Family formal portraits can easily become the most chaotic part of a wedding day. Everyone is excited, cocktail hour is calling, and family members have a habit of wandering off toward the open bar right when you need them. The good news is that you can completely avoid this chaos. The secret is not just making a shot list, but putting it in an exact order and sending it to your family before the wedding day even arrives. Here is why this simple step changes everything.
Put The List In Exact Shot Order
When you write out your family formal combinations, put them in a logical flow. Usually, it is best to start with the largest extended family groups and work your way down to immediate family, or start with elderly grandparents so they can finish quickly and sit down.
Send The Ordered List To Everyone Involved
Do not just send this list to me. A week or two before the wedding, email or text the final, ordered list to every single family member who needs to be in the photos.
Here is exactly how this helps your wedding day run smoothly:
People know when to stick around (and when to leave): If your uncle knows he is in group number three, he knows he needs to stay put. If your cousins know they are only in group number one, they know they are free to head straight to the reception the second that photo is done.
No one is left guessing: Family members will not need to tap me on the shoulder while I am actively shooting to ask, "Am I on the list?" or "Are you done with me?" They already have the game plan on their phones.
It speeds up the entire process: When everyone knows the lineup, they naturally start paying attention and staging themselves for the next shot. We can fly through the groupings in record time.
More Time For What Matters
As someone who specializes in documentary, unposed moments, I want to get you through the posed family formals as quickly and painlessly as possible. The faster we get through the formal list, the sooner you get to go enjoy your party, and the sooner I can get back to capturing the candid celebration. Send that ordered list out early, tell everyone exactly where they need to be, and watch how smoothly this part of your day goes!
