Your big day is creeping up fast and you’ve got a meeting locked in with your chosen photographer to chat through your ‘must have’ shot list.
You’ll be asked if you’d like to have a group shot and off the cuff, you’ll likely say “Yes! Why not?”
But let’s break down what it means because whilst a group photo seems like a lot of fun, in my experience, it is often more trouble than meets the eye.
Let me paint the scene for you…
Your guests have been sitting rigidly still in silence during your ceremony for the best part of an hour. Eventually, they’re let loose into the sunshine with giddy excitement to see and congratulate you. The atmosphere before the ceremony is punctuated with nerves and so everyone is relaxed, having a drink and catching up with old friends post ceremony –
but HOLD UP! Here comes the photographer interrupting all the fun and forcing everyone back into rigid formality. Your guests are herded like sheep until they’re just that bit too close to each other than they’d like. There are always one or two who dash to the bathroom and completely miss the memo. And without a doubt there’s always a handful of guests hidden behind the super tall guests who happen to be blinking mid shot (I challenge anyone to get 150 people with eyes barreling the lens in a single photo).
Depending of the size of your guest list, a group shot can often interrupt the flow of your big day.
The quick truth? The photos that are going to stand the test of time and that are going to bring you right back to the heights of your big day, are the ones that capture the real, authentic moments. This staged group shot with smiles on demand doesn’t quite cut the mustard. And in fact, many couples I’ve worked with passionately opt for the group shot only to decide on the day to scrap it, realising that it’s not worth the trouble.
As your photographer, I am at your command. So if you decide you do want a group photo, of course we will make it happen! And I’ll work my tush off to make it as fun an experience as humanly possible.
My suggestion? Focus your energy on creating a list of small groupings of loved ones before the wedding. From grandparents to uni mates and all that’s in between. These are the intimate shots that will carry greater meaning and often find their way featured on a fridge or framed on a mantle.
Side note: It’s also fun to slip a printed intimate group shot as a surprise in your thank you cards.
Before you even book me, I offer a free consultation, advice and ideas so we can chat through all your thoughts and #photogoals before we get started. I’m always open to doing things differently and playing around and I’m happy to try anything!
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