When you see disaster footage on the local news, victims are always shown looking for their most precious keepsakes…the family photographs. Not their bluerays or hot tubs.Those are the important memories you are looking to preserve. The FORMAL PORTRAITS (not a dirty word) are an important historical record and as such you should.Devote some time to creating them. You will appreciate them more as you pass them on to your children and grandchildren. You should generally allow about a half hour.for them and they are best done right after the ceremony. All the important players are there already, assembled and freshly attired. The worst place to try to get these is at the reception where trying to get people off the dance floor does nothing but eat up time. Receptions are for informal and fun photos.