Photographer advice please.

After reading a few posts on here I wonder if you could clarify how many shots should be in my tog list? I take it I don't list shots like: bride with parents, bridemaids etc? Photo's with my little dog have been specifically written into our contract so I don't need to worry about that. 

Are you asking how many photographs you should end up with at the end of the day, or how many specifically requested 'posed' shots you should have?

Sorry I've not been clear....posed shots. 

There's a list of seemingly obvious ones we require purely because we don't understand the family dynamics or have anyones details.

You don't want your tog going, 'Ok can we have the brides mother and father' when in fact there may be a divorce or a death in the family.

I always send a guide, along with an upper limit along with a VIP section for those that are really important.

20 formals maximum with 45 minutes to do them in is realistic. I can do them in 25 if the guests are switched on enough.

Chris Giles Photography:

There's a list of seemingly obvious ones we require purely because we don't understand the family dynamics or have anyones details.

You don't want your tog going, 'Ok can we have the brides mother and father' when in fact there may be a divorce or a death in the family.

I always send a guide, along with an upper limit along with a VIP section for those that are really important.

20 formals maximum with 45 minutes to do them in is realistic. I can do them in 25 if the guests are switched on enough.

This is really helpful thanks. We did pick this photographer because he does lovely informal shots but now patents and grandparents want a picture so I will have to have those put in. Our guests should be pretty switched on as will our ushers! 

Kylie541:

Our guests should be pretty switched on

Please do not rely on your guests to organise themselves!

We were a little too relaxed about photographs, assuming that it would sort itself out on the day. A distinct list would have been incredibly helpful. Don't underestimate the value of this. It won't detract form the formality (or informality) of your shots but will be immensely more efficient on the day.

ForTheLoveOfMrsBrown:

Kylie541:

Our guests should be pretty switched on

Please do not rely on your guests to organise themselves!

We were a little too relaxed about photographs, assuming that it would sort itself out on the day. A distinct list would have been incredibly helpful. Don't underestimate the value of this. It won't detract form the formality (or informality) of your shots but will be immensely more efficient on the day.

We are not which is why we asked about the list. My brothers are ushers and OH brother is best man so they should be able to organise family shots. 

I always ask the couples to provide the list as every family is different and work on the principle of 3 minutes per group, which is on the pessimistic side and can usually done quicker than this but I believe it's better to have a bit of a buffer in here in case somebody goes missing or the rest of the day doesnt run to plan, which quite often they do and it doesn't!

Something like 10-15 group photographs plus 20 minutes or so for couple photographs works for me. I find much more than 15 and both guests and couple start to get a bit bored waiting and hanging around.