Family photos can be one of the most meaningful parts of your wedding day—but they can also be one of the most time-consuming. As a professional wedding photographer, I’ve seen family portrait time either flow beautifully… or completely stall the timeline. The key? A clear, realistic family photo list.

This guide will walk you through when to take family photos, how to plan your groupings, and what to consider to make the process smooth and stress-free—so you get the photos you’ll cherish for decades without missing your cocktail hour.

When Should We Take Family Photos?

This depends on your wedding timeline and whether or not you're doing a first look.

If you're doing a first look:
I recommend doing immediate family photos before the ceremony. This helps knock out a big portion of the list early while everyone is still fresh and looking their best.

If you're not doing a first look:
We'll usually take all family photos immediately following the ceremony. Just make sure your officiant or planner makes an announcement to keep everyone in place—Aunt Linda has a way of disappearing right when we need her!

Some couples also save extended family groupings for later in the evening, during dinner or the reception, especially if they want to keep the post-ceremony photo time quick. If you’re planning a wedding in the Bay Area, we can often find gorgeous nearby spots for portraits even as the light changes.

Who Are These Photos For?

Let’s be real: sometimes these portraits are more for Mom and Grandma than for the couple—and that’s okay!

Family photos are a generational gift. Think of them as heirlooms. I love looking at my own parents' wedding album, and it’s a beautiful feeling knowing your future kids or nieces/nephews might do the same with yours someday.

That said, you get to decide how many of these groupings feel right for your day. If you’d rather enjoy your cocktail hour than take 45 minutes of extended family portraits, that’s totally valid—and I’ll be the first to support you. But if you want to honor every cousin, family friend, and godparent, I’m here for that too. What matters is being intentional.

What’s the Best Way to Build a Family Photo List?

I suggest starting with the essential groupings and working your way out. Here’s a clean and simple starting structure :

Must-Have Family Photo Shot List

Bride and Groom with both sides’ immediate family (parents, siblings, grandparents)
Bride and Groom with Groom’s immediate family
Bride and Groom with Bride’s immediate family
Bride and Groom with Groom’s parents
Bride and Groom with Bride’s parents
Bride with Mom
Bride with Dad
Groom with Mom
Groom with Dad
Bride and Groom with siblings
Bride and Groom with grandparents

If you’d like to include extended family, here’s how that can look:

Bride and Groom with Groom’s extended family (parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins)
Bride and Groom with Bride’s extended family (parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins)
Bride and Groom with both sides’ extended family

Tip: We usually start with the largest groupings first, then peel people away as we go. This keeps things efficient and ensures the most important combinations are captured while everyone’s still present and engaged. If there are any elderly or mobility-impaired guests, I will try and take these groupings first.

What If I Want More Editorial or Posed Family Photos?

Some of my clients want family photos that feel styled and polished—almost like they could be in a magazine. I love that! Just know that this approach takes more time and coordination: we’ll need extra minutes to pose, find flattering light, and possibly shoot from different angles.

On the flip side, if you're more into the "quick and done" approach, we’ll breeze through the groupings with fewer poses and variations. You’ll still get the must-haves, just with a more documentary-style efficiency.

Let me know your vibe ahead of time, and I’ll tailor the approach to you.

Can We Just Take Photos at the Reception Instead?

If you want to see more people, take fewer formal groupings, and avoid a big photo block—yes! Table visits during dinner are a great alternative. Once the couple has eaten and the guests are seated with their food, we can go table to table, smiling and snapping a quick photo with each group. It’s fun, fast, and keeps the energy high. Just know these photos are more casual compared to a nicely posed group shot in a beautiful Bay Area wedding venue location.

What About One Big Photo With All Our Guests?

Yes, it can be done! A photo with every guest at your wedding is totally possible. It just takes a bit of coordination and extra time.

A few things to know:

It takes time to set up. Getting 80+ people organized and facing the right direction isn’t quick—especially if we need to move people into good lighting, find the right background, and get everyone looking at the camera at once.
Timing is key. If you want a photo with all of your wedding guests, the best times to do it are either immediately after the ceremony, before everyone heads to cocktail hour, or at the very end of cocktail hour, just before guests are invited in for dinner. These are the moments when your guests are already gathered in one general area and easier to wrangle. It helps to have your officiant, DJ, or planner make an announcement so everyone knows where to go—and I’ll take care of making it quick, efficient, and fun.
Consider the space. Not all venues have a location that can comfortably fit everyone in a single photo, so it’s a good idea to scout a spot in advance that allows for a wide shot (ideally with some elevation so we can see everyone’s faces).

