Prepare your Family Photography List
I’m getting excited to photograph your wedding this coming month!!
Let’s get ready & plan!
*Send this information back to me a month before your wedding date. If anything changes, update me a.s.a.p.
How to create your shot list:
When you create your numbered list, indicate the familial relationship of each group [e.g. Bride+Groom w/ Bride’s Siblings] and then list the names of individuals in parenthesis [e.g. (John,Bill,Sally)] Provide first names only; don’t include your names. Even if a grouping includes twenty people, try to include the name of each individual in the group and or also state entire brides side of the family w/ or without groom. If you don’t know the name of someone in a group, please indicate the relationship [e.g. Bill’s wife, Sally’s husband, Bill & Sally’s child, etc.]. Providing group information in this specific format helps me to assist you in organizing your family photo list. More importantly, it helps me be more efficient in managing those groupings on your wedding day. Here’s a formatting example:
Entire Bride’s side of the family (comma separated names)
Bride + MOH (Sisters Name)
Brides + Bridesmaids (Name all in Party)
Bride + Groom w/ Officiant (Name)
Bride + Groom w/ Bride’s Parents & Siblings (Jane, John, Sally, John Jr.)
Bride + Groom w/ Flower Girls & Ring Bearers (comma separated names)
Bride + Groom w/ Bride’s Parents (comma separated names)
Bride + Groom w/ Bride’s Parents & Siblings (comma separated names)
Bride + Groom w/ Bride’s Grandparents (comma separated names)
Bride + Groom w/ Bride’s Grandparents & Parents (comma separated names)
Bride + Groom w/ Bride’s Grandparents & Parents & Siblings (comma separated names)
Bride + Groom w/ all of Bride’s Siblings (comma separated names)
(Please list here if any family members need to be carefully separated and not put together).
Entire Groom’s side of the family (Group Shot) (comma separated names)
Groom + Groomsmen’s (Name all in Party)
Groom + Best Man (Name)
Groom + Bride w/ Groom’s Parents (comma separated names)
Groom + Bride w/ all of Grooms Siblings (comma separated names)
Groom + Bride w/ Groom’s Parents & Siblings(comma separated names)
Groom +Bride w/ Groom’s Grandparents (comma separated names)
Groom + Bride w/ Grooms Grandparents & Parents (comma separated names)
Groom + Bride w/ Grooms Grandparents & Siblings (comma separated names)
etc.
After we finalize your family photo list, you’ll want to contact each person to hope to have in your photos and let them know that they’re included in your family photos. If we do not finish family portraits before the ceremony ask your officiant to speak up and tell family members to stay in their seats after the ceremony and await additional instructions. When you contact the folks on your list, you’ll want to stress the importance of arriving on time and in particular not having family wonder off. If you don’t make this kind of specific request, in my experience, family members may wander off to grab a drink, leave the premises, etc. If you warn those folks beforehand, they are more likely to be around when we need them for their photo.
Note: I request with all my couples to at least set aside 30 – 40 minutes “alone” on the timeline so I can capture the two of you. This helps add to the amount of images and variety in your gallery. If I only receive 10 minutes with you both I will take “safe shots” -traditional portraits.
If you need further assistance with the timeline we can set up a consult to go over any questions your have.
Please Include In Your Timeline:
If you are doing a first look,include this time in your timeline (15 mins) . If you are not doing a first look, you may want to set time after the ceremony for family photos. Please have your officiant announce family stay in their seats.
Please send your timeline my way a week before your wedding date and I we can address anything that stands out questionable. If the timeline changes, I’m very flexible – even day of. I just love to stay prepared and send any advice or suggestions your way before it’s too late.
I’m super excited to be apart of your day! I can’t wait.
Cheers,
Lauren Ryan