How to organise the group photo with lots of guests without it dragging on

To stop the group photos dragging on, it's best to decide almost everything before the wedding. Write a short list of groups and choose one person to call them up. Find a spacious spot with good light, and arrange people by height, like the steps of a staircase. With that structure, everyone appears in the photo. The photographer can see in seconds whether someone is missing or has ended up hidden behind a tall cousin. Each group that finishes goes off to sit down, so by the end you already have everyone at the table. Many couples are afraid of losing the afternoon to the classic posed photos with all the guests. That fear makes sense when nothing has been prepared. In Gijón or anywhere else in Asturias, what usually makes the session drag on is the waiting, the shouting of names and the groups nobody had planned for.

Do you want group photos?

The first step is to decide whether you really want group photos. Some couples prefer to keep only photos of moments, with the guests laughing and chatting without posing. If that's you, tell your photographer. If you want groups, write the list. This is where it's easy to go overboard. Just with Dad, just with Mum, with Dad, Mum and siblings, just with the eldest brother… Each combination adds one more photo and one more wait. Think it through and keep only the groups that really matter to you.

Choosing the spot

Next comes choosing the spot. It has to fit the largest group and needs soft light or shade. With the midday sun in their faces, people's eye sockets come out black. A pretty, recognisable backdrop from the venue helps give the photo context. Bear in mind that people have dressed up and want their dress and shoes to be seen in full.

When to do them

Then comes the timing. Ideally after the ceremony, though not the moment you walk out of the church, because the guests will want to congratulate you first. They can also be done at the reception, always before the meal, so nobody gets stained, and before the toast, because the toast needs both of you and would cut the session off halfway through.

Who calls the groups

The step people forget most is choosing who calls the groups. It shouldn't be either of you, nor the photographer, who will be busy arranging people. This person announces that the photos are starting and calls up each group in turn. If a group isn't ready, they move on to the next one and come back to it later. Some guests use the session to ask for their own photo with you, and that isn't the moment. Whoever is calling the groups can put a stop to it kindly.

How to arrange people

When arranging people, nobody should end up right at the edge of the frame. The edges of an image tend to come out slightly distorted, and in a group photo it's even more noticeable. For those waiting their turn sitting down, it helps to have something going on in the meantime, such as the aperitif or some music.

What now?

What now? Sit down together and write the list of groups. Clearly mark the guests who matter most to you. That way, when the photos arrive a few months later, you won't find that that very special person is missing. Once the list is done, tell your photographer what you've decided and note it down in the schedule for the day. This applies whether you want groups or prefer photo and video coverage made up of unposed moments. What matters is that you've decided it yourselves and that whoever is taking the photos knows in good time.

Links

More information, not yet independently confirmed: people.csail.mit.edu, research.google.