Planning the perfect family photo shot list for your wedding ensures that every important relationship is captured, from immediate family to extended members. By organizing your shot list in advance, you’re making sure the process is smooth and that everyone important to you gets their moment to shine. Here’s how to put together a clear, organized family shot list for your photographer to capture those timeless family portraits.

 

Why a Family Photo Shot List Is Important

Weddings are bustling events, and in the excitement, it’s easy for some groupings to be missed without a well-planned list. By creating a shot list, you can ensure:

• Everyone you want in the family photos is accounted for.
• Your photographer can seamlessly guide the family photos, saving time and avoiding confusion.
• The day flows more smoothly, and your family photos are as perfect as you envision.

Decide on Key Family Groupings

To make sure no one is overlooked, start with your immediate family and work outward. This structure is ideal for making sure essential family photos are covered before moving on to extended family groupings. Here are common examples:

• Bride with Individual Parents and Family Members

  • Bride + Mom
  • Bride + Dad
  • Bride + Mom + Dad
  • Bride + Mom + Dad + siblings

• Groom with Individual Parents and Family Members

  • Groom + Mom
  • Groom + Dad
  • Groom + Mom + Dad
  • Groom + Mom + Dad + siblings

• Both Sides of the Family Together

  • Bride + Groom + both sets of parents
  • Bride + Groom + siblings (both sides)
  • Bride + Groom + all immediate family members (both sides combined)

You can also plan combinations that are meaningful to you. For example, if you’re especially close to your grandparents, consider a dedicated shot such as Bride + Groom + grandparents or Bride + Groom + grandmother.

3. Consider Special Relationships

Beyond immediate family, you may want to include other family members or friends who play significant roles in your life. If you have a blended family, be sure to account for these relationships as well. Keep in mind, this may require more time, depending on how large your family is. Here are some options to consider:

• Bride + Groom + stepparents
• Bride + Groom + godparents or close family friends
• Bride + Groom + cousins or aunts/uncles you’re close with

Include these special people in your shot list to ensure that everyone is accounted for.

4. Organize the Flow of Photos

When your photographer has a logical flow for taking family photos, the process will move efficiently, saving valuable time on your big day. We recommend organizing the shot list by groupings such as:

• Immediate Family Photos First: Start with parents and siblings.
• Extended Family Afterward: Once immediate family photos are taken, you can move on to larger groupings. However I do recommend extended family photos be taken after the ceremony to avoid too many people seeing you before the ceremony, it can get chaotic when there are a lot of people there.

For example, you might begin with the bride’s side of the family, then the groom’s side, and finally both sides together.

5. Select Venue-Specific Spots for Family Photos

If your venue has a beautiful scenic spot, like a garden, terrace, or grand staircase, consider these areas for your family photos. They provide a lovely backdrop, adding elegance to your portraits. You might schedule immediate family photos in these areas before the ceremony, and extended family during cocktail hour or right after the ceremony when everyone is present.

6. Share the Family Photo Shot List with Family Members in Advance

To keep the photo session running smoothly, it’s a good idea to share the shot list with your family ahead of time. This way, everyone knows when and where to be, reducing the chances of anyone wandering off and making the process more efficient.

Consider assigning a family member or friend as a “family wrangler” to help gather everyone for the photos. This person can help make sure everyone is ready, allowing the photographer to focus on capturing each shot. This person should also cross check the list, we will not know who everyone is so will need some help from your loved ones!

 

6. Budget adequate time

In most cases, 30 minutes is a sufficient amount of time to capture the immediate family (before the ceremony) and then during cocktail you can allocate 5 minutes per group for extended family. I would recommend sticking to larger groups for extended family and friends shots so that you are not spending your whole cocktail hour taking photos.

 

Example Family Photo Shot List

To make things easier, here’s an example Family Photo Shot List to guide you as you plan:

• Bride’s Side:
  • Bride + Mom
  • Bride + Dad
  • Bride + Mom + Dad
  • Bride + Siblings
  • Bride + Mom + Dad + Siblings
• Groom’s Side:
  • Groom + Mom
  • Groom + Dad
  • Groom + Mom + Dad
  • Groom + Siblings
  • Groom + Mom + Dad + Siblings
• Combined Shots:
  • Bride + Groom + both sets of parents
  • Bride + Groom + siblings (both sides)
  • Bride + Groom + grandparents
  • Bride + Groom + all immediate family members (both sides)

Creating a family photo shot list may seem like a small detail, but it has a big impact on how smoothly your family photo session will go. By carefully planning and organizing your shot list, you’ll ensure that every important family member is captured in your wedding memories. For more tips on capturing your guests in your wedding photos, check out this post.