Planning your wedding photos is just as exciting (and important!) as picking the perfect venue or outfit. As an Essex and Suffolk wedding photographer, I know how handy a good group photo list can be. In this post, I’ll share some simple wedding photo tips, from timings to organising family shots, and even a sample group photo list to get you started. Whether you need expert advice or quick pointers, I’ve got you covered!
What is the wedding photo list?
The wedding photo list is a list of the different groups of people you wish to be photographed with on your special day. Usually, these photos are taken shortly after the wedding ceremony. These photos include the married couple with different groups of people, for example, parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. At the bottom of this blog post, I have put together a sample photo list to give you an idea of commonly asked-for group photos.
Why is it important to have a wedding group photo list?
It is highly unlikely I will know everyone in your wedding party so by supplying this list I will know who you would like photographs with. This is the list that I will reference when organising the photos. It saves lots of time having this in advance as you aren’t having to think of groups on the spot.
If you don’t have a photo list you may forget a particular group of people that you won’t realise until it is too late. If you are struggling with your photo list I am always more than happy to help you put one together.
How many group photos should you have on your wedding day?
I advise up to 10 group photos as it can roughly take about 5 minutes per photo. Surprisingly it’s usually the gathering of the groups that takes most of the time, the photos are the quick bit. I am a firm believer that although it is important to have group photos it is just as important to make memories, enjoy your day, spend time with loved ones and of course eat lots of canapés. The less time spent on group photos means more time capturing the natural candid moments that would otherwise go undocumented.
Who will help gather people for the group photos?
It’s great to have help from a trusted member of your wedding party, someone who knows most of the guests (it also helps if they have a bossy side/loud voice) as this will speed up the photos, meaning more time with your guests to enjoy the party! More often it is usually the best man, maid of honour or a sibling who helps with the gathering of people. I always advise that photo gatherer knows in advance of the wedding that they are helping so it isn’t a surprise when I ask for assistance on the day.
When do you need to send the group photo list over?
I ask for the photo list one month before the wedding, so you haven’t got any documents to worry about in the final days coming up to your wedding. We will go through (on the phone/video chat) your photo list and other wedding information in your final consultation which takes place about 1 month before your wedding day. Along with the group photo list, I also ask for the wedding day timeline to be sent over at the same time.
Sample wedding group photo list
Below I have put together a sample wedding photo list of the most commonly asked for group shots on wedding days. Of course, every wedding is different so group photos can vary to your preference and they don’t have to be the same as the groups listed.
- The Wedding Couple + Brides parents
- The Wedding Couple + Brides immediate family (parents and siblings)
- The Wedding Couple + Grooms parents
- The Wedding Couple + Grooms immediate family (parents and siblings)
- The Wedding Couple + Grandparents
- The Wedding Couple + Bridal party (maid of honour, bridesmaids and flower girls)
- The Wedding Couple + Groomsmen (best man, ushers, page boys, ring bearer)
- The Wedding Couple + Bridal party and groomsmen
Some quick tips:
- When supplying your group list please can names be supplied of who is in each photo. If groups are larger than 10 people, a number of people to expect is fine instead of names, this helps me work out how much room to allow.
- If some guests are uneasy on their feet or disabled please consider putting their groups together to make it easier for them. Please also note this on your form so I am aware.
- If some guests are leaving early consider doing their photo towards the beginning of the list.
- Want more groups but worried about time? Consider getting ready earlier and we can do some group combinations before the ceremony. Please note this has to be planned in advance with your hair and makeup team. A general rule of thumb would be for everyone completely ready 45-30 minutes before the registrar meeting, allowing longer if there is travel to the ceremony location.