As you can probably tell if you’ve watched one of our wedding slideshows, MOST of our images are unposed, undirected moments — you know, the REAL stuff that happens on your wedding day.

Documenting these natural moments is what makes us tick, and for a long time we saw portraiture as the complete antithesis of documentary image-making.

Then a few years ago I read an incredibly inspiring statement on a portrait photographer’s website. He described portraits as a way of “documenting” a family, of providing record of their existence for future generations.

This very simple insight was powerful for both of us. For the first time, we saw the VERY important place that portraits could hold in our work as documentary wedding photographers. Portraits didn’t have to be cheesy or awkward; they just had to clearly capture the deep family connection that is so integral to the wedding day.

Joni and Chip with their parents and siblings. Pre-ceremony at the family farm. Family portrait time allowed: 1 hour.

Unfortunately, all too often the portraits are the last thing anyone wants to make time for, and they get shuffled into some hidden, dark, 15 minutes of “might-not-happen”.

We don’t want your important family portraits to get lost in the chaos of your wedding day, so here are a few guidelines:

-Remember what you’re there for! I think most couples will agree that their wedding celebration is about 2 things: 1) the wedding ceremony, and 2) celebrating with the people they love. Even portraits are part of that celebration! Don’t think of the portraits as a waste of time, but rather a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be photographed — happy and beautiful — with the people who helped mold you into the amazing person you are today!

Sarah and Derek with Sarah’s sister and parents. Post-ceremony at the church. Family portrait time allowed: 30 minutes.

-Create a portrait list. This list should include EVERY SINGLE portrait you want taken on your wedding day. Don’t leave anything out thinking, “I’ll remember to ask for that shot at the reception.” Chances are, if it’s not written down, you won’t remember it! 

Share the list with parents, etc., to make sure you haven’t left anyone out. It’s best to thoroughly finalize the list ahead of time so that there are no last-minute requests to throw off your timeline.

Try to narrow your list to only 10-15 family groupings. You may even want to have a “must have” list, and a “time leftover” list. We will take the “must have” photos first, then move on to the “time leftover” list if we are able to finish quickly.

Whitney and Kevin with extended family. Post-ceremony at the church. Family portrait time allowed: 30 minutes.

-Schedule all of your family portraits at one time. Whether you choose to have your portraits done before OR after your ceremony, it’s usually best to have ALL of the family portraits taken at one time. If your family members have to be a part of TWO separate portrait sessions, they may get a little antsy! It’s always better to do everything with the family at once.

Wedding party photographs can take place at another time if that works best in your timeline.

Natalie with her parents, sister, and her sister’s family. Pre-ceremony at the ceremony location. Family portrait time allowed: 1 hour.

-Allow enough time!!! This is, without fail, the BIGGEST obstacle in getting the family portraits you want. We recommend allowing 30 minutes to an hour for family portraits. It can take 5-10 minutes to gather the family for photos to begin, then another 3 to 5 minutes for us to photograph EACH portrait grouping. Groupings larger than 6 people take longer to arrange. Small groupings are easier to swap in and out and take less time.

Heather and Matt with Matt’s Mom, brother, and brother’s family. Post-ceremony on ceremony location grounds. Family portrait time allowed: 30 minutes.

-Location, location, location! It’s usually best to take portraits at a location that’s easy to access by all of your family members (regardless of age), and that doesn’t require too much movement from Point A to Point B. (Too much relocating is the cause of people being late!) Areas with stairs are wonderful for large groupings, and your ceremony location is ideal for pre- OR post-ceremony portraits, since everyone will be at that location anyway.

Last but not least…

-HAVE FUN! There is nothing more important than you ENJOYING your wedding day, so don’t let the details get you down! After all… YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED! And, at least for this one day, you’re kind of a big deal.

Cheers!