Original subtitles

Family formals.

My favorite.

Yeah right.

So family formals, our main goal with family

formals is to get them done as quickly

and painlessly as possible.

Both for our benefit but also for the

benefit of the bride and groom.

Now that is just because we want to

get them done quickly and painlessly does not

mean that we don't think they're important.

Actually we put incredible importance onto these photos

right.

Even if we've often had brides and grooms

tell us that they don't want family formals

and we convince them to do them.

They have become some of the most important

photos that we've taken at weddings especially with

with couples that have suddenly lost parents or

grandparents after the wedding and they treasure these

photos.

So we always make sure we have time

to do them and that we do a

good job on them but we still want

them to be very quick and very painless.

So we don't pour any creative energy into

them whatsoever but we make sure that they're

well composed, that the posing is decent and

that the lighting is good.

Yeah the objective is to document who was

there and what they looked like.

Yeah exactly.

I'd say most of our weddings we do

the family formals outside and it's very formalized.

We try and find either an area of

shade with a uniform background or an area

where the sun is behind the groupings.

Okay so the sun we always want either

shade or that light source behind the groupings

and then we use as big a lens

as possible usually an 85 or 70 to

200 and we get them as far away

from that uniform background as possible.

So if there's a forest behind them we

want them at least 10 or 20 meters

in front of that forest.

And the reason we're choosing this lens and

that setup is so that we can use

compression right.

We can shoot at a higher f-stop

have everybody in focus but have that compression

that separates them from the background.

Yeah exactly.

So we've got a nice big lens.

Lanny generally shoots it because he he sucks

at posing families.

Like I don't know what I don't know

how to do it so it's a bit

like oh god it's it's been he's done

it before it's awful.

Anyways so I just organize the groupings but

like I said I don't pour a lot

of creative energy into it.

I just have generally speaking the bride and

groom in the middle.

I've got half of the family grouping on

the left side half of the family grouping

on the right side.

I have them turn so that they're they're

facing in towards the bride and groom and

only one shoulder is closest to the camera

and then that's it.

The other thing that we'll do often is

we'll have two lights just naked flashes for

the most part.

Just giving a little bit of pop of

fill light.

Just a tiny little pop just to help

them separate from that background a little bit.

The wedding that we're about to show you.

I'll just I'll just add that throughout the

family formals we make sure that like when

Erica's composing the comp arranging the compositions she

has a camera on her shoulder right and

I'm not just laser focused in on getting

the family formals.

We're both paying attention to everything else that's

happening around us because sometimes there's really incredible

moments and stories happening with kids and etc

and so we kind of keep our eyes

open to that and we've got a camera

ready to get that stuff as well.

That is so true.

I always have a camera on me with

a wider lens because there's often you know

three-year-olds having temper tantrums or the

the ring bearer is super bored and you

know lying on the floor like this is

so boring let's go on.

Anyway so there's all sorts of moments happening

during those family formals as well.

We're going to talk about this later on

in the course but I do have a

list of all the family formals that they

want that I get before the actual wedding

day and I have someone who they have

designated to help me coordinate and get people

ready.

I usually ask them to pick a really

bossy bridesmaid or or aunt.

Someone that can you know be really assertive

with people and get them into position so

that we can make them as quick and

painless as possible.

Yeah and we usually recommend that we do

these these formals kind of as close as

possible to right after the ceremony.

You know in that location-ish before people

have dispersed because it's that much easier to

keep them fast and painless right.

Yeah and let's go and look at it

now.

Okay welcome to family formals for Shannon and

Ian's wedding.

This is the location we picked.

You can see we've got pretty nice even

light.

If the sun were out we would have

had to try and pick a location where

the sun is definitely behind them.

I can't exactly remember where it is in

the scene.

I think it's looking at the shadows on

the ground.

It's coming in the right here but the

reason that we picked this location is that

we've got lots of nice depth to work

with right.

We've got a big long road behind them.

We can use a big lens and we

can use that compression to our advantage.

Okay so you're going to face up with

your right shoulder forward a little bit and

you're going to face with your left shoulder

forward.

Perfect.

And you're going to hide this hand under

her bouquet so that you're nice and close.

Okay yes.

And grandma?

Grandpa?

You guys come on over.

And this is a little bit ridiculous because

you'll see me setting up this family photo

and Lanny's not even there yet.

He's gone to get the lights and it

took him way longer to get the lights

than I thought it would take him.

So you'll see me set up the entire

family photo and no Lanny.

No lights, no camera.

So that comes a little bit later.

There's Lauren and Ron.

It's Ron right?

Dan.

Dan.

Dan.

That's okay.

I knew it was three letters.

It was almost gone here.

