The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Family Photo Groupings
Wedding family portraits are some of the most cherished images from your big day. Capturing these must-have wedding photos ensures you have beautiful memories with your closest loved ones. Whether you’re planning a large wedding or an intimate celebration, organizing your family photo list in advance will help your photographer keep the process smooth and efficient. Below is a list of essential wedding family photo groupings to include in your wedding photography timeline.
Immediate Family Portraits
- Bride & Groom with Bride’s Parents
- Bride & Groom with Bride’s Parents and Immediate Family
- Bride & Groom with Bride’s Immediate Family (Siblings)
- Bride with Parents
- Bride with Siblings
- Individual Portraits with Each Parent
- Bride & Groom with Both Sets of Parents
- Bride & Groom with Groom’s Parents
- Bride & Groom with Groom’s Parents and Immediate Family
- Bride & Groom with Groom’s Immediate Family (Siblings)
- Groom with Parents
- Groom with Siblings
- Individual Portraits with Each Parent
Extended Family Photos
- Bride & Groom with Grandparents
- Bride & Groom with Each Set of Grandparents
- Bride & Groom with Aunts, Uncles & Cousins
- Bride & Groom with Extended Family (Both Sides Separately)
- Large Group Photo of Both Families Together
Wedding Party (Usually Separate from Family Photos)
- Bride & Groom with Flower Girl & Ring Bearer
- Bride with Bridesmaids (Together)
- Bride with Bridesmaids (Individual)
- Groom with Groomsmen (Together)
- Groom with Groomsmen (Individual)
- Entire Wedding Party Together
Special Wedding Photo Requests
Generational Family Photo (Bride, Mother, Grandmother)
Groom with Father & Grandfather
Special Cultural or Religious Family Photos
Blended Family Portraits (Stepparents, Stepsiblings)
Fun & Candid Family Moments
Surprise Proposal or Newly Engaged Couples in the Family
Wedding Photography Tips for Stress-Free Family Photos
Make a Shot List – Providing your photographer with a pre-planned list of family photo combinations helps keep everything on schedule. This is especially helpful when there are certain photos you want captured!
Assign a Family Photo Helper – Designate a bridesmaid or family member to help gather people for photos.
Schedule Ample Time – Family portraits take time, so add buffer space to your wedding timeline. I always suggest to plan for 45 minutes after the ceremony for family photos.
Inform Family Members in Advance – Let relatives know when and where they’re needed for portraits. This is especially important if you are planning to take some family pictures before the ceremony!
Choose a Beautiful & Well-Lit Location – I typically find the location for family photos to relieve any stress on your part! If you have a location in mind, great! Let me know! Outdoor or naturally lit spaces enhance your wedding photos and create a timeless, elegant feel.
That’s it! Easy peasy! As you are planning your family photo list, I hope this guide has helped you think through different shots that we could get for your wedding! Feel free to add as many or as little of these groupings to your shot list as you’d like! Remember, your wedding is specialized to you!