Wedding Family Photos 101: Everything You Need to Know

[@Nchikky]

I never thought about doing family photos after the first look/before the ceremony, but that makes so much sense. Both mine and fiance's parents are divorced so we have a lot of step/half family members to include in family groupings and doing all or most family photos before the ceremony is going to help a lot!

[@cavinelizabeth]

It definitely feels way less stressful since you won't be pulled in 1000 directions after the ceremony and people aren't distracted by the cocktail hour bar and food :)

[@laurat6057]

thx for info....my daughter is getting married Saturday and I convinced her to change up order of photos and when pics will be taken. They decided to do a first look to help elevate our time crunch.

[@cavinelizabeth]

Amazing, it’ll be so great!

[@MS-kn4tt]

These tips are so helpful! I'm someone who has always felt awkward being photographed, and the idea of corralling everyone was stressing me out even more. I'm glad I have a list of things to run over with our photographer now.

[@cavinelizabeth]

So glad to hear it!

[@Pixie82]

A video about guests with mobility issues would be amazing.

[@myrthe1203]

Or brides/grooms! One thing - on behalf of mobility-impaired persons everywhere, please don't say 'wheelchair bound' (you did that in this video) or 'confined to a wheelchair' (which you didn't, but people also say a lot). I'm an occasional wheelchair user, and most of us think the term wheelchair-bound or -confined is ridiculous because the chair is the reason we can leave our house (or our bed). It leaves a bad taste in my mouth when people use such words to or about me, because the wheelchair is liberating, not confining. (Also, a lot of (perhaps even most) wheelchair users can walk short distances, or can stand but not walk, or can walk some days but not all. Maybe a wheelchair user can walk the few yards to the special location as long as there is a chair waiting. Maybe the one-legged person can stand on his remaining leg if that is something they prefer for photos. Maybe someone prefers to transfer to a non-wheeled chair for pictures.)

[@cavinelizabeth]

Coming September 17th!

[@emilygoodman1296]

Super helpful! Could you maybe do a video on room shots and accessories/flat lay ideas?

[@cavinelizabeth]

emily davis room shots like reception details? Would these be for a photographer or for couples? What did you have in mind? :)

[@ashenwalls3558]

I gotta say, I LOVE your makeup look in this video! There was also some great advice, and I feel better prepared! My fiance's siblings tend to make pictures complicated...

[@cavinelizabeth]

Thank you so much!!

[@FM-ny7xh]

This is one of my favorite videos! I took 3 pages of notes 🥰

[@cavinelizabeth]

I'm so glad!

[@heatherclancy3081]

Thanks so much for remembering to include bride/bride and groom/groom couples! 😊

[@mkandnewyorkie]

This is so helpful, thank you! Glad to see you are going to do a video in a few weeks with tips for photos with those with disabilities. My fiancé uses a wheelchair, and our wedding is in just under 2 months, so would love to see that! Would recommend that you don't use language like "wheelchair bound," however. When you go to film that one, I'd stick with "uses a wheelchair," so as not to offend. A little language thing most people would never think of, but much more respectful and inclusive to those with disabilities and the people who love them :)

[@cavinelizabeth]

Good to know, thank you! I wish there was a guide for all of the things that people aren't supposed to say surrounding disabilities, as some of the offensive phrases seem innocent and aren't common knowledge that they are offensive. Now I'm nervous about making sure I don't say anything "wrong" in the video!

[@meredithkrull6885]

Cavin Elizabeth Photography 1000% It’s so tough! I felt the same way when I met my fiancé. I was actually scared to go on our first date because I was paranoid I’d say or do something that I didn’t know was wrong or annoying! Thank god I got over that! What helped was reading an awesome blog on the topic before our date. Made some key points that helped me let go of my worries: 1) for some, phrases like “in a wheelchair” or “wheelchair bound” imply the person = the wheelchair. “Uses a wheelchair” gets you around that 100% with no worry about offending anyone! 2) you just need to be sure that your words don’t imply you’re assuming someone who uses a wheelchair can’t do something. They might need some help or they might do it differently, but know that they can do just about everything (again, maybe differently). And if they can’t, they’ll tell you! 3) people with disabilities understand your intent. If you are coming from a place of being inclusive, they will get that! So if you slip up with a word or phrase but are overall genuine with your intent to be inclusive, they will see that and either not notice or easily look past it. So don’t worry! Your intent is spot on! I love that you are doing this! And if you have any questions or wanted to check your script is conveying your wonderful intent, just DM me! This was all new for me just 2 years ago, so know exactly how you feel and am happy help!

[@lacrossegrl24]

Thanks for the great advice! I’m 2.5 months from my wedding day :)

[@cavinelizabeth]

:)

[@elizabethcurland6891]

This was super helpful, thank you!

[@cavinelizabeth]

Shoulders back and down is the first and foremost tip! Any couples could hold hands. Mom can put her hand on the brides forearm (the bride is holding bouquet) to make her look connected. I really like making people look connected. Having the ladies bend the knee that's closest to the camera looks beautiful.

[@elizabethcurland6891]

@@cavinelizabeth Thanks very helpful, thank you so much!

[@Housewarmin]

Can you do a behind the scenes of a typical wedding you shoot?

[@cavinelizabeth]

I am hoping to do that this weekend. We'll see how well my husband can take bts videos :)

[@angel_bonzai]

I love these tips! Do you have them in your blog? So i can watch the video without busily taking notes?

[@allisongroening9865]

When you say "groups" do you mean each photo? I created a shot list and for example, I have a photo with me, finacé, my mom, and my dad, then a photo of the couple and each parent separately, and then I have a photo of me and my mom and dad (and again each separately). Would those count as separate groups? And would that mean I need to allot 2-3 mins for each of those photos?

[@cavinelizabeth]

Yes separate groups is each photo! About 2 minutes for each (3 minutes for larger groups of 7+ people). It might not seem like it would take 2 minutes for each group, but getting the group in place, posing, taking multiple shots, then getting the next group in place, etc :)

[@julianrobertsphotography9]

Hi Cavin. Just watched your very helpful video on family formals. How do you light your outside family shots? Natural light or some fill flash? Would appreciate your views! Thanks!!

[@cavinelizabeth]

Always natural light if it's daytime. I don't love the look of fill flash and usually the groups are too large for a reflector to be useful.

[@cathylukawecki6513]

Nice vidéo!

[@cavinelizabeth]

Thank you!

[@lorraineglazar4353]

Hi, my son is getting married 7/3 and his father died when he was 10. I would like my longtime companion of 6 years to be in certain photos but not others. Could this be handled with the shot list? He won't mind not being in all the photos, but should be in some.

[@cavinelizabeth]

Yes, let the photographer know and they can organize the photos strategically where the photos without him will be grouped together so he's not going in and out, in and out. It'll feel better that way :)

[@solomioist]

What do you do with people who don't like their picture taken?

[@cavinelizabeth]

I talk to them more. Give them extra direction while simultaneously asking them questions to get their mind off the camera. It helps a lot!

[@julibranca5508]

Dealing with families can be pretty stressful..🙄😏