WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG?
Because nobody is ever ready.
There’s always:
– the best man checking timings with the DJ,
– friends rehearsing speeches behind the hedges,
– the cousin touching up make-up,
– brothers rolling out the beer tap or the photo booth,
– kids already whisked away with the nannies,
– and guests who finally catch you to say congratulations.
And then comes the phone bonus: at every group photo an uncle or a friend wants THE shot on their phone, right in front of me. I wait, I smile, I let them click. I never argue with anyone. Meanwhile, the clock keeps ticking.
skip the group photo chaos at your wedding
THE SOBERING MATH
Not convinced? Do the math:
6 groups × 1 minute shooting + 6 groups × 5 minutes gathering/chatting + the phone round or congratulation kisses = a solid 40 minutes.
And that’s without the creative variations: auntie alone with you, auntie with grandkids, auntie with and without glasses, with the dog, with the cousin flying in late from Australia.
Spoiler alert: you just burned 1h30. Meanwhile, your cocktail hour lives without you, spontaneous hugs vanish, and the mini-burgers? Already gone.
Your friends will still raise a glass to your courage 🙂
THE MOMENT THAT HURTS
That bride pushed it to the limit: almost 2 hours of groups. Result: no energy, zero cocktail, couple session cancelled. In the car she told her husband:
“I just want our sofa. I’m done.”
Later that night she came to me and said, point-blank:
“Castille, I thought you were a Bitch… but you were SO right.”
MEMORIES MAKER
WHAT I’D TELL MY BEST FRIEND (OR YOU, IF YOU’RE READY FOR IT)
From a wedding photographer with love: endless group photos won’t serve you.
In twenty years they’ll mostly show new wrinkles and the rise-and-fall of pointy shoes.
And while I’m doing them, I’m not documenting your story. Which means I’m not catching what you hired me for: your friends laughing at the bar, your dad shaking hands with your best man, your nephew chasing a raspberry.
But you know what? If your dream is 40 versions of auntie and a cocktail you never taste, that’s your call.
Technically, it’s way less tiring for me to shoot three hours of static groups than to chase real moments.
And that’s ok: you’re the star of the day, you do you.
I’ll smile in silence, mouhahaha
This is my blog, my take, my truth.
You can disagree, at least you know what to expect.
If that’s your vibe… go for it.
I’ll always follow your wishes. Just remember: I warned you.
Kisses.
Read this in one go and still hungry for real talk?
Then dive into more gems on the blog:
“A quick photo?” and me pretending not to hear…
A minute-by-minute timeline: the fastest way to kill your photographer’s creativity
FAQ
Why are group wedding photos a nightmare?
Because they eat up your cocktail hour, your energy, and the real moments you actually want to remember.
How many group photos should we plan?
Stick to 5–6 groups, with 6–8 people each. That usually takes 30–40 minutes.
What’s the risk of planning too many group photos?
You’ll miss spontaneous hugs, laughter, and those candid cocktail vibes you truly hired me for.
What’s the alternative?
Limit the formal groups and let the rest of your story unfold naturally. That’s where the magic lives.
Getting married in France (or anywhere)?
Whether it’s Lyon, Paris, the Riviera, a Tuscan hilltop or a far-flung island, I’m with you wherever moments matter more than endless lines of stiff groups.
Shall we raise a glass?
