How to Get Great Group Shots- Tips from a Buckinghamshire wedding photographer.
For anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure- ‘Group shots’ are the formal, posed shots taken at weddings, you know the ones, normally a line up of various combinations of Family, friends and wedding party members with the couple front and center.
Whilst these are by no means my favorite part of the day, these shots are still super important, it stems back from a time when photos at weddings were scarce and would normally just consist of these posed shots to document who was there and two families coming together and this translated through the years to today, where these shots mark time, your family looked like this in 2025, this was everyone together in that moment, and for this reason I want to make getting these important shots as easy and as stress free as possible
It is all in the planning- no one wants to spend the whole drinks reception pinned to the same spot watching as their guests in the distance catch up, enjoy welcome drinks and eat the canopy’s you spent time choosing-
So to ensure you get the most from your day. So here are my tips for getting great group shots from a Buckinghamshire wedding photographer…
Limit the number of group shots you plan to have- Each one takes time to set up, and with every group you put on your list, that eats up more and more of your time. Your first instinct may be to have every subsection of your wedding guests documented; uni friends, work friends, all the guys, all the girls, kids and that’s before you get family involved. But as someone who has been to weddings like that, please don’t- It’s boring for you and your guests. My recommendation would be to stick to the photos you’ll print and display and for me that’s wider family, immediate family and wedding party, if possible, limit the number of groups to no more then 10. The best bit of this is this leaves more time for you to circulate during your drinks reception where we can gather the groups in a more importune, fun way which has a better energy in the end result.
Don’t over do it on the combinations- This ties into my previous point, but I’ve seen people try and have every possible combination of family as well and it gets a bit much so be wary of having to sub family members in and out, it makes keeping track of who needs to be where really confusing leading to more time spent setting up the shot
Have helpers on hand- When I’m photographing a wedding I ask for two helpers to assist me in gathering the necessary people and making sure I have the right people. This works best when between the two people they have both sides of the families and friends covered; like your siblings or VIP’s from your wedding party.
Let people know their needed- I’ve been to weddings where the group shots have been delayed cause certain people can’t be found, they’ve either gone for a wee, gone to the bar or worst- driven off site to go check in. As much as we would like to think that people would presume their needed for photos, in reality people don’t always know you want them there at that time, so it’s best to have that chat with those you want for your group shots prior to the big day so they can make sure they stay put or we plan when is best for that photo if during the group shots isn’t the best time for certain people.
Make accommodations for people- writing the above paragraph I remembered a time when I needed to get the bridesmaids photos done ASAP cause one of the bridesmaids was breast feeding and needed to get away straight after the ceremony. They say when you’re planning a wedding you’re constantly juggling everyone’s needs to ensure everyone has the best day possible and unfortunately that applies to group shots too; whether that be ensuring their chairs for mobility challenged guests, putting photos with someone breast feeding first on your list or finding a way to keep littles ones complaint when you’re asking them to stand and smile. I know it’s a lot to think about so if there’s anything I can do to help I will always happily help to ensure everyone is accommodated for.
When Choosing where to have your group shots, if possible choose shade- This is purely a practical thing, shade keeps everyone cooler for longer, and the even lighting is the most flattering, direct sunlight can create dark circles under the eyes. So, when you’re viewing your venue ahead of the big day look to see which spots are in the shade but have a nice backdrop, it’s likely the venue will have one they recommend.
Take your group shots straight after your ceremony- I’ve saved one of the most important til last, this is especially if your wedding day is all happening in one location. I would always recommend you do your group shots after your ceremony, this is when everyone is together and before anyone can wander off. Best run of play is you exit your service, we set up the confetti arch if you’re having one, then gather everyone into a big group shot. Then whilst I have everyone’s attention, I’ll announce that we’ll be going into group shots, list the groups of people that I need, and tell everyone they can go grab a drink and chill. Then we’ll whistle down the groups from there until it’s just you two left. This allows people to enter the drinks reception as quickly as possible and stop us waiting around for people to be found and brought over to where we’re taking the photo. And the big thing it stops is you getting swept away into conversations, cause everyone wants to talk to you after the ceremony, everyone wants a hug and wants to say congratulations, and I HATE being the bad guy who has to break things up. Doing your group shots after the ceremony allows non needed guests to go and relax, allows family to say congratulations whilst getting them into place, and allows us to get the photos done so that you can genuinely go and enjoy yourself not spend hours in the same spot as your smile become more and more forced.
Looking for a Photographer?
Hi! I’m Jade, A Buckingham based photographer who loves vibrant and authentic wedding photography.
If you are looking for someone who is passionate about capturing your personality and allowing you to have a fun filled wedding without the stuffy posing then we’re a good fit!
