A Wedding Family Portrait Checklist For Your Photographer
Share this wedding photo list with your photographer to make family photos and portraits on your wedding day a smooth experience.
Prior to the big day, your photographer will likely ask you for a wedding photo list, which will outline specific family wedding photos you and your soon-to-be spouse want to be sure and take during the wedding. While the timing varies from wedding to wedding, you likely have about an hour allotted between the ceremony and reception (or following the first look) for wedding family photos. A complete wedding family photo list will help you and your photographer make the most of these 60 minutes.
Think about it: Your photographer doesn't automatically know that your wedding photo list would include a shot of your mom with all her sisters, or that you want a photo with all the cousins. Consider this wedding photo list a family portrait checklist for your photographer. By providing this wedding photo list before the big day, your photographer will be able to plan out the portrait timing, and which family wedding photos to take when. Not sure who to include in your wedding family photo list? We've done the hard work for you!
Print out our family wedding photo list for some photo op combination ideas.*
*In the family wedding photo list below, we’re referring to you and your future spouse as “partner one" and “partner two”. Depending on the couple’s genders, you may wish to take additional gender-specific photos, such as a photo of a bride with her mother and grandmother or a groom with his father and brothers. Talk to your photographer about any additional photos you’d like to include.
Parents Wedding Photo List
1. Couple + Partner One’s Parents
2. Partner One + Partner One’s Parents
3. Partner One + Each Parent Separately
4. Partner One + Parent + Stepparent, if applicable
5. Couple + Partner Two’s Parents
6. Partner Two + Partner Two’s Parents
7. Partner Two + Each Parent Separately
8. Partner Two + Parent + Stepparent, if applicable
9. Couple + Both Sets of Parents
10. Couple + Both Sets of Parents + Stepparent
Siblings Wedding Photo List
11. Couple + Partner One's Siblings
12. Partner One + Partner One’s Sister(s)
13. Partner One’s + Partner One’s Brother(s)
14. Couple + Partner One’s Parents + Partner One’s Siblings
15. Couple + Partner Two’s Siblings
16.Partner Two +Partner Two’s Sister(s)
17.Partner Two + Partner Two’s Brother(s)
18. Couple + Partner Two’s Parents + Partner Two’s Siblings
19. Couple + All Parents + Siblings
Grandparents Wedding Photo List
20. Couple + Partner One’s Grandparents
21. Partner One + Partner One’s Grandma(s)
22. Partner One + Partner One’s Grandpa(s)
23. Couple + Partner Two’s Grandparents
24. Partner Two + Partner Two’s Grandma(s)
25. Partner Two + Partner Two’s Grandpa(s)
26. Couple + All Grandparents
27. Couple + Partner One’s Parents + Partner One’s Siblings + Partner One’s Grandparents
28. Couple + Partner Two’s Parents + Partner Two’s Siblings + Partner Two’s Grandparents
29. Couple + All Parents, Siblings, and Grandparents
Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins Wedding Photo List
30. Couple + Partner One’s Parents + Partner One’s Siblings + Partner One’s Grandparents + Partner One’s Aunt(s) + Partner One’s Uncle(s) + Partner One’s Cousins
31. Couple + Partner Two’s Parents + Partner Two’s Siblings + Partner Two’s Grandparents + Partner Two’s Aunt(s) + Partner Two’s Uncle(s) + Partner Two’s Cousins
In addition to providing this wedding photo list of family portraits to your photographer, you also want to give some consideration to the overall photography timeline of your wedding day (we have sample wedding photography timelines here). Think about the different location options for your portraits, and discuss these locales with your photographer. Also, make sure you settle the "first look" debate with your soon-to-be spouse. Finalizing your wedding photo list, portrait locations and other details in advance of your big day will ensure that your wedding portraits and family wedding photos go smoothly and, best of all, quickly.