Um and then you guys can get, you

guys can hop in.

Actually hop in on this side.

Okay.

Yeah.

So Cassie you go first.

And now we just gotta wait for Lanny.

Oh.

So you guys can relax.

Yeah.

Bring all of them.

Unless she's too much we can have her

out but we can pull her in later.

She doesn't want to see us.

Hey where's Lanny?

So really we don't need flashes at all

for this family picture but if you find

a little bit of front flash it just

adds a little nice pop and you'll see

that in a second.

Just re-watching this video just sort of

brings back all the stress of this moment.

Carefully take your time.

What's

your

settings?

Just double checking Lanny's settings because he's had

a tendency to shoot family pictures at really

low apertures before.

So I always just double check them now.

It doesn't happen very often anymore but.

Okay we're gonna do a test shot here.

This first, first family photo always takes so

long and is a little bit like rushed

and stressful and then once we get that

first one nailed the rest go really quickly.

Okay.

Trying the flashes.

There you go.

Okay give that a try.

Just in case.

Just like that.

Okay you come on in here.

Okay we'll make this like really cozy this

one.

Come on in mom.

Yes that looks great.

Okay Lanny.

Okay looking at Lanny there.

Three, two, one.

And another.

Let me check.

Sorry I was standing in front of you

Mike.

Okay and one more.

Yeah perfect.

Sandwich.

Who's in the back room?

Okay right here.

One more.

Perfect.

Okay good so you guys are done.

Um Ian's family.

I don't know.

Just come.

Be close enough.

Then you're going to do a bunch of

different compositions here.

And I have no idea.

They're off with the kids.

They're doing their thing.

Oh okay.

So we're not doing family photos.

No that's fine.

I was only asked to come.

Okay okay so we're close and then you

guys come up.

Are you guys a part of this family?

Yes.

Everybody in the photos anywhere?

Yes.

Yes okay.

And then dad.

Yeah let's get dad's this side here.

Okay.

This is his dad.

I'll just go wherever you tell me.

Actually we'll get you guys to switch.

She's going to come in.

And this is your left shoulder.

I get it yeah yeah.

This is my left shoulder.

Yes and then come forward a bit.

I don't know where I'm going to go.

You've got to have standing up on this.

Two of you guys can go on that

side.

Well it's going to be a little uneven.

It's just what it is.

Am I past Adam up on the moon?

Yeah no.

I had it the same.

Oh yeah no you come over here.

And you go.

You can come over here.

Just squeeze in a little bit so that

you're not up on the edge.

Yeah squeeze closer.

That's way easier than photoshopping my face.

Stand and look to your right.

Okay you got to make room for uh.

There we go.

Oh yeah.

Okay now come forward a little bit.

Yes perfect.

And you go back like half an inch.

There awesome.

Okay.

That's enough.

Anna come a little bit closer for one.

Be nice in there.

We want to get the camera wet.

Look at the camera.

It's really hard to get this family to

look at the camera and smile.

Over at the camera.

You didn't get it.

They weren't all looking.

Let's get one where everybody's looking.

You need to do this.

You all have to look at the same

time.

It's a challenge.

You all have to look at the same

time.

I'm not going to stitch 12 photos together.

I need everybody looking here at the same

time.

Here we go.

3, 2, 1.

My camera.

Nailed it.

Yes.

You guys did it.

We're just waiting

for some family to show up here.

Just going to do a quick portrait.

While we're waiting for the family to show

up.

Come on down here guys.

I'm getting my settings set.

As long as he's getting a couple.

Just going to back flash him in the

dark spot of this grove here.

We're going to take a picture while we're

waiting.

Is that fire?

These will use their time efficiently.

Is that fire?

Oh, I'm on channel 2.

Okay.

Right about there.

I'm just going to do a quick back

flash.

Right about there.

Penguin pose.

But facing each other.

Okay.

Half a step that way.

Keep doing that.

Pack your noses together a little bit.

Like you're chickens.

There you go.

Awesome.

You guys are ready.

I was just waiting.

Okay.

Right here.

Right in the camera.

Let's do one more.

Lenny always makes me be the idiot.

In the family photos.

Having to attract attention to the kids.

He likes to hide behind the camera.

Here we go.

3, 2, 1.

Got her.

That's family pictures.

This one was a little bit more of

a gong show than normal.

Mostly because I actually forgot the list that

Shannon had given me.

With everything else going on, my phone was

in the lodge and I didn't have time

to go run back and get it and

grab the list.

Also, I normally have a shepherd.

I normally have someone that knows all the

family that's able to gather everyone for me.

This one was a little bit more unorganized

than most of our family formal sessions, but

you still get the gist of what we

do.