Family means everything, and many of us find ourselves wanting to document the precious memories and relationships we share with our loved ones. Taking family formal photos after your wedding ceremony is the perfect way to capture moments that you don’t want to lose and forever remind you of the love shared that day. Follow these 5 tips that will ensure that your formals are fast and easy for everyone.

We use a subtraction process. In other words, we start with a group photo of everyone and subtract from there based on the closeness of relation. Make a list of the most important people you want to be photographed. Be mindful not to add too many, as it could cut into your portrait time. We will do a variety of poses with each set to make them engaging and easy for everyone involved.

We strongly believe that the questionnaire we have you fill out with detailed information about your most important family photos is essential. Feel free to let us know on the wedding day if anything changes and we would be happy to accommodate your needs.

We will usually pick a location close to the ceremony site in most cases. We would hate to have your grandparents walk across the entire property especially if they need assistance. Your bridal party could get a little antsy and really want to head to cocktail hour as soon as possible. If you can, try to have your coordinator or someone who is not in the family formals do a water run. Most brides are usually parched right after the ceremony so hydration will definitely help.

You just got married!! This is the happiest day of your life. Don’t be afraid to let loose and have fun with these photos. Some of my favorite images are the bridal party. These are your closest friends and family I am sure they would love to have a group image of all of you looking amazing! Show love and affection for your loved ones. Just be yourself and have a blast!

There is no reason you can’t make family formals fast and fun for everyone involved! Just follow these 5 simple tips and you are sure to have many memorable images in your gallery!

Newly engaged? Congrats! We would love to discuss the photography options that would suit your perfect day. Interested in booking your own engagement or wedding? Let’s Chat!