Why is it that family photos are the trickiest part of the wedding day? It is always the part of the day that wedding photographers tend to dread.

I used to get super anxious about family photos until I developed a system and process for my couples to decide on. The below family photo list is exactly what I send to my clients so they can create one killer family photo list. It has made the family photo portion of the day a breeze so much so that the family member cannot believe how fast, efficient and easy it was.

This family photo list for wedding photographers typically takes about 30 minutes to complete. Keep this in mind if you want to add any additional combinations to this list as you might want to allow a little more time in your schedule to allow for these extras.

Bride + Groom’s Families Together

• Bride + Groom with bride + groom’s immediate families + grandparents
• Bride + Groom with bride + groom’s immediate families
• Bride + Groom with bride’s parents + groom’s parents
• Bride + Groom with bride’s siblings and groom’s siblings
• Bride + Groom with bride’s siblings and groom’s siblings + sibling-in-laws

Bride’s Family

• Bride + Groom with bride’s immediate family + grandparents
• Bride + Groom with bride’s grandparents
• Bride + Groom with bride’s immediate family
• Bride + Groom with bride’s parents
• Bride with bride’s parents
• Bride with mom
• Bride with dad
• Bride’s parents together
• Bride with grandmother / grandfather
• Bride + Groom with bride’s siblings and sibling-in-laws
• Bride with siblings
• Bride with each sibling individually

Groom’s Family

• Bride + Groom with groom’s immediate family + grandparents
• Bride + Groom with groom’s grandparents
• Bride + Groom with groom’s immediate family
• Bride + Groom with groom’s parents
• Groom with groom’s parents
• Groom with mom
• Groom with dad
• Groom’s parents together
• Groom with grandmother / grandfather
• Bride + Groom  with groom’s siblings and sibling-in-laws
• Groom with siblings
• Groom with each sibling individually

Additional combinations :

** please allow 2 -3 minutes per additional grouping for less than 4 people or 3 – 5 minutes per additional grouping for groups of 4 or more. **

• Bride + Groom with bride’s extended family (bride’s parents, bride’s siblings, bride’s grandparents, bride’s aunt(s), uncle(s) and cousins )
• Bride + Groom with groom’s extended family (groom’s parents, groom’s siblings, groom’s grandparents, groom’s aunt(s), uncle(s) and cousins)
• Bride’s grandparents together
• Groom’s grandparents together
• Bride + bride’s mom + bride’s sister(s)
• Groom + bride’s dad + bride’s brother(s)
• Bride + groom’s mom + groom’s sister(s)
• Groom + groom’s dad + groom’s brother(s)
• Bride + Groom + bride’s grandparents + groom’s grandparents
• Bride + bride’s mom + bride’s sister(s) + bride’s grandma(s)
• Groom + bride’s dad + bride’s brother(s) + bride’s grandpa(s)
• Bride + groom’s mom + groom’s sister(s) + groom’s grandma(s)
• Groom + groom’s dad + groom’s brother(s) + groom’s grandpa(s)
• Bride + mom + mother-in-law
• Groom + dad + father-in-law
• Bride + Groom with bride’s godparents
• Bride + Groom with groom’s godparents

TIP : When you request your family photo list from your couple, ask them to include the title of the group and also the first names of everyone in the photo to help keep the photos moving quickly.

example : Bride + Groom with bride’s parents (brittany, phil, donna, ken)

This way, when you or your assistant is wrangling the families and going through the list, you can say the names of everyone you need in each photo. This keeps this portion of the day organized and running smoothly.

If you want to make family photos even easier, print out 3 copies of your family photo list. I distribute one to the bride’s mom and one to the groom’s mom. This way they know who needs to be in each photo and they can help find the VIPs for family. They also know exactly how many photos we will be taking and the combinations.

Would you add anything to this family photo list? If so, tell me in the comments below.