings

I hope you found this info helpful,

xx, Tara Lee

Tara Lee Photography is a destination wedding and elopement photographer based in Maui, and serving all Hawaiian Islands. From spectacular wedding celebrations to small adventure elopements, our style is natural and refined, and told in a documentary storytelling style.  

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