I love getting to meet my couple’s families on the wedding day! Family pictures have the potential to be one of the most stressful parts of the wedding day. It’s not always easy to track down family members and get everyone arranged and looking at the camera. The good news is that I handle these pictures every wedding and it doesn’t phase me! Don’t worry if we get a little behind, or if family members are being difficult. Just let me deal with the stress, so you can relax and enjoy your wedding day! Here are a few more tips related to your family portraits. 

TIMING
I recommend doing the family pictures directly before the ceremony / bride in hiding time. If you don’t do a first look, right after the ceremony works as well. 30 minutes is usually enough for family pictures. If you plan on including any extended family like aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, make sure to allow for extra time. 

COMMUNICATION
Decide where you want to take the pictures ahead of time and inform each family member. Usually people like to do the family portraits at the ceremony location near the alter. Make sure family members know where and when to meet for the pictures. If you do your family pictures after the ceremony, have the officiant make an announcement for the family to stay close for family pictures, otherwise they might leave for the cocktail hour or wander off. 

POSES
Unlike the bride and groom and bridal party portraits, it is nice to have a specific shot list for family portraits. About a month before the wedding, I’ll send you a questionnaire to list out the specific family portraits you want me to capture.

SAMPLE FAMILY PORTRAITS LIST
Below, you’ll see a sample list for family portraits with all of the normal combinations. As you can see on the sample list, it’s also helpful for you to list the family member’s name along with their relationship to the bride or groom. There are a few combinations on the list in italics. Depending on the size of your family, who is able to make it to the wedding, and how close you are to your family, you may or may not want to include these combinations. Keep in mind that if you do want pictures with extended family, the timeline should include around 45 minutes for family pictures, instead of 30.

Bride’s side

• Bride + mom (Nikki)
• Bride + dad (Joe)
• Bride + parents (Nikki and Joe)
• Bride and groom + parents (Nikki and Joe)
• Bride + siblings (PJ)
• Bride and groom + bride’s siblings and their significant others or spouses (PJ, Josiah)
• Bride and groom +bride’s siblings and their significant others or spouses + bride’s parents (PJ, Josiah, Nikki, and Joe)
• Bride and groom + parents + bride’s siblings and their spouses and children (PJ, Josiah, Nikki, Joe, and Joseph)
• Bride and groom + parents + bride’s siblings and their spouses and children + bride’s mom’s side extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) (PJ, Josiah, Nikki, Joe, Joseph, Arlys, Greg, Dean)
• Bride and groom + parents + bride’s siblings and spouses and children + bride’s dad’s side extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) (PJ, Josiah, Nikki, Joe, Joseph, Patricia, Bill, Mike, Pat, Cassi, Dani)
• Bride and groom + grandparents on bride’s mom’s side (Arlys, Greg)
• Bride and groom + grandparents on bride’s dad’s side (Patricia, Bill)

Combined

• Bride and groom + bride’s parents + groom’s parents (Nikki, Joe, Alan, Sanya)

Groom’s side

• Groom + mom (Sanya)
• Groom + dad (Alan)
• Groom + parents (Alan and Sanya)
• Groom and bride + parents (Alan and Sanya)
• Groom + siblings (Melissa, Kent, Luke)
• Groom and bride + groom’s siblings and their significant others or spouses (Melissa, Ben, Kent, Kaitlyn, Luke, Catie)
• Groom and bride + groom’s siblings and their significant others or spouses + groom’s parents (Melissa, Ben, Kent, Kaitlyn, Luke, Catie, Alan, and Sanya)
• Groom and bride + parents + groom’s siblings and their spouses and children (Melissa, Ben, Natalie, Linnea, Mike, Kent, Kaitlyn, Jonas, Margo, Luke, Catie, Jemma, Alan, and Sanya)
• Groom and bride + parents + siblings and their spouses and children + groom’s mom’s side extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) (Melissa, Ben, Natalie, Linnea, Mike, Kent, Kaitlyn, Jonas, Margo, Luke, Catie, Jemma, Alan, Sanya, Norm, Linda, Lori, Travis, Alisa)
• Groom and bride + parents + siblings and their spouses and children + groom’s dad’s side extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) (Melissa, Ben, Natalie, Linnea, Mike, Kent, Kaitlyn, Jonas, Margo, Luke, Catie, Jemma, Alan, Sanya, Joyce)
• Bride and groom + grandparents on groom’s mom’s side (Norm and Linda)
• Bride and groom + grandparents on groom’s dad’s side (Joyce)