Don't book a wedding photographer who doesn't like group photographs.

I can see I may ( will? ) get a lot of flack for this blog post - Don't book a wedding photographer who doesn't like group photographs.

Why shouldn't you book a wedding photographer who doesn't want to do group photographs?

Simply put read the full website. Then notice how many wedding photographers will talk about the emotions, the intimate photos, the memories etc. And then notice how many will say they don't want to do group photographs. How can the "memories" comments and the lack of wanting to do group photographs fit together?

Group photographs ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT memory you can have from the day. They are a family record, part of your family history, your family tree. They are social records of who attended your wedding, what they wore, how they smiled, who they were with (at the time anyway!)

I can't reconcile a wedding photographer talking about memories on one hand then refusing to capture the groups and families that are at a wedding. The two just don't go together for me.

If and the website isn't being honest and authentic...what else is the wedding photographer going to leave out?

Why I love group photographs

I'm a HUGE extrovert (really, honestly I am. I'm at 11 on a scale of 10). I rather enjoy being in front of people and laughing, joking, flirting with them. That's what group photos should be - fun. Not ultra stage with brides guests on one side, grooms on the other and no drinks and no laughs. I get the chance to show off a bit, to have fun and enjoy a lot of friendly banter with the guests. It puts them at ease easily and at the start of the main wedding.

And that putting at ease is really important for me later on. I can capture the more candid, relaxed portraits much more easily. I've made a connection with the guests, they act up to the camera. They are not afraid to come and ask me for a "couple" photos for themselves (again, social history there).

Everyone loves a photo - especially the parents and grandparents and aunties and uncles etc. I can guarantee that if your wedding photographer doesn't organise groups...they will anyway. I've been asked specifically for groups, especially by Grannies...they want kids, grandkids, great-grandkids. And why shouldn't they?! NO ONE says no to a granny!

Group wedding photographs don't take long

Honestly, they don't take long, and certainly not the method that I shoot anyway. A list of 20 groups, plus a large all guests group will take maybe 35 minutes.

It's a time saver. See that bit about grannies and aunties wanting groups....me organising it saves you time in the long run. Because they'll do it anyway I don't and will take longer, and faff about much more.

I'd prefer a Maid of Honour / Chief Bridesmaid / Best Man type of person to help...but I've got a pretty powerful voice myself...people tend to listen to me ;-)

Once the wedding ceremony is done there is usually about 2 - 2 1/2 hours before the sit-down meal. 35 minutes for groups, 60 minutes (absolute max) for couple-photos and there is still time afterwards to capture the room layout, candids etc. if you're reading this and have been to a wedding, either as a guest or as a couple you know I work fast and you know I don't take long.

Don't book a wedding photographer who doesn't like group photographs. They don't eat into your time or my time at all.

Lastly, the more emotional bit

By taking group photographs I know I have captured every single person at the wedding at least once. Becuase some of those people won't be there next year, and I can't guarantee that I can capture every single person candidly at an 80 person wedding. I concentrate on the more mature (ok, elderly!) first and work down the age groups for my candids. And I want nice candids, not embarrassing ones.