The Secrets of Capturing Outstanding Family Portraits at Weddings

Family portraits at weddings can be notoriously difficult to capture and make special.

Most of the time, these look forced and someone will always end up being unhappy with their depiction.

Even the most experienced photographers and videographers suffer through portrait capturing and fail doing an outstanding job every single time.

That’s because numerous factors play a role and have to be taken in consideration when capturing family portraits at weddings.

If you feel that your family portraits always have a pedestrian or amateurish quality to them, the following tips will help you up your game and create some truly outstanding shots.

 

Come Up with an Action Plan for Family Portraits at Weddings

 

It’s always a good idea to discuss family portraits with the couple before the big day arrives.

Some brides and grooms like posing with all of their friends and family members after the ceremony.

Some will prefer the creation of a large group shot while others will take individual pictures with the different family members – parents, siblings, cousins, distant relatives, etc.

Have an action plan in advance and discuss the number of family portraits and the people who’ll be featured in them.

It’s also a good idea to choose the right backdrop or venue for the family shots.

When you have the plan in place, visit the venue to make sure the light and the setup will be just right for portrait creation at the specific time of the day during which the wedding will be taking place.

 

Have Enough Time for Each Shot

 

Once you have a list of the family portraits that the couple wants, calculate the amount of time needed to shoot all.

Organizing and shooting a single family portrait will take anywhere between three and five minutes.

If it’s a larger group of people, anticipate a longer period to get everyone organized and featured in the shot.

Let the couple know how much time is needed for the creation of beautiful family portraits.

It’s also a good idea to discuss the activity with the wedding planner.

They will be tasked with finding enough time between the ceremony and the reception for the shoot to take place.

If you have to rush through portrait creation, you may want to reduce the number of pictures.

Otherwise, many of the outcomes will appear rushed. Focusing on a few quality pictures will be a much better idea.

As a professional, you’ll be responsible with capturing the rest of the family on film throughout the wedding (candid shots can actually have a much more authentic quality to them).

 

Make Things a Bit More Unusual

 

The typical family portrait at a wedding features a standing lineup of relatives with the bride and the groom in the middle.

While this shot is a classic, it’s probably the most boring kind.

To add some life and freshness to family portraits at weddings, consider some alternative.

Using props can always be a fun way to get people having fun while you’re creating the portraits.

Photo frames can be fun to employ. Giving people balloons, feathers, fans or any other props to use during the shoot can also result in some fun outcomes.

An added bonus of this approach is that most people will let loose when they have something to do.

Standing up straight and posing for a picture gets most feeling unnatural and uncomfortable.

These sentiments show in the end outcome. Trying something silly will get the people in the picture genuinely happy and interacting with each other.

 

Be Careful with Kids and Senior Family Members

 

Family portraits become even trickier whenever your subjects move around a lot or they have physical limitations due to age.

When portraits have to feature children or senior family members, you will have to act super fast and make the concept a bit simpler.

Props can work really well for children.

It’s also a good idea to have a toy or two to help little ones remained focus and within the shot for a longer period of time.

If you’d like to make the pictures a bit more unorthodox, give children a special task or a role to play.

They could help out the bride with her veil or her flowers. They could be the groom’s little entourage.

This is an idea you will need to discuss with the bride and groom in advance.

In fact, they can help you choose the perfect concept because they know the people who’ll be attending the wedding really well.

As far as senior family members are concerned, make sure there’s an option for them to be seated during the portrait creation.

Accommodating for physical limitations and making sure everyone’s comfortable will give you the time required to create the perfect shot.

 

Get Help from a Family Member

 

Getting someone to make sure everyone has gathered for a family portrait will save you a lot of time and effort.

A sidekick will streamline the process.

For the best results, make sure you’re working with someone who knows family dynamics well and who’ll be efficient at getting people together.

A member of the bridal party can do a good job as your family portrait sidekick.

The same applies to one of the siblings or a cousin of the bride or the groom.

A younger person will find it much easier to run around and to convey the right message to everyone.

And while you’re working on one of the portraits, they will be trying to bring together everyone who will be participating in the next shot.

 

Pick the Right Backdrop for Family Portraits at Weddings

 

This one can be tricky.

A good backdrop sets the mood without dominating the picture. It also gives you optimal light conditions for portrait photography.

The best backdrop is thematic – for example, you can use the lawn in front of the church where the wedding took place.

Shooting people at the ceremony location can also be a good idea, as long as the background doesn’t look too busy.

Make sure there aren’t people moving back and forth – a high traffic area is never a good place for portrait setups.

If there is a designated area that’s away from the venue, make sure that the family members are aware of its location.

Your designated sidekick will be very helpful in such situations. They will be running back to the venue and bringing over the people who will need to be shot.

Keep in mind that the light conditions are going to change in the event of an outdoor shoot.

That is something to always consider when picking the location and when determining the amount of time required for all the portraits.

If the bride and groom are asking for many different pictures, you may have to pick a couple of locations and move around to use the best light.

 

Ask about Special Circumstances

 

This one may seem like taking it a step too far. Yet, requesting such information can prevent a lot of awkwardness on the day of the wedding.

As a wedding photographer or videographer, you should always inquire about special circumstances.

Are there any family feuds you need to be mindful of? Are there people who don’t talk to each other or who seem to be at conflict?

While such squabbles and quarrels are inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, they can result in incredibly embarrassing moments while family portraits are being created.

The quality of the pictures will also be impacted by the demeanor of the individuals participating.

Get the bride and groom’s input on how to go around such special circumstances.

Their knowledge of family dynamics and recent events will be invaluable.

It will salvage the photo shoot and get beautiful pictures everyone will be happy with.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Family portraits matter, especially the ones that the bride and groom plan to print out or feature in their wedding album.

Some photographers and videographers underestimate the importance of such shots.

Such an attitude, however, will almost always result in a disappointing outcome.

While they can be tedious to create, beautiful family portraits at weddings provide an opportunity to demonstrate real craftsmanship and creativity.

Come up with a fresh concept that you discuss with the bride and groom in advance.

Use the opportunity to interact with people at the wedding and add some value to the service you are providing.

Doing a good job will result in a comprehensive package of amazing shots.

Yes, family portraits can be boring. It’s really up to you as a professional to come up with an alternative approach and break the mold.

Doing something out of the realm of cliché will result in some outstanding shots that your clients will love and that you’ll also feel proud picturing in your portfolio.