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6. Family Portraits

We’ve developed a procedure to make it easier for you during the family portrait session. We know how stressful it can be!

We tell clients that they must designate a family member or guest as the Family Photo Organizer. It’s the Family Photo Organizer’s responsibility to gather family members, hold a list, call out names and make sure no family photo groups are skipped. We tell clients this is not your job!

All you need to do is focus on the photography.

Clients must designate the Family Photo Organizer in their questionnaire. We tell them multiple times, but some clients may simply ignore it.

You should ask the client who they designated as their Family Photo Organizer!

PHOTOGRAPHER’S JOB

  • Technical Camera Settings
  • Basic Posing and Arranging

FAMILY PHOTO ORGANIZER’S JOB

  • Gather family members
  • Hold the list
  • Call out names
  • Make note of family groups that were skipped
  • Arrange to redo any family groups later in the day, if necessary

FAMILY PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY RULES

Family portraits can be challenging. It’s chaotic. It’s rushed. Family members are distracted.

We’ve created a simple set of rules to help you produce consistent photos. It’s your job to replicate these rules for every group. It’ll become super easy once you get practice!

  • 1. Everyone’s bodies must be touching.
  • 2. Men’s Jackets should be consistent — everyone buttoned or everyone unbuttoned.
  • 3. Men’s Hands should be in their pockets with thumbs out -or- hands grasped in front of them.
  • 4. Women’s Hands should hold onto the arm of the person next to her.
  • 5. No sunglasses, purses, or items in front pockets.
  • 6. No arms around each other.

You will most likely need to repeat these instructions to every group.

Aperture General Guidelines

For group and family portraits, depth of field is critical. As a general guideline:

  • 1-2 People: f/2 – 2.8
  • 3-6 People: f/3.5 – 4
  • 7-12 People: f/4 – 5.6
  • Large groups (12+): f/5.6 – 8

Please avoid shooting group portraits at wide-open apertures (f/1.4–f/2.8), as this can result in subjects falling out of focus.


Adjust shutter speed and ISO as needed to maintain proper exposure while prioritizing depth of field for groups.

BONUS – BAD EXAMPLES

Can you spot why the two photos are bad?

  • Open Gap with groomsman
  • Groom’s hand not in pocket
  • One of groomsman’s body not slightly angled
  • Too much gap between Bride and Groom
  • Dad’s hand must be in the pocket
  • Men’s arm around family. Either put arm down or jacket unbutton.
  • Mom’s hand should have held onto Groom’s arm