Family photographs sound simple.

“Let’s just get everyone together for a family photo.”

Except… anyone who has photographed a wedding knows that it is rarely that simple. 😂

Weddings bring together all kinds of family dynamics. Divorced parents, step-parents, new partner, estranged siblings and sometimes even parents who don’t speak to each other.

The truth is, your photographer doesn’t know your family history. We might know who’s who, but we don’t know the story behind every relationship. I always encourage couples to tell me beforehand if there are certain people who shouldn’t be photographed together, or if there are specific family groupings that are important to them.

There is absolutely no judgement. I don’t need to know the whole story. I just need to know enough to make sure I don’t accidentally put someone in an uncomfortable situation and things turn out awkward.

It also helps the family photographs run much more smoothly. If I know exactly who needs to be in each photograph, I can get everyone together, take the photos and get you back to enjoying your wedding because the last thing you want is your wedding photographer shouting:

“Okay, where’s Dad?”

…while Dad is standing next to the person he definitely shouldn’t be standing next to. 😂

Before your wedding, give your photographer a little bit of information about your family. It might seem insignificant at the time, but it can make a huge difference on the day.

Happy Planning & Good Luck!