How to Write Your Wedding Headshot List

There’s a moment right after your ceremony where the air is buzzing—you're married (!!!), everyone’s crying (or sweaty, or crying because they’re sweaty), and now it’s time for family photos. This part can be a beautiful, emotional pause… or it can be a chaotic, stressful blur that eats up precious time.

Let’s make sure it’s the first one.

Writing a wedding headshot list in advance helps me move quickly and efficiently, helps you stay grounded and glowing, and helps your people know exactly where to be and when—so we’re not chasing Uncle Rick across the venue while your makeup melts in the sun.

So here’s your step-by-step guide to writing a headshot list that’s easy, organized, and lets us move through photos like a well-oiled love machine.

What is a Headshot List?

This is not your bridal party photos or your romantic portraits. This is the formal family photo portion, taken right after the ceremony, before we head off for wedding party and couple photos. It’s usually the only time during the day where all your important people are in one place—and dressed up!

The goal: to make sure every meaningful family combination is captured, without dragging it out or stressing you out.

How to Write It (Please Read This Part Twice)

1. Start with the Bride’s side.

   • Why? Because wedding dresses require placement. The less we move you, the happier your train (and your spine) will be.

2. Begin with the oldest and youngest guests.

   • Grandparents and kids go FIRST. These sweet humans can’t always stand still long, or may need to sit down ASAP. Let’s take care of them first.

3. Use NAMES, not titles.

   • Instead of writing "Bride + Mom + Dad," write "Jane + Susan + David." This lets me call people confidently without having to ask which of your five uncles is “Uncle Rick.”

4. Start with large groupings, then subtract.

   • We begin with the entire family grouping, then remove people one by one until we’re left with those core, intimate shots (like just you and your mom).

5. Wedding party is excluded—mostly.

   • We’ll take all your bestie photos later with the wedding party. You only need to include them here if they’re in family combos (like if your sister is your Maid of Honour and you want a photo of your parents + sister + you).

6. Then we do the Groom’s side—same flow.

   • Oldest to youngest, biggest to smallest, names not titles.

7. Add as many combos as you want.

   • Don’t stress about "too many"—I’ve done this hundreds of times. I’m efficient. I use my “mom voice.” I will boss people around kindly. It works.

Sample Headshot List Format

Let’s walk through an example so you can visualize how to write yours:

BRIDE’S SIDE

1. Jane + Susan (Mom) + David (Dad) + Grandpa Bill + Grandma Mary + Emily (Sister) + Nathan (Brother) + Emma & Lily (Nieces)

2. Jane + Parents + Grandparents

3. Jane + Parents + Siblings

4. Jane + Susan + David

5. Jane + Grandpa Bill + Grandma Mary

6. Jane + Emily + Nathan

7. Jane + Emily (Sister only)

8. Jane + Susan (Mom only)

9. Jane + David (Dad only)

   
   

   

GROOM’S SIDE

1. Alex + Carol (Mom) + Tom (Dad) + Grandma June + Aunt Cathy + Uncle Mike + Jason (Brother) + Ella (Niece)

2. Alex + Parents + Grandmother

3. Alex + Parents + Siblings

4. Alex + Carol + Tom

5. Alex + Jason (Brother only)

6. Alex + Grandma June

7. Alex + Ella (Niece only)

Final Tips for Sanity + Success

• Assign a wrangler. Pick someone loud-ish and reliable from each side to help gather people. Trust me—it’s a lifesaver.

• Make a copy for your planner or coordinator. They can help move things along even faster.

• Trust me. I’ve done this more times than I can count, and I’ve got a system. You just need to make the list and hand it over.

This list lets me get you out of photo mode and back to enjoying your wedding faster—and with every meaningful photo already captured. It also gives us more time for those magic sunset shots, champagne clinks, and sweaty dance floor moments later on.

So sit down with your partner, pour some wine, and take 30 minutes to make this list. Your future self—looking radiant and relaxed while everyone else scrambles—will thank you.