Wedding Portrait Tips for Your Family

The best time for family portraits is directly after the ceremony. These usually take 20-30 minutes in length, depending on the amount of photos you list. Estimate that it takes 2-3 minutes per photo, which includes posing, crowd management, alterations of clothing, etc.

Following these tips below will help ensure that your family portraits run smoothly and efficiently

Soufflé tootsie roll tart lemon drops brownie macaroon. Gingerbread cotton candy powder toffee chocolate cake gummies chocolate candy. Gingerbread halvah caramels oat cake. Brownie tiramisu chocolate jelly beans bear claw chocolate cake sesame snaps sweet cupcake. Chocolate bar macaroon cookie chocolate sweet danish cookie. Fruitcake cotton candy topping ice cream sweet roll dessert bear claw. Candy cotton candy croissant chocolate muffin.

Bonbon biscuit lemon drops dessert chupa chups toffee. Gingerbread tiramisu icing jujubes cookie pie.

Tart lemon drops brownie macaroon. Gingerbread cotton candy powder toffee chocolate cake gummies chocolate candy.

< back

PRE-WEDDING PREP FOR FAMILY PORTRAITS

6 weeks before your wedding, I will send you a Shot List that will allow you to choose specifically, which family portraits you would like to have at your wedding. Typically, most family portraits are immediate family only, plus your grandparents. All other groupings usually happen at the reception, but if you would like for other family members or groups of friends (example, your sorority sisters) to have formal portraits, you can list them on your official Shot List.

Once you have finalized the Shot List, you can print it out or save it. I would suggest printing out several copies and giving it to key members of the family before the wedding, so that they know the “flow” or the portraits, and know if and when they have to be present. Also have a separate conversation with all grandparents, as they have a tendency to wander off and forget they are needed during the portrait time hehe!

**Side note: I love mothers! That being said, mothers sometimes have a tendency to want to dictate this part of your day, organizing groups of people and inviting others into the shots that were not only your Shot List. If this occurs, I politely let them know that I am working from a list directly from the bride and groom, and that if time permits I can more than happy to capture their specific group shots. Otherwise we can save those for the reception too :) Discussing the Shot List with both mothers before the wedding can limit this awkward moment if you do anticipate this happening on your day.

crowd management

Appoint a crowd manager — someone you trust who can help direct your guests to the reception or cocktail hour, so that we can have uninterrupted time for your family portraits (aunts or godmothers are usually great at this task.)

ceremony reminder

Tell your officiate to make an announcement, directing guests where they should go, and remind family members to stay for their family portraits.

SHOT LIST

I will send you a Shot List to fill out 6 weeks before your wedding, to ensure that you receive all of the formal portraits you want, and that we have a guarantee of no one being missed.

B&G with Bride’s Immediate Family (Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews) B&G with Bride’s Parents
B&G with Bride’s Siblings
Bride with her Parents
Bride with Mom, Bride with Dad
B&G with Bride’s Grandparents
B&G with both sets of Parents
B&G with Groom’s Immediate Family (Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews) B&G with Groom’s Parents
B&G with Groom’s Siblings
Groom with his Parents
Groom with Mom, Groom with Dad
B&G with Groom’s Grandparents
B&G with all family members if time allows

Following these simple steps will help the formal family portraits at your wedding day run smoothly and be stress-free. It will also help your photographer move more quickly, so we can spend time capturing those candid images instead of hunting down your missing family members :)

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding your wedding planning, or the portraits in particular, I am happy to help if you would like to contact me!

shhhh...its a secret!

want instant access to our style guide?

Our amazing Lux Light Brides deserve the best of the best!! Booking an engagement session is one of our top recommendations for you, and we want you to have our top secrets & the best experience possible!

Access the Guide>

Book Your Session>

Interested in working together?

"OMG Melissa!! Thank you thank you! I can't wait to look at them all! You are by far the greatest photographer in my book! Your photographs will be what we keep for a lifetime to remember our day and you have gone above and beyond to make every moment perfect.
Thank you for an amazing wedding gift!”

Contact me below for a FREE quote on wedding photography packages and collections! We also offer custom designed packages for those brides looking for unique features.


Traverse City Wedding photography by Lux Light Photography, captures beautiful and fine art portraits for your wedding and engagements in all of northern Michigan, including Traverse City, Petoskey, Frankfort, Glen Arbor, Charlevoix,  Mackinac Island, Bay Harbor Village Hotel, Crystal Mountain, Homestead Resort, Castle Farms, Grand Traverse Resort, Arcadia Golf CourseVisions Centerpointe, and other favorite venues!

Contact us below for your FREE Quote!
Lux Light Photography
800 Cottage View Drive
Traverse City Michigan 49684

melissa@luxlightphotography.net
231-633-9410

Soufflé tootsie roll tart lemon drops brownie macaroon. Gingerbread cotton candy powder toffee chocolate cake gummies chocolate candy. Gingerbread halvah caramels oat cake. Brownie tiramisu chocolate jelly beans bear claw chocolate cake sesame snaps sweet cupcake. Chocolate bar macaroon cookie chocolate sweet danish cookie. Fruitcake cotton candy topping ice cream sweet roll dessert bear claw. Candy cotton candy croissant chocolate muffin.

Bonbon biscuit lemon drops dessert chupa chups toffee. Gingerbread tiramisu icing jujubes cookie pie.

Tart lemon drops brownie macaroon. Gingerbread cotton candy powder toffee chocolate cake gummies chocolate candy.

< back

SUBMIT > 

ready to book? have questions?

Please, fill out the form below with as much information as possible-this will give you the best answer from me! email me at melissa@luxlightphotography.net If you don't hear back within 24 hours, please check your SPAM!

Please check your SPAM folder if you do not get a response from me within 24 hours! This will ensure that you can get your wedding info and photography booked as quick as you need it!

Please note that office hours at 12-4pm, M-F. I will respond to your email within that time frame. If you email me on the weekend, I will respond the following Monday. Thank you!

thank you!