Wedding day portraits are some of the most meaningful photos you’ll treasure — portraits with your family, your wedding party, your siblings, your parents, your flower girls and ring bearers, and of course… the two of you!

But let’s be honest: portraits are also the one part of the day that can feel the most like a marathon if there isn’t a clear plan!

The standing…

The smiling…

Trying to track down someone’s jacket…

Missing boutonnières…

A kid melting down…

Bridesmaids fixing makeup…

Groomsmen disappearing…

Feet hurting…

Cheeks hurting…

But after photographing more than 250 weddings, I’ve learned exactly how to structure portraits in a way that feels calm, efficient, and actually enjoyable.

This guide breaks everything down clearly so you know what to expect and how to build a portrait list that fits your timeline.

How Long Portraits Actually Take

Couples are always surprised at how long portraits take when they’re done intentionally!

Here’s a helpful rule of thumb:

• 3 minutes per portrait for a small group (2–6 people or so)

• 5 minutes per portrait for larger groups

A “standard” portrait list (no more than 10 groupings or so) easily takes 30 to 50 minutes.

And, portraits often take even longer on the bride’s side because of:

• the dress

• the veil

• the bouquet

• spacing, posture, and angles

• adjusting layers or straps

• touching up flyaways or shine

• bouquet placement

• symmetry and height balancing

Professional portraits are intentional — not rushed — and those extra seconds are what make your photos look timeless and elegant.

This is why your portrait list must match your timeline!

The more portraits you want, the more time you need — but that’s okay! It's your day, and we want you to walk away with the photos that are most important to you.

Sample Portrait Lists to Help You Plan Your Day

The lists below walk you through how portraits are typically organized, so you can see exactly what yours might include. These are not mandatory lists — just helpful starting points.

Your actual list will be customized based on:

• How many people are in your families

• How many are in your wedding party

• Whether or not you’re doing a first look

• How much time you’re building into your timeline

• Any meaningful or sentimental groupings

• How much variety you truly want

Individual-Side Portraits

(Usually taken before you see each other)

These portraits are normally taken on separate sides of the venue before you see each other. This set gives you a calm, organized start to your portraits.

Bride’s Side (about 30 minutes)

Bride Solo

• Bride Portraits (5 minutes)

Family

• Bride + Parents (3 minutes)

• Bride + Immediate Family (5 minutes)

Bridesmaids

• Bride + Each Bridesmaid (5 minutes)

• Bride + All Bridesmaids (5 minutes)

Flower Girls

• Bride + Flower Girls (3 minutes)

• Bride + Bridesmaids + Flower Girls (5 minutes)

Groom’s Side (about 30 minutes)

Groom Solo

• Groom portraits (5 minutes)

Family

• Groom + Parents (3 minutes)

• Groom + Immediate Family (5 minutes)

Groomsmen

• Groom + Each Groomsman (5 minutes)

• Groom + All Groomsmen (5 minutes)

Ring Bearers

• Groom + Ring Bearers (3 minutes)

• Groom + Groomsmen + Ring Bearers (5 minutes)

These portraits happen simultaneously on the bride's and groom's sides respectively, captured by Rachel (bride) and Mark (groom).

Why Grandparents Aren’t Included Here

Grandparents are usually photographed after the ceremony so they can arrive at a comfortable time and avoid unnecessary standing or waiting during the earlier parts of the schedule. This keeps things easy on them and allows us to include them in meaningful portraits without rushing or making them navigate the busiest parts of the morning.

OPTION 1: If You’re Doing a Couple’s First Look

Once you’ve seen each other, the day becomes beautifully efficient. We’re able to complete:

• Couple’s portraits

• Combined intimate family portraits

• Wedding party portraits

And keep the ceremony post-portrait time limited to extended family. Here’s the flow:

Couple’s First Look + Portraits (30 minutes)

This is the moment you finally slow down, breathe, and enjoy each other.

