Here is your ultimate guide to stress-free family portraits on your big day!


A family shot list is something I ask from all my wedding clients. It helps family portraits go smooth & less time is wasted scrambling around trying to figure everything out who needs to take a picture next - and worse case scenario, without a shot-list, some important people might be missed like grandma or grandpa! Use the combinations below as a guide and you can always add any additional combinations to your list.


TIP : When you create your family photo list, include the title of the group and also the first names of everyone in the photo to help keep the photos moving quickly. 

example : Bride + Groom with bride’s parents (Katie, Jim, Linda, Michael)


Bride + Groom’s Families Together


  • Bride + Groom with bride + groom’s immediate families + grandparents
  • Bride + Groom with bride + groom’s immediate families
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s parents + groom’s parents
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s siblings and groom’s siblings
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s siblings and groom’s siblings + sibling-in-laws


Bride’s Family 


  • Bride + Groom with bride’s immediate family + grandparents
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s grandparents
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s immediate family
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s parents
  • Bride with bride’s parents
  • Bride with mom
  • Bride with dad
  • Bride’s parents together
  • Bride with grandmother / grandfather
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s siblings and sibling-in-laws
  • Bride with siblings
  • Bride with each sibling individually


Groom’s Family


  • Bride + Groom with groom’s immediate family + grandparents
  • Bride + Groom with groom’s grandparents
  • Bride + Groom with groom’s immediate family
  • Bride + Groom with groom’s parents
  • Groom with groom’s parents
  • Groom with mom
  • Groom with dad
  • Groom’s parents together
  • Groom with grandmother / grandfather
  • Bride + Groom with groom’s siblings and sibling-in-laws
  • Groom with siblings
  • Groom with each sibling individually


Additional combinations :


** please allow 2 -3 minutes per additional grouping for less than 4 people or 3 – 5 minutes per additional grouping for groups of 4 or more. ** 


  • Bride + Groom with bride’s extended family (bride’s parents, bride’s siblings, bride’s grandparents, bride’s aunt(s), uncle(s) and cousins )
  • Bride + Groom with groom’s extended family (groom’s parents, groom’s siblings, groom’s grandparents, groom’s aunt(s), uncle(s) and cousins)
  • Bride’s grandparents together
  • Groom’s grandparents together
  • Bride + bride’s mom + bride’s sister(s)
  • Groom + bride’s dad + bride’s brother(s)
  • Bride + groom’s mom + groom’s sister(s)
  • Groom + groom’s dad + groom’s brother(s)
  • Bride + Groom + bride’s grandparents + groom’s grandparents
  • Bride + bride’s mom + bride’s sister(s) + bride’s grandma(s)
  • Groom + bride’s dad + bride’s brother(s) + bride’s grandpa(s)
  • Bride + groom’s mom + groom’s sister(s) + groom’s grandma(s)
  • Groom + groom’s dad + groom’s brother(s) + groom’s grandpa(s)
  • Bride + mom + mother-in-law
  • Groom + dad + father-in-law
  • Bride + Groom with bride’s godparents
  • Bride + Groom with groom’s godparents