A Guide To Creating The Perfect Family Shot List
Creating your family shot list may not be the most exciting “to-do” for your wedding, but it is one of the most important! These photos are easily the ones you and your entire family will want to frame and look back on over the years. The question is, how do you set yourself up for success without missing cocktail hour and other moments that matter to you? That’s why we are here to help you create the perfect family shot list, one that’s organized, meaningful, and keeps everything running smoothly!
Photo by Rachel Grice Photography
Who Do You Include?
This is where this task can get a little complicated, but here’s our rule of thumb: include the people you'd be truly devastated not to have a photo with. That means immediate family, grandparents, and anyone you’re especially close to. If you wouldn’t frame it or treasure it, it doesn’t belong on the list. Keep the formal list tight and intentional so your photographer has time to grab fun, candid moments later on.
Write Actual Names Down
This one is important! Please don’t write “Bride’s Aunt and Uncle” or “Groom’s Cousins.” When it's time to gather everyone, your planner or photographer may not know who that is, when they're helping coordinate photos.
Instead, write everyone's full name (or whatever they go by), and label who they are in parentheses using common wedding abbreviations. FOG means father of groom, and SOB means sister of bride and so on! This keeps things stress-free and very efficient on the big day.
A Helpful Tip: Do This Early!
This is one wedding to-do you can check off your list months before the big day, so don’t wait until the last minute! Once your family shot list is finalized, send it to your photographer and planner so everyone is working from the same list. Then, you can put it aside until wedding day.
It’s also helpful to communicate with your family ahead of time. Ask your officiant, planner, or a designated family member to remind everyone before the ceremony or at rehearsal that they need to remain nearby for family photos. This prevents the classic wedding-day problem of trying to track down a family member who has already headed to cocktail hour!
Our Example Family Shot List
We suggest that you split your shot list into three sections representing all sets of families attending the wedding: Groom’s side, Bride’s Side, and any mixed family photos you’re wanting. Each bulleted line in the shot list serves as its own photo. Although this is our example, please customize it and do what fits best for all your family dynamics!
Macie’s side:
Macie with MOB (Christy)
Macie with MOB & FOB (Christy and Joe)
Macie with FOB (Joe)
Macie with BOBs (John, Jake)
Macie with MOB, FOB, & BOBs (Christy, Joe, John, Jake)
Macie & Jacob with MOB, FOB, & BOBs (Christy, Joe, John, Jake)
Macie & Jacob with BOBs (John, Jake)
Macie & Jacob with MOB & FOB (Christy and Joe)
Macie & Jacob with all Brides chosen extended family
Jacob’s side:
Jacob with MOG (Ann)
Jacob with FOG (Mike)
Jacob with MOG & FOG (Ann and Mike)
Jacob with SOG (Maddie)
Jacob with MOG, FOG, SOG, and BIL (Ann, Mike, Maddie, Henry)
Macie & Jacob with MOG, FOG, SOG, and BIL (Ann, Mike, Maddie, Henry)
Macie & Jacob with SOG (Maddie)
Macie & Jacob with MOG & FOG (Ann and Mike)
Macie & Jacob with all Grooms chosen extended family
Both sides:
Macie, Jacob, MOB (Christy), FOB (Joe), BOBs (John, Jake), MOG (Ann), FOG (Mike), SOG (Maddie), BIL (Henry)
Macie, Jacob, MOB (Christy), FOB (Joe), MOG (Ann), FOG (Mike)
Macie, Jacob, BOBs (John, Jake), SOG (Maddie), BIL (Henry)
A thoughtful family shot list helps your wedding day flow well and ensures you walk away with meaningful photos that will last for years to come. Be intentional when you work through this and think of all the family who will be there. Stay organized and don’t hesitate to lean on your planner and photographer to help - we are here for you!