We capture:

• Private vows (if you'd like)

• Romantic portraits of the two of you

• Movement, walking, laughing

• Candid moments

• Scenic wide shots

• Anything meaningful you want

• A mix of emotional + joyful portraits

Then we move into your wedding party and family portraits together.

Combined Intimate Family Portraits (30 minutes)

Bride’s Side

• Couple + Bride’s Parents

• Couple + Bride’s Immediate Family

Groom’s Side

• Couple + Groom’s Parents

• Couple + Groom’s Immediate Family

Combined Families

• Couple + Both Sets of Parents

• Couple + Both Families (everyone together)

Wedding Party (30 minutes)

• Couple + Ring Bearers + Flower Girls

• Couple + Entire Wedding Party (with kids)

• Couple + Entire Wedding Party (adults only) (10 minutes)

• Bride + Groomsmen

• Groom + Bridesmaids

After the Ceremony (If You DID a First Look)

This section is now short and simple because you’ve already completed the bulk of your portraits.

We photograph:

• Couple + Officiant (3 minutes)

• Couple at the Arch (3 minutes)

• Couple's with Bride’s Extended Family (5 minutes)

• Couple with Groom’s Extended Family (5 minutes)

Total portrait time: About 20 minutes

After that, you can:

• Enjoy a quiet moment together before joining cocktail hour

OPTION 2: If You’re NOT Doing a Couple's First Look

When there’s no couple's first look, everything stays separate until after the ceremony.

You still have the individual-side portraits done before the ceremony, but all of your “together” portraits happen after the ceremony.

Here’s the structure:

After the Ceremony (If You Did NOT Do a First Look)

Couple + Officiant (3 minutes)

Couple at the Arch (3 minutes)

Family (30 minutes)

• Couple + Bride’s Parents

• Couple + Bride’s Immediate Family

• Couple + Bride’s Extended Family

• Couple + Groom’s Parents

• Couple + Groom’s Immediate Family

• Couple + Groom’s Extended Family

Wedding Party (20 minutes)

• Couple + Ring Bearers + Flower Girls

• Couple + Entire Wedding Party (with kids)

• Couple + Entire Wedding Party (adults only) (10 minutes)

Keeping Family Nearby for Portraits (Announcements + Music Tips)

One of the most helpful things you can do for smooth, stress-free portraits is making sure your family actually stays nearby after the ceremony. It sounds simple… but in the excitement of the moment, family members tend to follow the crowd straight to cocktail hour unless they’re reminded several times.

Here’s what works beautifully:

• Include a note in your invitations or wedding website

A gentle line asking immediate family to remain at the ceremony site after the recessional sets the expectation early and avoids confusion later.

• Have your officiant make an announcement before the ceremony begins

This is one of the clearest ways to ensure the message is heard — everyone is seated, attentive, and listening.

• Have your DJ repeat the announcement immediately after the ceremony

A second reminder ensures family doesn’t get swept into the crowd heading toward cocktail hour. It keeps everyone close so we can begin portraits right away.

A Quick Note About Music in the Portrait Area

If portraits will be happening in the ceremony space — whether it’s a quick 20 minutes (for couples who did a first look) or nearly a full 60 minutes (for couples who didn’t) — it’s important that the DJ keeps the music quiet or off in that specific area.

Soft ambience is totally fine, but loud music makes it difficult for your family to hear us when we call out names and organize groupings.

Your DJ can absolutely play music loudly elsewhere — like the cocktail hour area — just not directly where portraits are happening.

This small detail makes a huge difference in how efficiently we’re able to move through the list and how comfortable your family feels!

Final Thoughts

Wedding portraits shouldn’t feel endless — and they definitely shouldn’t feel like a marathon of forced smiles.

With a short, meaningful list and a portrait structure that works with your timeline, your portraits will feel:

• Natural

• Heartfelt

• Organized

• Efficient

• Relaxed

• Joyful

• And beautifully true to who you are

You deserve portraits that honor the people you love — without the stress!