In spite of the popularity of Paparazzi style photography – formal group shots will remain important and wanted by brides, families and wedding guests. It’s these group shots that are the ‘must have’ shots that give brides plenty of stress before and on the big day. Here’s a quick guide to help you plan for your big day….
With a bit of advance planning before the big day, you can make sure everything goes well. For starters, simply write down your list of all the necessary group shots. It should be all the ones you want and all the ones someone close might be disappointed about, if they were not taken. Share this list with the photographer and ask him to ensure everyone intended is in each group:
WHO?
Start with the basics – the bride and groom, Mum & Dad, brothers and sisters and so on. Now move consider best pals, and all those people who got you here. Don’t forget the new combinations that your marriage will create. You and your groom, you and your groom’s family and so on.
Next, consider the “Politically Necessary” groups. Every family has the aunt and uncle who came a long way, or the brother’s newest girlfriend, or the friends from the office and so on. They’ll want to take these pictures home and say what a great time they had.
Then there’s the flower girl & her mum, the minister & your dad, the bridesmaids with their husband or boyfriend, the groomsmen with their wives or girlfriends, and so on and so on.
Alternatively, if you are thinking about a “photo walk” (a series of informal portraits “creatively” staged) you should add these. Or you might want the “first glimpse” portraits, where the groom sees you for the first time in your wedding dress. Again, they are informal looking but staged portraits nonetheless.
Now you’ve got a list. Multiply the total number of photographs by three minutes each. Some will take more time, some less but three minutes is a good average to actually gather people, plan, and take a few shots.
