A Complete Wedding Day Family Photo Shot List
If you are a couple that is looking for help when it comes to creating their family photo shot list for their wedding day, or you just don’t even know where to start… look no further!
I have compiled the perfect wedding day family photo shot list for you to use as a base for your own wedding day family formals. This list and these tips are the same ones that I send to my own clients when working together and creating their shot lists and timeline.
Your Complete Family Photo Shot List Checklist:
(Please Note, this is not the list that I suggest sending your photographer. I suggest using this checklist to help you create the family formal list you want, but with the names of those family members listed for each photo. Scroll down and you can see an example of a past couple’s family shot list they sent me)
Common photo combinations for each respective side to consider when making your list
- Large group shot of entire extended family (recommended to be done during reception unless time allows during formals)
- Large group shot of extended family on paternal side (recommended to be done during reception unless time allows during formals)
- Large group shot of extended family on maternal side (recommended to be done during reception unless time allows during formals)
- You two as a couple + Parents + Siblings (and their partners and kids) + Grandparents
- You two as a couple + Parents + Siblings (and their partners and kids)
- You + Parents + Siblings
- You two as a couple + Parents
- You + Parents
- You + each parent individually
- You two as a couple + Siblings and their partners
- You + Siblings
- You + each sibling individually
- You two as a couple + Grandparents
- You + Grandparents
- You + each grandparent individually
- You two as a couple + nieces or nephews
- Generation photo (Bride + Brides Mom + Grandmother. Or Groom + Grooms Father + Grandfather)
Common photo combinations for both of your families combined
- You two as a couple + both of your immediate families
- You two as a couple + both sets of parents
- You two as a couple + both of your siblings
Dont see a combination on here that you want, thats ok! It can always be added.
Your Family Photo Shot List Should Look Something Like This:
Here is an exact family photo list from a past wedding of mine. The couple listed out each shot to be taken, and used the individual’s first names. They also provided us with a small list telling us who each person was in relation to them. You can also do this just by putting that in parentheses too, like they did in the first photo listed on each of their respective sides. Having a list with the names of the people you want in them makes it so easy for us photographers to go down the list quickly and efficiently on your wedding day.
MOLLY’S SIDE:
Mom – Louise
Dad – Mark
Sister- Megan
Brother in law – Giulio
Nephews – Luca and Enzo
1. Molly, Jason, Louise(mom), Mark(dad), Megan(sister), Giulio(sisters husband), Luca + Enzo (nephews)
2. Molly, Jason, Louise, Mark, Megan
3. Molly, Louise, Mark, Megan
4. Molly, Jason, Louise, Mark
5. Molly, Louise, Mark
6. Molly, Louise
7. Molly, Mark
8. Molly, Jason, Megan, Giulio, Luca + Enzo
9. Molly, Jason, Megan, Giulio,
10. Molly, Jason, Luca + Enzo
11. Molly, Megan
JASON’S SIDE
Mom – Nancy
Dad – Gary
Sister – Jenni
Nieces – Kaylee and Nora
1. Jason, Molly, Nancy (mom) , Gary(dad), Jenni(sister), Kaylee + Nora (nieces)
2. Jason, Molly, Nancy, Gary, Jenni
3. Jason, Nancy, Gary, Jenni
4. Jason, Molly, Nancy, Gary
5. Jason, Nancy, Gary
6. Jason, Nancy
7. Jason, Gary
8. Jason, Molly, Jenni, Kaylee + Nora
9. Jason, Molly, Jenni
10. Jason, Molly, Kaylee + Nora
11. Jason, Jenni
COMBINED FAMILY SHOTS
1. Jason, Molly, Nancy (grooms mom) , Gary( grooms dad), Louise (brides mom), Mark (brides dad)
Tips for Creating your Perfect Family Photo Shot List
Something that I always tell my couples to remember, is that timing is everything! If you were to do every combination of photos on this list above for both you and your partner, you will be needing around 30 minutes set aside in your timeline for family photos, and that time estimate does not include doing your larger extended family photos. Which is why I recommend doing other extended formal photos (full extended family, you with cousins or aunts and uncles, even additional friend groupings, etc.) during your reception when you are not pressed for time.
On average my couples typically have a shot list of around 25 total photos and we spend about 20 or so minutes on their family groupings. Keep in mind this is YOUR wedding day, and if you want to get every combination possible you can do that! You just need to plan in advanced with your wedding planner and photographer to make sure it is understood it will take a large chunk of your time to complete these. This could mean cutting into your total cocktail hour time to complete family photos, wedding party, and couples portraits. Or it could mean needing an hour and a half cocktail hour vs a one hour cocktail hour.
Pro Tip #1:
Do a first look and get a few portraits done, plus your entire wedding party photos done before the ceremony. You can also do all of your family photos or split your family photo combinations to have some done before ceremony to help save time after if you are looking to enjoy some of your cocktail hour.
Pro Tip #2:
When making your shot list, include the first names of your family members and who they are in relation to you. This makes it so much easier for us to quickly move through the photos and be as time efficient as possible.
Pro Tip #3:
Let your family members who are in family formals know in advanced they are to stay behind at the ceremony site to immediately move into family photos. You can also have your officiant make an announcement for family members to stay behind for family formals
Often, family members will wander off into cocktail hour and then we can’t find them. And usually when this happens, another family member will run off to find them. Now two people or more are missing. It can be helpful to have someone as a designated person who knows the members of your family but who will not be in photos, that can go get any members who might wander off.
I hope you found this page helpful! And if you are looking for a wedding photographer as well, feel free to reach out to me HERE!