I’m known for capturing those didn’t-know-you-were-there shots and busting a move on the dance floor just to get those perfect candids. I also work with you to ensure we incorporate your style and story into your engagement and wedding photos!
So one of the most commonly asked questions I get as a wedding photographer is timeline building and how long to plan for Family Portraits. Well today on the banter, we’re going to talk about just that.
Biggest FAQ about Family Portraits on your wedding day:
So to answer this question, you have to decide when you’re having the photos done in the first place: before the ceremony or after the ceremony. This is big difference! If you planning on having them done before the ceremony, a good rule of thumb is to start about 1 hour before the ceremony.
Now with a shot list ( see this banter blog post about what a shot list is), this will help family photos go by quickly and smoothly. If we keep calling out names and getting people ready to go to take their photo, we’ll have plenty of time before the ceremony to relax and get ready.
Most of the time, an hour before the ceremony is a good rule of thumb because people are always late, someone needs to fix something, so with an hour, we have time to get everything situated and organized.
TIP: Tell your family members to come a hang hour early, so if you plan your ceremony at 4pm, family photos start at 3pm, tell them to come at 2:30pm to be on the safe side. That way, if we’re a head of schedule with getting ready, we can jump right into photos and be even more ahead of schedule!
If you plan on having family photos done after the ceremony, then usually it can take to 30-45 minutes with trying to get everyone in one place instead of talking to other guests. It’s tricky but totally doable.
So I hope that was helpful when it comes to planning your family portraits within your wedding day timeline. It can be tricky with a large amount of people, but nothing is impossible. 🙂
If you have any questions about scheduling family photos, or anything at all regarding timeline building, please don’t hesitate to email me at hello@worksbysarahjane.com.
Cheers!
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