GROUP PHOTOS GUIDE
For stress free group photos on your wedding day.
Many couples still want a few group photos with their guests. Parents especially love to have some more formal family photos. These photographs are usually taken during the drink’s reception along with the couple portraits (unless waiting for the Golden Hour when the sun is lower in the sky). The standard drinks reception lasts one and a half hours which flies by.
Some couples would like highly stylised posed images that take some time. Your photographer will be able to give you an idea of how long these will take and what to expect. The couples that I work with who don’t like having their photo taken are not looking forward to this part of the day and would like to have some time chatting with their guests.
Here is a little guide to help this part of the day run as smoothly and stress free as possible.
GIVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
*A list of the groups you would like ( I always ask for title of group followed by first names of guests in brackets. Myself and the guest finder then know exactly who is in the group. Avoids embarrassment on the day and any confusion between immediate and extended family for example.)
*Details of any guests who use mobility aids or those who are very anxious in front of a camera.
*Discuss the style of photos you would like. Traditional, highly posed or totally relaxed.
*Any poses you would like to add (e.g. guests from the emergency services, armed forces, sports club, or hen party who want to do a particular pose)
*Choose someone to help gather the guests. A Toastmaster may be happy to do this if you have one or ask one of your guests. (As long as it’s not someone who is in a lot of the photos. If the photographer can concentrate on posing and taking the photos whilst someone else goes to find people, it will speed things up considerably.
*Discuss your first choice of locations for the group shots and have a plan B inside in case of bad weather. I am always looking at the movement of the sun and will pick a shady spot on a very sunny day. Photographers don’t like bright sunshine! (Nasty shadows, squinting people.)
TELL YOUR WEDDING PARTY
*The type of photos you have chosen. Avoids someone proposing poses you don’t want and avoids awkward situations. You may not want, jazz hands, groomsmen or bridesmaids picking you up. You may not want posed photos when getting ready in the morning. Let your bridesmaids and family know what type of photography you have asked for.
TELL ALL YOUR GUESTS
*When the group photos will be taken. Avoids not being able to find guests who have gone to check in to hotel or freshen up. If they know beforehand they can make sure they are around at the right time or you can let your photographer know when would be the best time for photos of families with young babies who need a feed for example, or grandparents who need to rest.
TELL YOUR FAMILIES
*Before your wedding day tell your close family the groups that you have chosen. Avoids embarrassment and possible arguments or delays on the day.
If you have chosen a photographer like me who is capturing the story of your day in a totally documentary natural way, let your family know. The older generation especially will be expecting to pose for the photographer all day.
