We all know group photos are an important keepsake from your big day—but let’s be real, standing around in 40°C heat isn’t anyone’s idea of fun! 😅
That’s why we’ve put together some helpful advice to make your formal photos quick, organised, and as painless as possible—so you can get back to the party (and that ice-cold KEO 🍻).
🕒 Timing Is Everything
Formal group photos typically take between 25 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of your wedding party and how many shots you’d like.
We recommend allowing 1–2 minutes per group photo—so for example, 10 group shots = roughly 20 minutes.
Some couples want a photo with everyone, while others prefer just VIPs. We suggest something in the middle—key family and a few friend groups to keep it efficient and meaningful, but sugegest no more than 15 in total.
📝 Get Organised Ahead of Time
To help everything run smoothly, we ask that you:
• Send us your formal photo list at least two weeks before the wedding
• Appoint one helper from each side of the family to help us round up guests
•Keep groupings sensible—think parents, siblings, grandparents, then a few larger mixed groups
•Let the key people know in advance they’ll be needed for formal shots and ask them to stay close after the ceremony
We’ll print out 4 copies of the list (one for each helper, one for Bridget, and one for me), and we’ll chat with you ahead of time about the best location for the shots—ceremony venue, church, reception, or a mix of both.
📸 Pro Tip:
We find the best time to do the big group and formal shots is right after the ceremony. Everyone’s there, the energy’s up, and no one’s wandered off to the bar just yet. Once guests scatter at the reception, it gets trickier (and more time-consuming) to regroup.
The key to keeping things smooth? Planning + helpers + clear communication = speedy photos and happy guests.
The faster we get through your list, the faster everyone gets to relax and celebrate!
Let’s talk about group photos—those lovely, timeless shots with your family and best mates all together in one frame. Sounds simple, right? But anyone who’s ever blinked, squinted, looked at the wrong camera, or been caught mid-sentence knows it’s not quite that easy. 😅
That’s why during your formal group photo session, we take at least 10 photos of every single group. Yep—ten!
Why? Because we’re trying to catch that one perfect moment where:
But here’s the honest truth…
👉 Even with 10+ shots per group, we can’t guarantee perfection unless everyone helps out a little.
Here’s what you and your guests can do to help nail the shot:
Eyes open (yes, we’ll remind you!)
Look at the camera, not your cousin waving from the drinks table
No talking during the shot—save the giggles and comments for after we snap it
Don’t move between clicks—stay in place for just a few extra seconds
Check your face! No squinting, yawning, or thinking too hard 😂
We’ll give you all the direction you need, we’ll advise about posture, but we ask that you and your guests are checking and fixing your/their hair, adjust dresses, and fluff suits—as group photos are a team effort. The more everyone pays attention (even for just 30 minutes), the better those frames will look for years to come.
Because while we’re good—we’re not miracle workers when it comes to closed eyes, rogue blinks, or flying lashes. 😉
So smile, stay sharp, and we’ll do the rest. 📸✨
When it comes to formal group photos, we making sure everyone’s in the frame—but there are a few little details that we can’t always catch in the moment. That’s where you, the bride and groom, your Maid of Honour and Best man come in!
Once we kick off your group shots (usually starting with the big one of everyone), it’s super important that you take a quick second to check yourselves over and get your MOH and Best Man to make sure all your guests are looking Sharpe —because once we get going, things move quickly due to the heat that the Cyprus Sun produces! A pocket mirror check and a little once-over can go a long way. Trust us, future-you will thank you!
Here are some of the common things we encourage you are couples (and your guests) to double-check before we start clicking:
•Hair – Stray hairs can sneak into even the most glamorous styles. Quick fix now, lifelong annoyance avoided later.
•Sunglasses – Decide if you want them on or off, a cool coordinated look can look great.
•Bags, purses & phones – Nobody wants to see a handbag casually hanging off a shoulder or a phone bulging from a suit / shorts pocket in your formal photos.
•Lumpy pockets – Gents, take the phones, wallets and keys out of your shorts / trousers unless you’re going for the “what’s that in your pocket?” look. 😉
•Posture – Shoulders back, chins up, and channel your inner royal—yes, even Uncle Dave.
•Smiles – A natural smile with teeth often makes all the difference! We’ll snap a few versions, so go for variety.
•Clothing – Make sure you are dressed properly, tie / bowtie are straight, shirts tucked in, if that’s how you are wearing them, waist coats are fitting properly. Men, take hats off as they cause shadows / dark patches on your face.
•Jacket etiquette – If suit jackets are pulling or creasing when arms are around family, it’s totally fine to unbutton them. Comfort and flattering fit win every time.
•Arm placement – try not to place your arms around the person standing next to you, doing this can cause issues with creasing or pulling of shirts / jackets and that hand appearing round someone in the photo, you can’t see who the hand belongs to, and it ends up looking like a random floating limb creeping across someone’s back or waist. Not ideal for a timeless wedding photo, right?
•Boutonniere / Buttonhole –Make sure this is sitting up straight and not dropping to the side.
Here’s something you might not think about on your wedding day—but trust me, it matters: open eyes in your group photos.
It sounds obvious, but with all the excitement, sun, and blink-happy guests, it’s one of the biggest challenges during formal shots. And while we do our best to catch it (and take multiple frames, 10 photos at least of each group photo, for that exact reason), we can’t always work magic if someone’s pulling a mid-blink or squinting at the sun in every single photo.
