Although we tend to focus on the stars of the show at a wedding - the bride and groom - another key element is capturing family. I realize how important this is to everyone involved in this momentous occasion and I always look to capture candids of family members as well as be prepared for formal group shots. One of my all time favorites is the above shot of the bride and groom playing on a swing set with their two daughters on their wedding day. I hope these girls will display this photograph at their own weddings one day in the future.
Another one of my favorite images was taken at the old Crown Point courthouse during a summer wedding reception. The groom's grandmother happened upon a family member she had not seen in years and I was in the right place to capture her emotional moment as they hugged. I was covering the action on the dance floor when I heard her reaction behind me. I'm so glad I was able to capture this special moment for them.
After a church ceremony, we grab the shot list that we gave to the bride and groom to fill out and will begin gathering family together for formal group shots. We have a lighting system with us to make sure that we are able to provide sharp, well lit images in which every family member can be seen. At this New Years Eve wedding at Bethel Church in Crown Point, we had quite the large group of family members that we arranged for the big group shot.
While we are certainly capable of delivering traditional family photos like the one above, we certainly aren't opposed to some fun family photos with a few props thrown in. The bride and groom's moms hammed it up in this image taken at The Avalon Manor in Merrillville.
I gave this candid family wedding photo a vintage look due to the timeless nature of the daughters and sons of the bride and groom all blowing wedding bubbles together. It was a perfect moment that took place on the steps of the gift house at Deep River Park in Hobart, Indiana.
The wedding ceremony itself can provide many family photos. This image of a bride being kissed by her father as he walks her down the aisle of their church in New Buffalo, Michigan fits the bill as does these grandparents chatting outside at the Marquette Park Pavilion.
Another great ceremony moment was this spontaneous kiss from mom, the bride to her son, the groomsman as he walked her down the aisle at White Hawk Country Club in Crown Point, Indiana.
I will conclude my post on family wedding photos with pictures of two generations of proud men - the proud dad and groom with his two sons and the grandfather overjoyed to be dancing with his granddaughter at the reception.
It's an awesome feeling to know that I'm capturing these moments that will be viewed, enjoyed and talked about for years to come. With that I say, bring on wedding season 2013!! :)