Formal Wedding Photos

We require you to provide us with a list of photos you'd like for your family photos, at least 30 days prior to the wedding. This ensures you get photos with everyone you want without feeling overwhelmed on the day and possibly missing an irreplaceable photo.

Without a set list of shots for us to set up for you formals can be hectic and take much longer than needed. So please make sure to do this! We promise you'll thank us later!

Timing for Formals

YOU SHOULD SET ASIDE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES FOR FORMALS, AFTER YOUR FIRST LOOK OR CEREMONY.

We will assist you with an estimated time-frame once we have the list, however typically it takes us around 30 minutes to complete. To prevent you from getting tired of standing and smiling for formals we recommend limiting your family list to 10 combinations and about 5 for the wedding party. Any extended family or friends you don’t get photos with during the formals we can take during the reception.

If you choose to have a first look, we'll take all of your formal photos right after the first look, prior to the ceremony. If you are not having a first look, we will take these photos right after the ceremony. If we’re doing them right after the ceremony, please let the officiant know to make an announcement after the recessional is complete, to tell family members needed in photos to remain where they are and not go to cocktail hour with the rest of the guests.

It's essential that you notify everyone who will be in these photos when and where you will need them. It's also smart to assign someone that knows your family, such as a bridesmaid or best man, to be in charge of corralling family members if they are missing so we can continue down the list while the designated coraller finds the missing person. Especially if it's right before cocktail hour, this is all too common and can really hold things up, cutting into your newlywed portrait time.

Shot List Templates

TEMPLATES YOU CAN USE TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SHOT LISTS

FAMILY FORMALS

WEDDING PARTY

-Couple with both immediate families

-Couple with both sets of parents

-Couple with partner a’s parents, siblings and grandparents

-Couple with partner a’s parents and siblings

-Couple with partner a’s parents

-Partner a with parents

-Couple with partner b’s parents, siblings and grandparents

-Couple with partner b’s parents and siblings

-Couple with partner b’s parents

-Partner b with parents

-Entire wedding party

-Partner a with their party

-Parter a with their best person

-Partner b with their party

-Partner b with their best person

Keep In Mind...

This day is about you coming together as one. With that said, you both should be in almost every photo together. We recommend against doing shots together and separate, as duplicating shots without your new life partner in them takes up a lot of unnecessary time. We recommend most of your combinations starting with "couple with.." not just "partner a with.." or "partner b with..".