My portfolio is heavily skewed towards candid photos from the wedding day, with a few favourite couple portraits thrown into the mix. It’s distinctly lacking in detail photos, family portraits, and wedding party photos. Sometimes potential clients ask me if I take those photos at all.

Yes, I do take family portraits at weddings and yes, I think they’re important.

I just don’t tend to show these photos because they’re more much meaningful to the clients than to random people looking at my website. I don’t spend a lot of time on family portraits during the wedding day, because I think most people just want to get back to the party and spending time with their loved ones. I don’t heavily pose these portraits either. I tend to put people in a group, in a good location with flattering lighting, and let them be themselves. I think photos of everyone together are important as a record of your family history and these photos increase in value over time. I don’t think they need to be particularly artistic. They’re about the people, not the photography.

This is what my family portraits tend to look like. Nothing special, except for the people in them.

I love this typical family portrait because Eric and his mom naturally held hands and I think that just shows their relationship so well.

Even when they don’t make it onto the list, I often try to do a photo of the bride and groom with each of their parents. Some sweet moments tend to come about when you put parents together with their kids in an emotionally charged moment, right after the ceremony.

A lot of people choose to do a photo of all of their guests. These can be challenging to pull off, with everyone in the same light and making sure you can see everyone’s face, but I think they’re awesome for the couple to have.

I love it when people get silly.

It’s also fun when the unexpected happens. Usually kids cause some chaos, but here the bride’s veil kept blowing around, like it did during the ceremony, creating some cute moments with her dad.

And I’m always open to taking suggestions from my clients. Shannon with her mom and grandma are totally adorable in their three wise monkeys pose. Sarica and Mukul wanted a photo with all their family and wedding party, arranged randomly across the beach. We took a few versions of this. Big groups are tough to work with, but make a photo with a lot of interesting points that would look great printed large.

I’ll share some wedding party photos soon, and maybe even some details. And of course, lots of great moments.