Planning Your Family Wedding Portraits

Their Importance

Weddings are an exciting and emotional time – not just for the couple but for their loved ones as well – their family & friends. Planning Your Family Wedding Portraits however can get overwhelming. Everyone has come together to celebrate this union as they have watched & supported you on your journey up to this point. That’s exactly why however including family portraits on your wedding day is SO important. It reminds your family how important they are to you on this day in your life but it also becomes a precious memory that your loved one will cherish for years to come. (It can be also be a great gift opportunity as well!)

Where to Start

With all my wedding clients, I always ask for a list of family groupings you’d like photographed. Typically this portrait time happens immediately after the ceremony. It can be easy to have the officiant announce at the end of the ceremony to have all family stay behind or to go to a certain area for portraits. This can also be pre-arranged and included information on the invitation or wedding website! I find that a little direction really helps alleviate a LOT of frustration & unnecessary delay and confusion from your family members. Without a bit of a plan, people can wander off, causing huge delays that quickly make it an unpleasant experience for some. This can help ensure the entire experience of the day is stress-free and focused on celebrating your union!

Timing

We usually set aside 20-30 minutes on the timeline of the day for these family portraits. This allows us to have up to around 20 different groupings but I find usually anywhere around 15 can be ideal. Groupings will vary as each family is unique!

Groupings with a lot of people can easily take up to 5-10 minutes each and if you have multiple big groups, we can quickly go into your valuable Bride & Groom/Bridal Party Portrait time or your cocktail hour!

Keep in mind, I will always try to give you a variety within certain groupings when time permits. For example, if you had listed a Siblings grouping of: “B&G (Bride & Groom) + Siblings” if time allowed I would then also break down that grouping into each individual sibling with the B&G, & so on.  So if you have B&G + Bride’s Parents, you will always get an individual shot of just the Bride with her Parents, etc.

Picking the groupings can get overwhelming, especially if you have a large extended family and want to include the majority of them! I’ve included below a basic template you can use, but keep in mind everyone’s family has different dynamics and this list can look very different depending on who you want included!

In your Final Details Questionnaire that I send to all my couples, I also ask that you include the names of the family members alongside the groupings. This is so that when there’s a large group of family members standing by during this time, we can easily call people by name when it’s their turn without delay.

Family List Template

Here are my recommendations for your Family Wedding Portraits List below:

I hope this helps give you a starting point to know how to map out this part of your wedding day and helps you in Planning Your Family Wedding Portraits! Have any advice or must-have groupings?? Please be sure to comment below with your own experience!

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photographer for the authentic & adventurous

www.megkristina.com

booking now for 2019 & beyond

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I first met Katie in the summer of 2016. It was the wedding of one of her closest friends, Maria & Brad at Manning Park that I was photographing, and even as I captured their getting ready moments the morning of, you could tell the bond between these two friends was strong. Katie seemed so sweet and her loyalty to those close to her was apparent from the start.

Fast forward a year to 2017, and just as summer started drawing to a close, I received an email from Katie. I could instantly sense her excitement as I read her words – she was recently engaged and couldn’t wait to embrace this stage in her relationship.

As soon as we got together for coffee and Katie introduced me to her fiancé John, the connection between these two was strong. I loved watching how they balance each other out. John possessed a quiet strength & sense of calmness that perfectly complimented Katie’s loving enthusiasm & detailed planning.

 

 

After rescheduling due to rain (I mean, it IS fall in the Lower Mainland – who doesn’t have to reschedule a session at least once during this time of year?!) I think we all ended up grateful for the reschedule because WOW, did the weather ever blow us away! Not only were the leaves at the peak of their colourful show, but clear skies left the warm sun shining which provided us with the MOST GORGEOUS golden hour. The sun truly showed off for us (I mean come on, just look at those stunning sun flares and that golden glowy haze – to die for!!).

These two were so playful & loving with each other during their entire session. We had so much fun exploring the park together and taking full advantage of the changing seasons (because really, who can resist a good leaf fight??) I am so excited to share a few of my favourites with you guys & am looking forward to seeing these two tie the knot at Whonnock Lake next summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Photos by Meg Kristina Photography.

 

Booking Now for All 2018 & 2019 Weddings

www.megkristina.com

photographer for the authentic & adventurous

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When you’re prepping for your engagement session, there are a few things to keep in mind. This is going to be FUN! This shoot is entirely no pressure. On the wedding day it can be crunched for time, your dress won’t be able to get dirty (within reason ;)) and there won’t be time to chat & get to know one another.  That’s why all of my wedding packages include a Complimentary Engagement Session. It is your chance to get to know me, get comfortable with how I work and have FUN in front of the camera.

Now don’t get me wrong, your wedding day will be a day to remember! But it’s so helpful to have a great engagement session before the big day so that you know what to expect! My couples that have an engagement session are PROS by the wedding day!

After you book your photographer, whether it’s me or someone else, you’ll need to start thinking about when you want your engagement session to be done. Lots of my couples choose to have their portraits done in the season opposite of their wedding. So if you’re having a spring wedding, it may be nice to have a fall e-session, or a winter one for a summer wedding. Now, you also have to take your photographer’s availability into consideration. I tend to book sessions 1-2 months in advance and typically only shoot engagements on weekday evenings. This will vary with every photographer and every season.

Here are some steps to make sure that you feel confident & prepared for your engagement session!

