| Intro | | | | - Bride & Groom with Bride's Mother & |
| Posed family group shots are timeless moments | | | | Father: Cliff In |
| included in most wedding albums. While memorable, | | | | - Bride & Groom with Bride's Mother, Father |
| shooting these scenes can be time consuming and | | | | & Siblings: Joanne and John In |
| stressful to both the photographer and the families if | | | | - Bride & Groom with Bride's Siblings: Carolyn and |
| not well planned out in advance. We at Steve Smith | | | | Charles Out |
| Weddings have compiled our tricks of the trade and | | | | - Bride with her Siblings: Cliff Out |
| would like to pass them along to you. Whether | | | | Additional Tips |
| you're a wedding planner, meticulous bride/groom, or | | | | - Use an assistant--either one you bring, or a |
| a photographer, we feel that these tips will help | | | | volunteer wedding attendee who knows the family. |
| make executing your family wedding photos much | | | | Have the assistant use the script to gather and |
| smoother, faster, and more enjoyable for all. | | | | stage the people needed to come in and out of the |
| Basic Scripting | | | | shots. The assistant should also track which shots |
| 1. Obtain a list of all the family member's names and | | | | have been done. This enables the photographer to |
| their relationship to the bride or groom well before | | | | focus on the technical and creative side of things |
| the wedding. | | | | while pleasantly and efficiently moving the subjects in |
| 2. With the bride and groom's help, prepare a list of | | | | and out. The majority of them would much rather be |
| all the family combinations they would like to have | | | | at the reception festivities than taking pictures. |
| captured, i.e., bride with mother and father, bride and | | | | - Kind gestures tend to go a long way. Say please |
| groom with mother and father, etc. | | | | and thank you. Smile. Offer your arm to anyone who |
| 3. Prepare a script noting who will be coming into and | | | | may need and/or appreciate assistance in getting to |
| exiting each group shot. | | | | from where the photo is being taken. Thank |
| 4. Keep in mind that children and elderly people tend | | | | everyone for their patience and cooperation. You're |
| to have limited patience. We recommend that you | | | | more likely to get friendly smiles from your subjects |
| script photos with these particular family members | | | | if project positive energy towards them. |
| early in the session so that they can be excused as | | | | - Do your best to stick to your script. There is a |
| quickly as possible. | | | | strong tendency to skip over people that may be |
| 5. Order your shots so that moving the subject's in | | | | absent for one reason or another. Not waiting can |
| out can be accomplished smoothly and efficiently. | | | | throw off the subsequent scripting and leave you |
| The fewer people to move between shots, the | | | | and your assistant to adjust on the fly. In the end, |
| easier the shoot will flow. | | | | the judgment call is yours. If you think that your |
| Sample Script | | | | wedding party can be patient enough for uncle |
| Family Members | | | | Charlie to come back from the restroom then by all |
| - Bride: Julia | | | | means wait for him. |
| - Groom: Cliff | | | | Summary |
| - Bride's Mother: Carolyn | | | | Family group scenes are almost always a necessary |
| - Bride's Father:Charles | | | | part of "telling the story of the wedding day" and an |
| - Bride's Sister: Joanne | | | | important facet of the collection of photos. Your |
| - Brides Brother: John | | | | organization and timely execution will be much |
| In/Out Staging | | | | appreciated. Not to mention, a bit of weight will be |
| - Bride with her Mother: Julia and Carolyn In | | | | lifted from your shoulders. |
| - Bride with her Mother & Father: Charles In | | | | |