Sky and Savvy Photo, Bring Me Somewhere Nice
A wedding album isn’t complete without the people who stood beside you: the family and friends who came together to witness your next big step and made the day feel whole. That’s why group photos matter. They freeze those meaningful connections in time, capturing the joy, the pride, and the once-in-a-lifetime feeling of having all your favorite people in one place. The only challenge? Without a little planning, the portrait session can take up more of your evening than you’d like. To save time without losing the beauty of the moment, we asked expert photographers to share their smartest strategies for keeping group shots quick, stylish, and relaxed.
Create a Clear Family &
Group Photo List
Group photos don’t have to feel like a chaotic family reunion in fast-forward. The secret is simple: you just need a little preparation. A simple, streamlined shot list helps keep the day flowing, the photographer focused, and your relatives from wandering off to the bar mid-photo. Californian photographer Fiona Tang, who creates documentary-style wedding imagery with an editorial touch, encourages couples to do exactly that. “I always recommend that couples provide a detailed shot list of family and groupings ahead of time. This allows me to move through photos quickly and ensures no one is missed, without having to figure it out in the moment,” she says. Photographer Elizabeth Pishal, celebrated for her emotive storytelling, agrees: “A streamlined list of must-have groupings helps us move quickly so you can get back to celebrating.”
Días de Vino y Rosas, Bring Me Somewhere Nice
Designate a Helper (or Two)
Designating a go-to person to wrangle the right people can make all the difference, especially when things get a little hectic. Photographer Fiona Tang notes: “Having a coordinator, planner, or even a bridal party member help gather the right people makes the process smooth and efficient. This way, the couple isn’t the one running around trying to find Uncle John, and we can maximize the time.”
Schedule Group Photos
Pre-Ceremony
Want more time for champagne and less time posing? Take the group photos pre-ceremony. Getting them done before the official vows means the formalities are out of the way, so you and your guests can focus on celebrating to the fullest. As photographer Elizabeth Pishal explains, “It frees everyone up to enjoy cocktail hour while we sneak in a few relaxed golden hour portraits of the couple.”
Choose a Nearby,
Well-Lit Location
The best group photos happen when no one’s stressed, rushed, or squinting into the sun. A spot close to the ceremony, washed in soft natural light, turns portraits into a calm moment of connection rather than a blur you barely remember. “The closer the portrait location is to the ceremony and reception, the less time is lost to moving large groups around,” shares photographer Fiona Tang. “I always look for natural light and a clean backdrop near the venue so we can transition from ceremony to cocktail hour seamlessly.”
Keep Your Guests
Close & Camera-Ready
If everyone’s scattered like chess pieces, the photo will look stiff and take twice as long to capture. Have your groupings stand close together, so the images feel warm, connected, and natural. It’s faster for the photographer, easier on your timeline, and way more flattering in the final album. Think less “school assembly,” more “chic family portrait.”
Haute Weddings, Sky and Savvy Photo
Look for the In-Between Moments
While formal shots are an essential part of your wedding album, those relaxed, caught-in-the-moment group portraits add a whole new dimension to the story of your day. To capture them, photographer Elizabeth Pishal relies on a simple but brilliant trick: “Families love a posed smiling photo, but the magic often happens right after. I keep snapping after I say, ‘Got it!’— that’s when everyone relaxes, chats, and walks off together, creating candid moments that feel real.”
