Why you should only have 10 wedding group photos
Some people naturally loathe spending time taking wedding group photos. Others absolutely love the idea of taking them.
One thing both types of people have in common: on their wedding day, neither will want to spend a lot of time actually taking the group shots.
Yes, even the people who thought they love taking group shots will, on their wedding day, do not want to spend very much time on them.
This is why I recommend having a list of no more than 10 wedding group photos.
Why only 10 wedding group photos?
How do I come to this number?
On average taking one group photo takes 3 to 5 minutes. (Don’t just take my word for it, it is a figure widely agreed on by wedding photographers.)
This means that your 20 group photos would take at least a full hour, or might even take as long as 1 hour 40 minutes.
Soooo… how long is your drinks reception again?
Would you like to actually have a drink and celebrate during your drinks reception?
Yes, thought so!
How to reduce the number of wedding group photos without missing anyone
There are two photos you should definitely put on your list:
One is the photo with everyone in it.
The other photo you should definitely have is one of you with all your bridesmaids and groomsmen.
To reduce the number of the other photos, check where you can consolidate two or three group photos into one.
For example: do you need a separate photo with each of your siblings families or is it okay to have just two? One with all of your siblings and their families and another with all your new spouse’s siblings and their families?
Do you have to have a photo of one of your sets of parents separate from that with your siblings?
You see, instead of having two or more separate photos with your parents and then with each of your siblings, you could do with only one photo with that side of the family.
Another set of groups that always can be consolidated down is wider family. These are photos that are just for you!
I have never seen aunts and uncles (or cousins) order formal photos unless there are young children in them, who for the first time in their lives have behaved well while having their photo taken.
So save yourself the trouble of having a photo with your cousin, a separate photo with their children and yet another photo with aunts and uncles. And put them all into one!
The only reason to split photos into smaller groups is if it otherwise would be a really big photo.
And the last one we all tend to overthink: the friend photo.
If many of your guests fall into this category, you might want to split them up into smaller groups. For example: one with your friends and another with your new spouse’s friends.
If however there are only a 15 people, put them into one photo. Because this is another photo that is just for you.
But what if some people won’t like being in the same wedding group photo?!
You might be considering divorcees and step families here as a reasons to split up the group into two or more wedding group photos.
Let me say it again: the wider family photos are just for you! So don’t overthink it.
They don’t have to stand next to each other in the photo!
If there is a complicated dynamic, just make me aware, and I will make sure one of them stands next to you and the other one on your new spouse’s side.
This of course, can be more complicated if it is your parents and stepparents. Parents do order wedding group photos of themselves with their newly wed daughter or son. And only you can know whether your parents fall into this category and whether you should have separate photos with each of your parents & their current partners.
What about ad-hoc on the day group photo requests?
These are really up to you.
If your parents, a sibling, or relative wants a photo outside of the groups we have planned, my advice (as long as we don’t have lots of these requests) is to simply roll with it.
Because it is often quicker to just take the photo than to try and dissuade them.
If there are quite a lot of them, a good way of dealing with it can be to suggest that you get your drinks and have some relaxed photos taken together while you get on with your celebrations. A type of “organised photos light”.
A final word on your wedding group photos list
We will have the Big Pre-Wedding Call around 4 weeks before the wedding. It is best if you have a shortlist of wedding group photo ready for this.
This is for three reasons:
1) Knowing how many groups we photograph will let me know how much time we need for the wedding group photos, and will allow me to plan your couples photos as well as all the other things I will try and capture, like your ready set up reception room and the general mingling and happiness of the day.
2) It will allow me to assist you if you are not sure about some of the group shots or how they can be consolidated. We can talk this through during our call.
3) Most importantly: you will not have time (or headspace) within 4 weeks of your wedding to write up this list. In fact, I recommend you draft this list out as soon as you have sent the invites.
I hope you found this helpful!
Of course, the group photos aren’t the only formals we take at your wedding or handfasting. You can find out more about taking photos of just the two of you in my blog about Couple Portraits.
If you think you might like me to help with your wedding photography, please get in touch via the contact form.
And for more helpful wedding planning content, head to my blog page.
Bright blessings,
Handfasting Photographer UK and EU
