We are not your traditional wedding photographers. So it’s no surprise that on occasion we get asked, “Where are the family photos? I don’t see many on your website or in your album samples.” Another related question might be, “I enjoyed your photographers’ photos, but I wish there had been more family groups.” I’ll take a moment to address each of these questions.
1. Where are the family photos? First of all, we love getting to know not only the couple, but also their families. We’re frequently told by the bride or groom’s mother or other relatives that “you didn’t seem to be strangers to us. You felt like family.” We love hearing that because we work very hard to make everyone comfortable with us and our shooting style. It’s that comfort level that enables family photos to proceed with everyone in a joyful state, rather than dreading the photo session. Family photos are an important part of documenting your day, since it may be years before you see some of the individuals in your pictures again. We enjoy taking them.
At the same time, our photography is about much more than simply documenting people and events and facts. Simply put, WE WANT TO MOVE YOU. We want to give you something that moves the heart, that touches the soul, and that will make you fall in love with your wedding day again and again. Therefore, we tend to showcase the rarer intimate moments between the bride & groom, or between them and their family and friends. That’s what you’ll see in our studio and on our blog. The family photos are there if you look through our extensive galleries and album samples. Our photos of families will be relaxed and fun, as there’s no need for anyone to feel stiff and forced.
2. I wish your photographer had taken more family photos. This is a statement that may sometimes be made by friends or perhaps even other family members, rather than by the bride and groom. 🙂
It’s important to note that the list of formals are chosen by the bride and groom. The number of formals they opt to have us shoot will be impacted by the how much time they have, whether travel is required, and the schedule of the day. What others may sometimes forget is that the couple has worked closely with the photographer to plan the pace of their day. It’s important to us that no one feels rushed. To that end, most couples find that they do not need every possible combination of family members in the pictures. This way they acquire the pictures they need – both family formals as well as important private time for portraits of the bride & groom, while still having enough time to enjoy their wedding day.
So, family portraits are definitely important to us. They are a valuable part of the wedding tradition. Just as important and impactful is the photography time spent with the bride and groom. We love that time together with them and we love to share those pictures with others, as we feel what we do sets our work apart. The couples that commission us feel the same way, so we’ve found a winning combination and a good balance for our studio.
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