Pro Tip: Designate a Photo Helper

This might be one of the most overlooked ways to make family photos way easier: choose a helper who knows the key players.

Whether it’s a sibling, cousin, or close friend—someone who knows both sides of the family can help:

Gather the right people for each grouping
Identify who's missing (before they wander off to the bar)
Make sure Grandma isn’t hiding in the back row
Translate nicknames or family dynamics I wouldn’t otherwise know

Think of them as the “family photo wrangler.” It’s a game-changer.

Bonus points if they’re loud, organized, and slightly bossy—in the best way.

Including large family groups or a full guest photo can be such a fun and memorable part of your gallery—as long as we plan for it. I’ll always work with you to decide if it fits within your timeline and what’s realistic for your venue and guest count.

Should We Include Plus-Ones or Significant Others in Family Photos?

Ah yes—the great “should they or shouldn’t they” debate when it comes to including siblings’ or family members’ significant others in formal family portraits.

Here’s the deal: sometimes a family member really wants their partner in the photo—and a few months later… they’re no longer together. Now you're stuck with a formal family portrait featuring someone who’s no longer in the picture (literally and figuratively). It happens!

So what should you do?

Here are a few options I suggest to handle this gracefully:

1. Default to Family-Only First

For the core groupings (bride and groom with parents, siblings, and grandparents), I recommend starting with family only. These are the photos that will likely end up printed, framed, and passed down—so keeping them timeless and focused on immediate family is usually the safest bet.

2. Take Two Versions

If there’s a long-term partner or fiancé of a sibling, no problem—we can do both:

One version with just the family
One version with the significant other included

This keeps everyone happy and gives you options later.

3. Strategic Placement

If someone’s partner must be in the photo but you’re unsure how permanent they are in the family dynamic, here’s a pro tip:
We’ll position them on the end of the grouping.
Why? Because if you ever need to crop or Photoshop them out later (no judgment!), it’s much easier when they’re not sandwiched in the middle.

Clean edges = clean edits.

4. Set Expectations Ahead of Time

It’s totally okay to let family know ahead of time that only immediate family will be included in the formal photos. You can always offer to take casual reception or cocktail hour shots with plus-ones, which keeps everyone feeling seen and included.

At the end of the day, these photos are for you. It’s okay to think ahead while still being considerate in the moment. I’ll help guide the groupings gently and professionally so no one feels left out or awkward—and your gallery reflects exactly what you want.

Handling Other Tricky Family Dynamics

Weddings bring people together—which can also mean navigating complex relationships. As a San Francisco wedding photographer, I’m here to support you through all of it. Here are a few examples:

Divorced Parents Who Don't Get Along

We can handle this with care. If your parents are divorced and would prefer not to be in photos together, we’ll take:

One photo with each parent and their respective side of the family
Individual photos with the bride/groom and each parent separately
A joint photo only if everyone is comfortable

Pro tip: You can let me or your planner know in advance so we handle it delicately on the day without needing to ask awkward questions.

Stepparents and Blended Families

Let me know which stepparents or bonus family members you'd like included in which groupings. Some couples want photos that reflect who raised them, while others want to include everyone equally. Either way, I’ll respect your preferences and make sure everyone feels seen and appreciated without stepping on toes.

Final Thoughts

Family photos are an important part of your wedding story, but they shouldn’t take over your entire day. The best way to make them run smoothly?

Start with the essentials
Be honest about your priorities
Communicate clearly with your photographer and planner
Share your list ahead of time

If you’re still unsure what’s realistic for your timeline or your Bay Area wedding venue, I’m always happy to help you build a custom family photo list that suits your unique family dynamic and flow of the day.

Let’s make these photos beautiful, easy, and meaningful—for you and for the generations to come.Let’s make these photos beautiful, easy, and meaningful—for you and for the generations to come.

Need Help Crafting Your Photo List?

If you’re one of my booked couples, feel free to send over your draft list or family names—I can help you streamline it and offer advice on what will work best based on your timeline and wedding size.

If you’re still looking for a wedding photographer who values balance, calm energy, and gorgeous, heartfelt documentation, let’s talk. I’d love to hear more about your day.

Would you like me to turn this into a blog post draft in a doc format for your website, or are you planning to post it straight from here?

How to Create Your Family Photos Shot List for Your Wedding Day