UPDATED: 4th March 2025
How to make your group photos AWESOME
Do you want those wedding group shots but want to make them stress-free?
In this handy guide, I’ll help you how to make them quick, effortless, fun and elevated.
Wedding day group shots are some of the most treasured photos you’ll have—these are the ones that end up framed on mantelpieces, shared with family, and passed down through generations as a piece of your history. They capture the people who mean the most to you, all together on one of the happiest days of your life.
That said, organising group photos can sometimes feel like one of the most stressful parts of a wedding day! But don’t worry—that’s where I come in. My goal is to make the whole experience as smooth, fun, and stress-free as possible. With a little planning (and my tried-and-tested approach), we’ll have you back to celebrating with a glass of fizz in no time—without the dreaded smile ache!
ready to make your group shots awesome?
1. WHEN TO HAVE YOUR GROUP PHOTOS TAKEN
Timing is key! Right after the ceremony is the best time for group photos—everyone is together, excited, and looking their best! Let’s start with your confetti moment. If you’re up for a big group photo of all your guests, this is the perfect moment right after your confetti shot. At this point of the day, I can also get photos of people hugging whilst casually in groups, which makes for great candid shots.
2. Where should I have my group photos taken?
The best way to make your group photos quick and stress-free is to have them taken close to where your guests are—this way, we’re not hunting people down when it’s time for photos! If you have a specific spot in mind, let me know in advance so we can plan ahead.
It’s always good to have a backup option too, just in case the weather decides to be unpredictable (hello, Scotland!). Whether it’s too sunny, rainy, windy, or chilly, we’ll have a plan in place to get beautiful shots no matter what. I always bring lighting equipment to weddings, so whether we’re indoors or outdoors, we’ll make it work. If we’re in a smaller space, a few chairs can help mix up the composition and create a more dynamic photo.
If your ceremony and reception are in different locations, I always recommend doing the group shots at the ceremony venue before people start heading off. Guests often arrive at the reception at different times, and the last thing you want is to be waiting around for missing people when you could be celebrating! With a little planning, we’ll have these photos done in no time so you can get back to enjoying your day.
3. How many group photos should we have
I usually recommend keeping group photos to around 6-8 key images. A big group photo, a few with close family, parents, friends, and your wedding party strike the perfect balance—capturing the important moments without keeping everyone waiting too long (or ending up with sore cheeks from too much smiling!). Keeping it simple means you can get back to celebrating while still having those timeless photos to cherish.
4. What order should we do them in?
The best approach is to start with the largest groups and work down to the smaller ones. This way, we’re only keeping guests for as long as necessary, and there’s no need to track people down as we go.
Begin with extended family and gradually move to immediate family and your wedding party—since they’ll be the most invested in having photos with you, they’ll happily stick around. Also, consider older guests by ensuring they’re not left standing for too long or have somewhere comfortable to sit while they wait.
5. Plan the photos in advance
Make sure your wedding party and guests know in advance when group photos will be happening. If you’re creating a timeline board or including a schedule in your order of service, add the time for group photos so everyone is aware and ready.
Having a shot list prepared before the big day is key (don’t worry—I’ll ask for this in advance!). This ensures everything runs smoothly, and no important photos get missed. Let the people included in your group shots know beforehand so they can be closeby, making it quicker and easier to gather everyone on the day.
To keep things running efficiently, assign a helper from each side of the family who knows the people in the photos. Give them the list ahead of time and a printed copy on the day (I’ll have one too). While I focus on positioning everyone and capturing natural, relaxed moments, your helpers can round up the next group—so we get through the list quickly and you can get back to celebrating!
6: enjoy Yourself
Most importantly—enjoy yourself! Planning your group photos in advance means you can relax on the day and focus on having fun rather than organising people.
Want to make your photos even more memorable? Add a bit of movement and personality! Pop a bottle of champagne for a celebratory spray, walk together arm in arm, or have a little dance with your wedding party. These natural, joyful moments make for the best photos and capture the energy of your day perfectly. Let’s make your group shots feel fun, not formal!
“Loraine did an amazing job photographing our wedding. Neither of us are that comfortable in front of the camera but Loraine made it feel very easy and at times, like during the speeches, I forgot she was even there! She captured exactly what we were looking for from the day and our photos really reflect the happiness of the day. Would not hesitate to recommend her!”
– KIRKNEWTON STABLES WEDDING
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EDINBURGH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Based in Edinburgh, Scotland. I capture wedding and elopement photography worldwide.
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