[This post is part of a (short) ongoing series of me answering questions I get on a semi-regular basis in client emails and meetings - stuff not everybody asks but is useful for potential clients to know.]
I get this question all the time, so boo on me for not doing this post sooner. When I blog, I like to show my favorite images, without putting anything too personal on the internet. Very rarely does this include posed family portraits. They're intimate in a way that other things are not. And, frankly, they're boring for everyone who's not in them. However, it's very important to me that potential clients know I both value these images and strive to make them as pretty, classic and straightforward as possible.
Many of my clients enjoy having an artistic view for part of their day. Staged family formals are not included in this, at least not in my coverage. I want your family portraits to look wonderful hanging next to your parents' family portraits. No bells and whistles on these photos - just clean processing, slight posing and happy faces.
I have a questionnaire I send out about a month before the wedding, and one of the most important questions I ask is about family portraits. Which combinations do you want? I take your list, then decide how much time we need to get them done. Normally I ask for half an hour for family pictures. This gives everybody time to assemble, and me to set up lights if necessary (for indoor portraits).
People at weddings who only talk to me during family pictures find me super-obnoxious, I'm sure. I'm loud, bossy and say really silly things to make everybody smile. That's ok with me. I want to get you the photos that are going to grace mantles, entryways and wallets for the next decades. And then get everybody to the party, lickety-split.
This image and the one taken in the church (the first one) were done with off-camera flashes, on light stands. It takes a few minutes to set up, but makes a
huge difference in how the pictures look.
Again with my standard lighting setup.
That about does it. Until next time!
We started the day at the Hilton Garden Inn Bethesda for hair and makeup and plenty of laughs.
Then we scooted to Rockwood Manor to get Talesha into her beautiful dress.
Go time at the gorgeous patio behind Rockwood. Everybody processed from the stairs.
Mike totally held it together.
Words of wisdom from their officiant.
I love Mike's cousin on the end there, totally not keeping it together.
Talesha and Mike hired a wonderful vocalist to perform during their ceremony and for their first dance.
I'm such a sucker for mom-mom interaction. These two seem like great buddies.
Good and married, we took a circle around the grounds for wedding portraits.
And it was getting pretty dark, so we kicked it up a bit with a little off-camera light.
I love Talesha's mom in the back.
Talesha's mom is going "yessss" because these two are so in love.
Congratulations, guys!
Talesha and Mike's vendor team:
Coordination: Rebecca Dick, Blue Canary (one of my favorite planners!)
Ceremony and reception venue: Rockwood Manor
Getting ready venue: Hilton Garden Inn Bethesda
Catering: Main Event
DJ: Sean Bailey
Ceremony musicians: String Poets
Soloist: Tomika Arnold
Cake: Fluffy Thoughts
Florist: Maryam Flowers
Makeup: Shauné Hayes
Hair: Shaunda Jenkins, Beautiful Becomings
Talesha's dress: Carine's Bridal Atelier
Mike's suit: Geoffrey Lewis
Bridesmaid dresses: Hannelore's
From 
And, you know, obviously the photographers are going to get into the mix too.
And then 
If you want to add a photobooth to your coverage, just