Wedding Tips: Groupshots
Group photos have a reputation for being the slow, herd-everyone-together part of the day — but they really do not have to be. After more than 500 weddings, here is how we get through your group shots quickly, painlessly, and with everyone still smiling.
Make a list, and pick a wrangler
The single biggest time-saver is a written list of the combinations you want, made before the day. Then nominate one confident, slightly loud friend or your MC to be the “wrangler” — the person who calls out names and rounds up each group while I shoot. Budget about a minute per photo, so a list of twelve takes roughly fifteen minutes. Without a list, that same set can drag to forty while we hunt for missing uncles.
Do the big one at pre-drinks
The photograph of all your guests works best during pre-drinks: everyone is there, nobody has wandered off, and the light is usually beautiful. Ask the venue for a ladder so I can shoot from a height — it is the difference between a tidy crowd and a sea of foreheads. Knock out the family combinations first so grandparents can go and sit down, then move on to the fun friend groups.
See how they come together in my group photography, browse more wedding tips, or book a consultation and we will build your shot list together.