Family formals do not have to take over 20 minutes. However, this is only possible if we are organized beforehand and everyone pays attention during portraits! Immediate Family Formals include parents, grandparents and the couple's siblings (spouses and children welcome, of course). 20-30 Minutes typically will not be enough time to include aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. If you are envisioning a large group photo with extended family members, please email us prior to submitting this form so we can verify if you will have enough time in the schedule we have completed with you or your planner.
Please list the different groupings for family photos on all sides. For example:
1. Bride with Bride's parents (Barb & Jim).
2. Bride with Mother (Barb).
3. Bride with Father (Jim).
4. Bride and groom with Bride's parents (Barb & Jim).
5. Bride and Groom with Bride's grandparents (Ester & Eddie).
6. Bride with Bride's grandparents (Ester & Eddie).
7. Bride with Grandma (Ester).
8. Bride with Grandpa (Eddie).
9. Bride with Bride's siblings (Sally & Patty).
10. Bride and Groom with Bride's siblings (Sally & Patty).
ETC.
Within these groupings, you can have more than one shot (ex. B&G with Grooms parents, B&G with Brides Parents, etc.) If you have a very large family and more than 10 group photos, I suggest saving some of the extended family shots until the reception so that family portrait time will not interfere with your romantic portraits and you will not keep your guests waiting at the reception. Please inform me of any family members that may not get along and/or may not want to be grouped with a certain other family members so that we can avoid and awkward interactions during family formals. Thank you!
(Please include names so that I can call family members by their first name as we organize the portraits)
EX: B&G with Bride’s Parents (Kevin & Brenda) ALSO, please specify if there are STEP PARENTS and STEP SIBLINGS involved in portraits.
*PLEASE NOTE*
During family/group portraits, I am focused on making YOU TWO look good! I do my best to make sure each person has their eyes open and take numerous shots to sift through in post-processing but I cannot guarantee everyone's eyes will be open, especially in larger group photos. I also cannot guarantee everyone's face can be seen in groups of ten or more. Some people I have photographed have an aversion to looking directly at the camera for some reason. No matter how many times I say "please look here!" some people will keep focused on their surroundings. There is no way for me to ensure every detail on their person is perfect (necklace out of place, etc)--especially as the amount of people in the photos rises. There is also no way for me to guarantee what their smile will look like--that's all them! If I notice someone isn't smiling, I will say something to the group, as to not point them out directly. Whether that person decides to smile or not is up to them. If someone continues to talk through the photos, it will be difficult to get an image of them smiling and may be a photo with their mouth slightly open or some other way. The screen on the back of a professional camera is very small and images are not easily visible on it so when I am checking it between shots, I am mainly checking sharpness and if the bride and groom's eyes are open. Just know that we always do our absolute best when capturing your portraits, details and wedding day!