Congratulations, you're getting married! If you’re far enough through the planning to be considering booking your wedding photographer, or perhaps you've already chosen the person that's going to take the photos on your big day, then you're also probably starting to think about the kind of photos you'd like that wedding photographer to take. If that thinking includes a big list of group wedding photos then that's where this blog comes in…
So don’t shoot the messenger, but requesting lots and lots of group wedding photos from your photographer, probably won’t get you the amazing wedding photos you’re looking for, and here’s why...
Group wedding photos take A LOT of time…
For one thing, group photos take a lot of time to organise and set up and your wedding photographer really is only there for a finite period of time, so you really want to make the most of them capturing the magic moments of your wedding, not herding missing uncles and lost grandparents into formally arranged photographs. Yes, it's lovely to get all of your loved ones included in some photos on the day, but a good wedding photographer, particularly one that focuses on or specialises in a documentary photography style like me, will make a concerted effort to do this for you as part of their working style. It's one thing I actually prioritise when I'm doing my wedding photo shoots; making sure I have at least one shot of the majority of your guests.
Most wedding guests don’t actually enjoy group photos…
On top of that, and I'm sure you can check this with family members who've attended other weddings and being in group photos, generally speaking your guests just don't enjoy it. I often find I'm dragging people away from the bar, chatting with friends and having a good time to come and join me in a dedicated location to pose for a photo. Now don’t get me wrong everybody I’ve had the pleasure to photograph at weddings have always been very polite and they do come with me and have their group photos taken (thank you), but I definitely guarantee it's not what they want to be spending their time at your wedding doing.
People go missing!
I also mentioned earlier about those missing nanas and lost uncle's and this is another big problem with group photos, people simply wander off throughout the day to have a good time (and honestly who can blame them). Depending on how much of a wandering group your family members and friends are, this may mean your photographer is spending more time finding people and arranging photographs than actually taking photographs. The end result here is that you'll get a smaller return on your investment with your photographer, as you'll get less photos delivered at the end of the day.
You run the risk of missing out on your own wedding celebrations…
It's one thing taking your guests away from what they want to do, but don't forget that this will be a huge requirement for you guys as the couple too. If you're having lots of lots of group photos, that's lots and lots of time that you're going to be spending getting posed, arranged and organised instead of doing the most important thing on your wedding day; being in love and having an amazing time with all of your guests. This is where allowing your photographer to take candid photos is really worth its weight in gold.
By trusting your photographer to do their job, which is at the end of the day capturing those magic moments, you'll get far better photos than you're likely to get from having loads of arranged group shots. Why? Because a lot of people, as soon as they're in front of the camera, get camera shy, a little bit awkward and even sometimes nervous, (and if we’re talking about kids, then they rarely sit still or smile on cue) and with the best will in the world, that doesn't make for a great photo. By contrast, capturing someone in a moment when they are laughing with friends and having a fantastic time will deliver natural, emotional and genuine photos from your wedding and who doesn’t want that at the end of the day?
There are other things worth investing in…
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you can't have the photos you want on your big day, it's your wedding after all, all I'm saying is give your photographer a guide of who you'd like them to capture in the pictures and any special requirements that you may have, or special considerations, just don’t tell them how to capture them.
Trust your photographer, after all chances are you probably didn't book them because of their group wedding shots anyway, and have faith in their process. I know it's important to get close family and friends captured during your wedding day. I lost my Dad several years ago and I know how amazingly important photos are, so you’re in very good hands if I am your wedding photographer, I promise.
My advice at the end of the day is don't invest in too many group photos, invest instead in having a fun wedding with great entertainment and I promise you, that this will create the best wedding photos.
The maths just doesn’t check out...
If you’re still not convinced though, then my final takeaway is this: did you know on average it takes up to five minutes per group photo to set it up and capture the moment? That works out at around 12 photos per hour, so if nothing else do the maths and work out how many wedding photos you’ll get on your big day if you've only got your wedding photographer for a finite amount of time…
P.s. I do actually do group photos for my couples when they request them... I promise!
If you want group wedding photos… then of course you can have them. Group photos are something I always incorporate into my couple’s wedding galleries when they want them. All I would recommend is keeping them to a minimum where possible, a list of no more than 8 group shots is a great guide to help you choose the ones you really want. And the best way to get these photos on your big day, is to assign one of your bridesmaids or groomsmen the job of rounding everyone up. That way it runs smoothly, takes less time and everyone can get back to celebrating your amazing wedding day.
