Any tips/tricks/examples of absolutely huge wedding parties? I just booked a wedding for the end of August and here's the line up:

Bride has 11 bridesmaids.
Groom has 10 groomsmen.
Two flower girls.
One ringbearer.
Junior bridesmaid.
Junior groomsman.

0_o I think my eyes about buldged out of my sockets when they told me that. Haha. We are going to do contemporary style formals, but still, that's a huge group. I would love to see any photos you've got of huge groups that you've photographed. Luckily, we have time pre-ceremony to get formals out of the way, it's going to take a while!

Everything is big in Texas, eh???

Don't be intimidated by big groups -- just stack 'em up and light 'em bright.

Shoot a LOT -- 10 or more shots of each group...just fire enough to get all the blinkers out of the way.

I don't have many samples on this computer...but here's one from a slideshow I did last fall (I don't usually put formals in slideshows...but I did for this one)...I only had about 15 minutes for this group (family groups and wedding party) so I only used one light -- a monolight with an umbrella. Ideally I would have used two lights...but that's 'cuz I'm a bit old-fashioned (like a lot of my clients). There were 20 people in this shot...I'm sure I can find more at home...I also do high school reunion formals with 100+ people...



EDIT: The above shot looks kinda dark 'cuz it's a small compressed file linked from a show-it slideshow...below is a better example (though it's not a huge group and it was more of a funny shot I grabbed in the middle of formal shooting) -- it shows the two light approach. The church was a lot brighter too...which helped...

Thanks for the reply. I was actually just thinking to myself that I need to make sure I have plenty of shots of each pose to ensure I get shots with no blinkies! the second shot is cute, I love how he's wiping the nose.

Hey Brandi, Check out bobbi+mike! They do some of the best group photos I've seen! Have fun and make them laugh!

Check out this wedding from Sara Jane Photography. I couldn't believe how many were in the wedding party!

I did one w/ 15 guys and 13 girls...it's craziness! Try to keep them moving and having fun (especially the guys), and have an assistant to make sure everyone is there! Oh, and TRY to get the bride to leave the room for photos! (otherwise, it's pretty cramped!)

I pity you zero.

Edit: there's SUPPOSED to be a photo posted but it disappeared

16 bm
16 gm
4 kids

pray for steps

Thanks for the example photos, those are indeed helpful. I've been told there is a large staircase in inside the church. I love the photos from the Sara Jane wedding, lots of great posing ideas there.