1. What to Wear

Some couples have one outfit they love & others have two outfits, one casual and one that is dressier. The BEST advice I can give about outfit selection would be to try to COORDINATE instead of matching. Try to stay away from really tiny patterns, they won’t show up in your images and leave out any major logos.  Also, bold jewelry, scarves, and coloured shoes photograph really well! Make sure you look like YOU and feel comfortable! One last thing is to TAKE ADVANTAGE of this opportunity to dress up! Don’t be afraid! Ladies, put on some heels, red lipstick & pearls. Men, get out your favourite suit!

 

2. Relax, Enjoy & Trust Your Photographer

As you’re preparing for your engagement session, remember that your photographer doesn’t expect you to be a pro at this. I work with normal, everyday couples ALL the time. I can’t speak for all photographers but I tell my couples that it takes a good 20 minutes to warm up at the beginning of their shoot. So relax and don’t be nervous! You’re going to be great at this! Trust your photographer, allow them to be creative & you’ll have an amazing shoot! And remember, the cuddlier the better 😉

 

3. When & Where

The best time to shoot any portraits is around 2 hours after sunrise or 2 hours before sunset. This rule of thumb can be applied to any time of the year. When it comes to picking the location for your portraits, I love shooting engagements in locations that mean something to my clients! I understand that this isn’t always possible but I like to throw it out there just in case! I always have back up locations ready to refer to you in a variety of locations around Vancouver (Maple Ridge, North Van, downtown Van, White Rock, Langley, Chilliwack, etc) in a variety of settings (water, mountains, cityscape, etc). The other thing to keep in mind is that it’s often nice to have engagement photos done during a different season than your wedding is taking place in. So if you’re getting married in summer, an autumn or winter engagement session might be a good fit and can be a great contrast for setting in images!

 

4. Be Punctual

Be on time, your photographer will love you. This is really important. What most couples don’t realize is that natural light photographers are dependent on the sun and if couples show up late, you can lose that amount of time during their session due to the lack of light. Now let’s realize, things happen beyond our control like massive amounts of traffic & more.  If at all possible, try to be on time so that you don’t lose any of your shooting time and pretty sunlight!

 

5. Hair, Makeup & Ring

Some brides opt to have their makeup trial done right before their engagement session so that they can see what their makeup will look like in pictures before the wedding day! I highly recommend this! It’s always fun when a bride gets her hair and makeup done for her shoot. If you want to do your own makeup, make sure you apply your eye makeup a little heavier than normal for your pictures. Guys, make sure those suit jackets are lint rolled and everything is ironed & clean. Last but not least, I love taking a ring shot! So if your diamond could use a little cleaning, that would make it really SHINE! Any jewelry store will typically do this for free for you.

 

6. Take Advantage… DATE NIGHT!

Now that you are all dolled up with your make up and hair done, what a great opportunity to go on a hot date! **GROOMS – if you want bonus points, make reservations for dinner afterwards, trust me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’d love to connect with you – let’s grab a drink, whether it be coffee or wine!

www.megkristina.com

Photography for the Authentic & Adventurous

 

Now Booking for 2018 & 2019 Weddings

 

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Congratulations! Your love proposed to you and now not only are you engaged but you have a whole wedding to plan as well! Getting engaged is such an exciting time for a couple, don’t get me wrong, but for many people this can also be a bit of an overwhelming time. From who sits where, who eats what, to what to wear and more. The decisions are endless and so are the possibilities. As you’re faced with all the different options that come with planning a wedding – choosing a venue, dress, photographer (hi!), videographer, florist, etc, it’s important to take it one step at a time.

1. Break the News!
   Whip out the iPhone, send out your texts, Instagram’s, tweets and shares – you get to celebrate with your loved ones.
2. Pick a Date
   Do you want a long or a short engagement? Do you have a “First Date” or other sentimental date in mind? Are there any important friends & family that might already have commitments on certain dates in the future? These kinds of things factor in when choosing what date you want.
3. Wedding Planner – Yay or Nay?!
   Many brides plan their weddings on their own, with the help of mom, or friends & other family members. But JUST as many brides plan theirs with the help of a wedding planner. If you want things done the right way without the fuss, or tend to get overwhelmed with the details, a wedding planner can be of great assistance and a valuable asset to you on your day
4. Prioritize
   Figuring out what you can spend where can be tough. Deciding what’s most important to you on your day can take the tough work out of it a bit and help you focus in on what you really want. Is there one specific venue that you have always dreamt of, a photographer who’s work you love, that one dress you just have to have? This is where prioritizing can help you budget.
5. Make the Call
   Once you have your budget in place and your date picked, you’re all set to start making those calls to your prioritized vendors and seeing if they have the date available. Most wedding vendors will need a retainer fee/deposit to book your date, so you want to make sure you’re making the right decision. Do your research – check online for reviews on their business. Or ask other wedding vendors that are already on your team – with all my couples I love extending my knowledge to you and I always have a list of preferred vendors ready to go to refer to you!

I hope this has helped you even a little bit. Getting engaged sends you into an exciting emotional whirlwind of activity and it can be hard to get your bearings straight. My hope is this blog post helps focus your hopes, wants & dreams for your wedding day and gives you a starting point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

photographer for the authentic & adventurous

www.megkristina.com

Booking Now for All 2018 & 2019 Weddings

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