Full disclosure, groups photos are one of the craziest times at a wedding. Mainly because your family and friends would prefer to be at the bar mingling with loved ones they have not seen in forever! Nothing wrong with that at all and a little preparation will help make this process a lot easier!
If I don't have a list, this is generally how I treat family photos!
( please use only as a guide – edit to your needs )
*Using names to make the process a little easier, always helps!
I generally get all the wedding party photos after the family shots. There are times I get the groom and his groomsmen before the ceremony and if there's time the bride and her bridesmaids. If we end up doing all of these after the ceremony, I start with the ladies and move to the guys and then the large group photos. Once these photos are taken care of, I will be open for individual photos with the bride and/or groom.
FINALLY, just a few photos of the Newlyweds!
Depending on what time the sun sets, Newlywed photos could be a separate session from sunset photos. If that is the case, then I'll knock out a couple of shots and you can enjoy cocktail hour. Then when it's time for sunset --- I will remind you, setup, and then bring you both out for a few sunset shots! I try to make it nice and quick while getting some unforgettable shots!
Pro Tip: I always remind groups the more they pay attention, the quicker this process will be. So prepping your people and letting them know they NEED to listen is always a plus!
Family photos can be a challenge no matter what we do. But a couple of Pro Tips just might make it a simple process!
My goal is to knock these images out as fast as we can and move on to Newlywed shots --- so you can possibly enjoy a little bit of cocktail!