How to Prepare Your Formal Family Photo List for Your Wedding Day

One of the best ways we can make your wedding day run smoothly (and stress-free) is by preparing your formal family photo list ahead of time. This simple step helps ensure we capture every important combination without confusion or delays during your portrait time.

Why this matters

Family portraits are often the most time-sensitive part of the day. There are a lot of people, emotions, and moving pieces happening at once. Having a clear list keeps everything organized so we can move efficiently and make sure no important photos are missed.

It also helps your photographer (and any assistant helping) confidently call out names so everyone knows exactly when they’re needed.

Step 1: Create Your Shot List

Your shot list is simply a list of the specific groupings you want photographed during formal family portraits.

Even if some combinations feel repetitive, it’s helpful to list each one individually. This ensures nothing gets overlooked.

Example groupings might include:

• Bride + Mom

• Bride + Dad

• Bride + Mom & Dad

• Bride + Siblings

• Bride + Brother

• Bride + Sister

• Bride + Brother & Sister

• Bride + Mom, Dad & Siblings

• Bride + Grandparents

• Bride + Groom + Mom & Dad

Every family is different, so your list should reflect the people who matter most to you.

Step 2: Add Names (This is important!)

To keep things running smoothly, please include names with each grouping. This makes it much easier to call people out quickly and avoid confusion during portraits.

Example:

• Bride + Susie

• Bride + John

• Bride + Susie & John

• Bride + Uncle Bob

• Bride + Uncle Bob & Aunt Martha

This small detail makes a huge difference in keeping things organized and efficient.

What you don’t need to include

To simplify things for you, some group photos are already automatically included and do not need to be added to your list:

• Bride with bridesmaids (individual and group photos)

• Groom with groomsmen (individual and group photos)

Those will always be covered during your wedding day coverage.

If you’re unsure where to start

If this feels overwhelming or you’re not sure how to structure your list, don’t worry—I’m here to help. We can set up a quick phone call and walk through it together so everything is clear before your wedding day.

There’s still plenty of time to get this finalized, and my goal is to make this part of the process as easy and stress-free as possible for you.