How Many Family And Bridal Party Photos You Need?

One of the most significant things about a wedding celebration is that it’s one of the few times in your life that nearly everyone you love and care for will be in one place. This is an amazing thing when you think about it! When an event like a wedding happens, it’s not surprising that you want to be sure to get as many photos as you can of friends, family, and honored guests. How do you balance the desire of wanting lots of photos and being able to enjoy your wedding day?

Plan for Family Portraits Before the Wedding
When you begin to chart out the photos you want, take your schedule into consideration. If you have 15 different groupings of family members you want photos of after the wedding ceremony, then ask your photographer what you can expect time-wise to make that happen. ISPWP photographers report that people are often surprised to find out that getting people in place and lined up correctly can take as long as 4-5 minutes per pose. People go missing; the photographer may have to move people around or adjust lighting or get people’s attention when they are socializing. 

If time is at a premium, ask your photographer to help you with your list. It’s possible that some photos can be taken before the ceremony or at the reception, or they may be able to help you pare down the list. For example, instead of taking lots of variations of photos with bride, parents, siblings, and grandparents (which could take as much as 15-20 minutes) you can do one big group family photo that could be done in five minutes.

Make Time for the Two of You
Many couples report that the time they spend taking photos with their bridal party was one of the most enjoyable parts of the day. After the buildup and excitement of the ceremony, it’s great to be able to let your hair down a bit and do some fun photos with your best friends. However, don’t fill your schedule so full of these photos that you cut back on photos of the two of you. Taking some time to do photos away from the bridal party with just the two of you will allow you to reconnect and will allow for more romantic and meaningful photos. 

If you want photos that will showcase how you felt about each other on your wedding day, be sure to talk to your photographer and decide when these photos will be done. Trust your photographer’s experience as to when and where these photos can be taken without taking away too much time from your guests.

With some planning and confidence in your photographer’s experience, you can get great wedding photos without having to miss your wedding celebration! Our ISPWP photographers are located all over the world and can help you plan your perfect wedding photos.

(Photo by Olu Akintorin, Chicago, Illinois wedding photographer)