That’s why we always say this nice and loud once we start group photos (right after the big full group shot):
“Everyone, please make sure your eyes are open—especially the bride and groom!” 👀
It’s your responsibility to make sure you’re looking how you want to be remembered: hair right, smile on, no sunglasses, and most importantly—eyes open. It might sound harsh, but there’s no Photoshop wand that can convincingly open a closed eye without it looking like a horror movie poster. 😂
If we’re in bright sunlight, we’ll do our best to find shade (if any exists at your venue), but if not—give those eyes a second to adjust, and try not to pre-blink! If we shout “1, 2, 3!” that’s your moment to lock in that look and hold it.
It’s just one of those little things that makes a big difference. Because when you look back at your group photos, you’ll want to see happy faces—not a collection of blinking competition
We’ll do our best to help adjust these things when we see them, but during fast-moving group sessions—especially in the sun—it really helps if you’re tuned in and ready. We’ll also be adding a little reminder to your group photo questionnaire, so keep an eye out for that when planning.
It’s all about teamwork—and with a little bit of prep and attention to detail, your group shots will look clean, polished, and ready for the frames on your parents’ walls. 🙌📸
Now, we love a bold bridal lash moment just as much as the next person, but here’s the truth: super long or heavy lashes can sometimes make your eyes appear half-closed in photos, especially when you’re standing in bright sunlight and trying not to squint, this is not only in group photos but also during the ceremony and couples photoshoot.
We’ve seen it loads of times—your makeup is flawless, your lashes are on point, but then you look at a group photo and think, “Why do I look half asleep?” 😴 It’s not you, it’s the lashes.
So here’s our advice:
•If you’re going for dramatic lashes, test them out before the big day. Wear them for a full day in natural light and snap some selfies to see how your eyes actually look.
•Consider a lighter or slightly shorter style that gives you the glam without the eye-drag.
•And on the day, be conscious of it—when we start group shots, really open those eyes (yes, even if the sun is beaming down). You might feel like you’re going full cartoon character, but trust us, it’ll look normal on camera!
We’ll also remind you during group photos to open your eyes wide—because if you’re blinking, squinting, or your lashes are doing their own thing, it can really affect how you appear in the final images.
As always, a little prep goes a long way—and we want you to look and feel your best in every single photo.
When it comes to formal group photos, your dress deserves just as much attention as your smile! 💁♀️ Here’s how to make sure it looks perfect:
👗 Spread the Dress Nicely:
If your gown has a train or fuller skirt, give it a little fluff and fan it out behind or to the side of you, depending on the amount of people in the photo. It doesn’t have to be perfect—but it should look intentional.
👠 Avoid Holding the Dress Up (Unless Outdoors on Grass or Dirt):
In formal photos, unless you really need to keep the dress clean, try not to hold it up. It can make it look uneven or bunched, and you’ll lose that elegant shape the designer intended.
💃 Mind the Leg Pop:
If your dress has a slit or a figure-hugging shape, shift your weight slightly to one leg and let the dress fall naturally. It gives you better posture and keeps the dress sitting nicely.
💨 Wind Check!
If it’s breezy, we’ll help you manage any flyaway layers, but always check that lighter fabrics like tulle or veils aren’t twisted or caught awkwardly.
🤍 Teamwork:
Bridesmaids are your dress-fluffing support crew! Let them help you quickly straighten it between groupings so everything looks polished in every frame.
Flowers are more than just accessories—they’re part of the look. So let’s make sure they’re not hiding half your dress or looking like you’re about to throw a javelin. 🌸💐
Here’s how to hold them like a pro:
💐 Hold Them Low & Tilted Forward
This is the golden rule!
Position: Hold your bouquet low, just around your belly button or hip area—not up near your chest.
Angle: Tilt the flowers slightly forward so we can see the blooms, not just the stems. This also avoids blocking the dress or your gorgeous neckline.
👰 Bride’s Bouquet
Your bouquet is usually the biggest, so it makes a statement. Don’t bury it in your midsection or hold it too high—own it like the queen you are.
Pro tip: Keep your elbows relaxed, and don’t stiff-arm it like it’s a trophy. Soft, natural, elegant.
👯♀️ Bridesmaids
Same idea—low and forward.
If you’re standing in a line, angle your flowers slightly toward the bride so the shape flows nicely across the photo.
🧍♀️🧍♀️ Standing Side-by-Side?
Avoid “mirroring” each other’s bouquets like backup dancers. Keep it relaxed and uniform, and avoid having one bridesmaid holding it high and the next holding it at her knees. Consistency is key!
🖐️ Don’t Two-Hand It (unless it’s really heavy!)
One hand holding the bouquet looks more relaxed, feminine, and elegant. Use two hands only if it helps steady the flowers—just avoid the “clutching for dear life” look.
📸 Trust Us to Guide You
We’ll always do a quick flower check before snapping the shots, but having the whole bridal party already in-the-know makes everything faster, smoother, and way more polished.
We’ll snap a ton of photos to make sure we catch the perfect one—but we’re not miracle workers. At the end of the day, we’ll do everything we can to make your group photos look amazing—but the final magic touch is down to you and your guests. Think posture, pockets, petals in place… and most importantly, eyes wide open!
These images will be in your album for a lifetime, so take a second to check your hair, drop the sunnies, and flash those pearly whites. Help us help you look your absolute best—because when everyone brings their A-game, the photos truly shine! 📸✨
Fire away with your questions — I’m here to help! I always aim to reply within an hour (unless I’m catching some Zzz’s 😴), but I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!
I will be back soon
