List your groups by label, add the people in each and choose a helper and a pace. The planner puts the groups in an order that limits waiting, estimates the time with its assumptions shown, and lets you change every figure. There is no standard duration, so treat the estimate as a starting point.
What this planner does
It turns a list of groups into an ordered plan with a time estimate. The order aims to keep waiting short: it keeps overlapping groups together and brings people forward only when they are needed.
It shows its assumptions. You set the pace, the time needed to move between positions and any extra allowance for guests who walk slowly or need to sit.
How to use it
- Add a label for each group, such as "couple with both families" or "department heads".
- Enter the roles or the number of people in each group. Names are optional.
- Choose a helper who will gather people.
- Mark any guests who need a seat, shade or a short wait.
- Pick a pace, from relaxed to quick, and adjust the movement time.
- Press the button and review the order, the total time and the notes.
Reading the result
The total time is a planning figure, not a promise. Groups with many people take longer to arrange than their number suggests, so allow a margin. If the total is too long for the slot you have, cut groups from the bottom of the list or ask whether some can be photographed together.
Where in the day the groups happen matters as much as how long they take. Our guide to timing group photographs around the event flow explains when guests are easiest to gather. For ways to avoid stopping every guest at once, see planning group photographs. If a planned portrait sits inside live coverage, read about scheduling planned portraits within live coverage.
What to do next
Rank the groups with the priority photograph list builder so the most important ones come first. Then check the slot against the coverage hours planner. When you are comparing portfolios, our guide to assessing group photographs shows what to look for.
Assumptions and limits
The planner uses the pace and movement times you enter. It has no universal duration, and it cannot see your venue. Names are optional and stay in your browser unless you choose to save them on this device.
Send the plan to us and we will fit it into your programme, check the timing against your venue and confirm how we will run the groups.
Plan our group photos with the teamCommon questions
Do I need to enter guests' names?
No. Labels such as bride's family or the whole team are enough. Add names only for those you are happy to share.
How long does each group take?
It depends on the size of the group, how quickly people gather and how much moving is needed. The planner uses a pace you set and keeps it editable. Adjust it after your first test run.
Why does a helper matter?
A relative or colleague who knows the guests can call people forward while the photographer works. Without one, most of the time goes on finding people.
How should I plan for older guests?
Mark who prefers to sit or wait in the shade. The planner then orders those groups early or places them near the seating.
Plan our group photos with the team
Send the plan to us and we will fit it into your programme, check the timing against your venue and confirm how we will run the groups.
What happens next: You send your event details on WhatsApp. Our team reads the brief, asks what is missing, then confirms in writing whether the date, venue and coverage can be booked, with a quotation. Opening WhatsApp does not send anything, and a message is not a booking until both sides confirm.
Last reviewed: