For many couples, group shots can be a bit of a ‘love or hate’ thing. I’m a documentary style wedding photographer, which means that couples tend to choose me if they’re looking for a wedding photographer who specialises in relaxed, unobtrusive and natural wedding photography. These couples often say that they don’t want anything too ‘posed’, and they’re also usually looking to create a relaxed, informal feel to their whole wedding day, so they don’t like the idea of their guests standing around for a long time waiting to take part in group shots.

However, the good news is that you can still have a relaxed wedding day with natural, candid style photography and some great group shots that you’ll love to look back on in years to come. The trick is striking the right balance. Here are some of my tips for achieving great group shots…

1. Organisation is the key to success

As mentioned above, a worry for lots of couples is that they don’t want their guests to have to stand around for ages waiting for group shots. Unfortunately, this can be a surefire way to kill the atmosphere of your wedding, and no-one wants that. As a wedding photographer, I’ve learned that the key to avoiding this problem while still capturing all the group shots you want is good organisation.

Prior to a wedding, I contact couples and ask for a list of the ten groups they would like me to photograph. This means that I’m already aware in advance of who needs to be in each shot, which minimises waiting-around time. I also try to do the large group shot first, so that those that aren’t needed for the smaller groups can go to the bar or check in to their rooms if staying at the venue.

If you’re keen to get a few group shots but want to avoid your guests getting bored, chat to your wedding photographer: they should have some ideas of how to help this all run seamlessly.

2. Keep the number of group shots down

I recommend that couples go for 10 group combinations. Of course, we can always do more if that’s what couples want, but sometimes it’s easy to get carried away thinking that you need more group shots than you actually do. Consider whether you’ll actually include them all in your album, or ever look back on some of them. If the answer is no, you probably don’t really need them.

Keeping ‘10’ in your mind as a number will help you prioritise which shots you really want within the formal photo time e.g. a shot of everyone, then immediate family, bridal party, and parents. The formal photo time should be kept for the closest and most important groups.

And don’t forget, your wedding photographer is likely to be there for the majority of the day, which gives them time to grab some more spontaneous photos of other groups.

3. Allocate some helpers

Your wedding photographer will make an effort to get to know who everyone is well in advance of the group shots, although with large numbers this isn’t always possible. However, it’s always a good idea to enlist some helpers who can point people out on the day, or help round up people for photographs. Choosing a guest or two who know who most of the people are on your list is a great idea. Your ushers should be a great help too when it comes to this task (just make sure you choose someone responsible who won’t get sidetracked at the bar!)

4. Get creative

Gone are the days where group shots have to be a boring, static line-up of your wedding party. A great way to capture stand-out group shots is to get a bit creative. Maybe there’s a fantastic location at your venue that lends itself really well to a unique group shot. Or maybe your wedding photographer can suggest interesting angles, poses, or props to make the shot just a little different.

Creative shots can really capture the personality of your group- maybe it’s a photo of the bridesmaids laughing with the bride, or the groomsmen having a drink or cigar together.

If you’re looking for some advice on how to capture great group photos without ruining the flow of your wedding day, I am more than happy to help. I’m a professional wedding photographer based in Cheshire and Stockport, and I’ve got years of experience in gathering up guests for group shots in a way that is still fun and unobtrusive. I’d love to chat about your wedding plans- please get in touch today.