How to create your Family Shot List for your Wedding

After many years of documenting weddings, I’ve learned the most stressful part of the wedding day for the couple is during family photos. Being unprepared without a family shot list for the wedding day is the most common reason this happens.  Either no one knows who should be in the photo and/or the family member can not be located. While the couple is eager to greet their guests and enjoy their party, it’s being held up for these reasons. This creates unnecessary stress on everyone, and I hate watching my couples go through it.

How do we avoid this? A family shot list and making sure the family members know when and where to be for family portraits. For many, this is prior to the ceremony or during the cocktail hour.

 

What is a family shot list?

 

A family shot list is a list of groups of family members you want your photographer to document. It’s best to sit down with your fiancé, and both sets of parents to discuss who you want in photos. Your wedding photographer won’t know who your family members are, and who you want documented, so it’s important to write this down for them. You also don’t want to wait until the big day to make these decisions, this will only cause more stress and take more time away from enjoying your wedding day.  I recommend starting this process 90 days before your wedding date, and sending it to your photographer for suggestions.

Your photographer will not need a list of wedding party groupings, but will need first names and the relation to the couple when writing out the family groupings.

Being prepared with a list ensures no one is missed and your most important memories of family are preserved.

Use the sample shot list below as a suggestion when making your family photo list. Don’t see a grouping you want? Go ahead and add it, but keep in mind each grouping can take 3-5 minutes from start to finish. Also remember other groupings can be taken later on through the night in a less formal fashion.

Bride’s Family

Bride + Groom with bride’s parents

Bride + Groom with bride’s parents + bride’s siblings (with significant others and children)

Bride with siblings

Bride with Mom

Bride with Dad

Bride and Groom with bride’s maternal Grandparents

Bride and Groom with bride’s paternal Grandparents

If wanted, large group of any extended family

Groom’s Family

Groom + Bride with groom’s parents

Groom + Bride with groom’s parents + groom’s siblings (with significant others and children)

Groom with siblings

Groom with Mom

Groom with Dad

Groom and Bride with groom’s maternal Grandparents

Groom and Bride with groom’s paternal Grandparents

If wanted, large group of any extended family

Both sides:

Bride and Groom with both sets of parents

Bride and Groom with both sets of parents and siblings (with or without significant others)

Other tips for family portraits during your wedding

1. Try to aim for no more than 15 groupings as this way you can finish in a reasonable time.
2. Tell all family members who are on the list to stay at the ceremony location after the ceremony.
3. Designate someone in your family who knows both of your families well, and can assist the photographer in gathering the correct individuals for the group shot.
4. If someone is unavailable, move on and get a more candid shot during the reception so you can go enjoy your party.