15 Groomsmen Photos You Need to Take on Your Wedding Day

Wedding photographers love snapping shots of dapper grooms with their groomsmen on the big day. And while groomsmen typically like to keep photo sessions short and sweet, photographer Comfort Witcher says capturing high-quality groomsmen photos isn’t just doable—it’s quick and easy. She captures the creative and classic shots she needs, then lets the groomsmen go off to enjoy the festivities.

Meet the Expert

Comfort Witcher is the owner and head wedding photographer at Comfort Photography based in Columbus, OH.

Witcher plans her groomsmen photos well before the wedding day. “Beforehand, I ask about the wedding party in general,” she says. “Knowing their personalities can help me anticipate what poses will work, and it lets me get creative while staying true to the couple. It’s important for me to capture the authentic spirit of the day.”

A question groomsmen ask Witcher all the time? What to do with their hands. Witcher gets this conversation out of the way early in the day—either during groom prep or at the beginning of the groomsmen photo session. And, like most photographers, she’ll correct groomsmen if they look silly or uncomfortable as she’s photographing.

Her recommendations include crossing hands in front, crossing them in back, or putting them in pockets.

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Witcher’s groomsmen photo shot list varies from couple to couple, but she does have a few can’t-miss staples. During groom prep, this includes tying ties and helping the groom with his tie or cuff links. This part of the day is more candid and provides the photographer with a lot of flexibility depending on the groomsmen style choices.

She takes the majority of groomsmen photos pre-ceremony—which only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. This includes group and individual photos with each groomsman and the groom. She’ll also capture creative group shots, such as congratulatory poses (where the groomsmen give kudos to the groom) and walking shots with groomsmen in formation.

Of course, Witcher says this hardly scratches the surface of groomsmen photos. Here’s a collection of groomsmen photo ideas to get those wheels turning.

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Just Hanging Out

The beginning of the day for groomsmen is pretty simple: eat breakfast, grab a beer, and hang out. While it may not be super fancy, this is a great time for photographers to capture the spirit of the groomsmen.

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Tying the Bow Tie

One of the sweetest groom-prep photos is the groomsmen helping the groom tie his tie or bow tie. While it may be posed, the groomsmen never look at the camera for this one. This is a special moment the photographers love watching unfold as they click away.

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The Reflection Photo

Few moments are as special as the groom and groomsmen looking into the mirror while getting ready together. These cute reflection photos show genuine emotions and are some of the most heartwarming shots of the day.

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The Toast

While the group is getting ready, this is a great time to capture the groomsmen toasting the groom. Photographers typically take this shot candidly, because they need no prodding to get these VIPs to show their love.

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The Fastening Train

Perfect for groomsmen wearing vests, this is a creative photo where one groomsman is helping another secure his vest. It becomes a “train” when the groomsman behind that groomsman is fastening, and so on.

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The Personality Pic

One of Witcher’s favorite parts of photography is capturing the spirit of the wedding day, and few times does that come out more than groomsmen photos. Knowing about the couple’s personality ahead of time helps her cue the groomsmen up for photos that show who they, and the couple, truly are.

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The Serious Photo

Some photographs, like the straight-faced serious photo, make the groomsmen look extra handsome. The underlying tone of this shot is lighthearted and fun—as most wedding photos are.

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Showing Off Matching Accessories

It's common for the groomsmen to sport the same accessory on the wedding day, which oftentimes is a gift from the groom. A cheeky pair of socks or cufflinks, for example, are some of the unique details photographers love to capture.

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The V Formation

For utmost symmetry, photographers will put groomsmen in a V formation with the groom positioned front and center as the point. This pose works particularly well when photogenic stairs are readily available.

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The Hands-in-Pocket Stance

For groomsmen worried about where to put their hands, the hands-in-pocket stance is a great option. Photographers will instruct the bridal party on what to do with their hands, and will often try to get a few photographs where groomsmen place their hands in pockets in unison.

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The Final Touches

Before the first look or heading off to the ceremony, the groomsmen are responsible for making sure the groom looks their best. This is one of the photographer’s favorite moments to snap away because those “final touches” photos are priceless.

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Heading to the Ceremony

When it’s time to get hitched, photographers love capturing groomsmen en route to the altar. This photo depends largely on the prep space and venue, but it’s often something simple and candid like walking down the stairs or entering the church.

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Walking Down the Aisle

Brides never get to see groomsmen walking down the aisle, so a photograph of this wedding-day milestone is a must. Photographers capture this moment candidly and can go for close-up shots or wider angles to take in the full scene.

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Groomsmen at the Altar

Couples hire a photographer to capture the moments they may miss, and the groomsmen at the altar is another one of those. This is an emotional moment for everyone in the audience, including the groom’s best friends. That’s why this is another go-to ceremony photo.

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The Celebration

Once the ceremony is over, it’s time to celebrate! Everyone is ready to let loose, dance, and party on into the evening. These are among the most candid photos with the groom and groomsmen in a state of true happiness.

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