How to plan for family formals

Family portraits can feel overwhelming. You have to plan out which shots you want, round up all the kids, make sure grandma isn’t standing for too long, make time for all the extra shots your mom didn’t tell you she wanted, figure out a way to explain to grandad why your great aunt Mabel wasn’t invited to the wedding, make the baby stop crying, peel Uncle Ralph away from the bar for just one quick shot, make sure everyone is smiling, make sure YOU’RE smiling…

Isn’t there an easier way?

While explaining to Uncle Ralph that your wedding day will only happen once and that his beer will have to wait may not go away, there are a few things you can do to prepare so that your family photos can go on without a hitch. 

Plan ahead with your photographer

One of the very best things you can do before your wedding day is prepare a call list for your family photos. What do I mean by a call list? 

Determine every shot you could possibly want, considering every family member. Write out each picture group using the first names of the people that will be in the picture, for both sides of your new family. Your list could look like this:

Emily (Bride) + Drake (Groom)

Emily, Susan (Mom), Alan (Dad) 

Emily, Susan, Alan, Drake

Emily, Susan, Alan, Drake, Toby (Brother)

Emily, Susan, Alan, Drake, Toby, Ruth (grandma)

Etc. 

Hand this list off to your photographer, and let them do their magic. Instead of you having to remember every shot you want—plus the ones your mom wants, and your hubby’s mom, etc—your photographer can start calling names into the crowd, and all you have to do is stand in your place and let your list do the dirty work. 

Pick a central location 

Find a spot for family photos that is near the area your guests are gathering, but separate enough so that you won’t be the center of the room. Let your photos be close by, but still intimate. This way, it’ll will be less likely you’ll need to chase down certain straying family members, plus Uncle Ralph will be able to hear his name from the bar. 

Notify your family ahead of time

It seems self-explanatory, but with the rest of the bustle of the day, its easy to forget to let your family know when pictures will be and what time they all need to show up to be there for them. Designate a close family member or friend, maybe your sister or mom, to be responsible for communicating to everyone on your list when and where family portraits will be. A little communication goes a long way!

If you’re still looking for the right wedding photographer for your day, check out Sinai Weddings and Portraits. Madison is a trusted central Illinois wedding photographer who wants to help you capture all of your family photos with style, even the difficult ones. Check her availability here.