How Many Family Photos Should You Plan for on Your Wedding Day?
When couples start thinking about their wedding day photo list, family portraits are usually one of the biggest questions. How many should we plan for?
The short answer: it depends.
The long answer: you can have as many as you want - but the more family photos you add, the less time you’ll have for bride and groom portraits or candids. It’s all about finding the balance that matters most to you.
Immediate Family First
I usually recommend focusing your formal family portraits on immediate family:
Parents
Siblings (and their families, if applicable)
Grandparents
This keeps the session streamlined, so you don’t feel rushed or overwhelmed, and ensures that the most important people are prioritized.
Options for Extended Family
That said, I’m 100% fine photographing larger extended family groups during the formal portrait portion of the day. In fact, I did that for my own wedding! So I would never keep a couple from doing the same.
Just know that more groupings take more time, and that time has to come from somewhere - usually bride and groom portraits, or a more relaxed post-ceremony schedule.
If you want every aunt, uncle, and cousin included, we’ll make it happen. But if you’d prefer to keep things quicker, a great option is to save those bigger group shots for the reception.
Communication Is Key
No matter how many groupings you choose, the most important thing is clear communication. Let family members know ahead of time that they’re part of photos, and make sure they stay put after the ceremony.
Otherwise, you end up with the awkward moment of someone asking: “Well, I’m Great Aunt Susan - do I need to stay for these photos?” (It happens more often than you’d think).
Timing Tip: If you’re keeping things simple with just immediate family and there aren’t any complicated dynamics (like divorced parents who need to be photographed separately), I usually schedule about 15 minutes for family photos.
If we’re including extended family or navigating more complex family situations, I plan closer to 30–40 minutes. That way, we’re not rushed, and everyone feels comfortable and included.
Final Thoughts
There’s no “right” number of family photos to take on your wedding day - it’s about what feels right for you. Whether that’s just immediate family or a whole extended-family portrait, both options are valid.
My job as your photographer is to guide you, help build a photo list that matches your priorities, and make sure we keep your day flowing naturally.