One of the most popular sessions I offer is the extended family photo session. People often book these sessions as a gift for a grandparent, for a family reunion or simply to just update their family photos. A photo session is a great way to document the bond your family shares. However, what exactly is an extended photo session?

extended family seated on rocks at the beach family portrait

What is an extended family photo session?

Simply put, this is a multi generational photo session. It is a photo session that includes any family members outside of your immediate nuclear unit. This type of session allows me to capture the unique bonds that exist within the generation span of your family. It typically includes, grandparents, siblings, your nieces and nephews and, of course, your own immediate family. These sessions are super fast paced, especially when there are young children involved. They are also a lot of fun and a great bonding experience for your entire family.

What type of photos are captured in a multigenerational family session?

The process of an extended family session is a little different than the typical family portrait session. There are more groupings, so arranging everyone requires a bit more time and there tends to be more posing than a typical portrait session with me. While I do pose you in a natural and relaxed way, posed images often require more time. I try to also leave time for some more relaxed and candid images, but it all depends on the amount of people I am photographing, level of cooperation and the time it takes to tick through the list of requested posed shots. These sessions take over an hour depending on the size of the group. I keep things moving quickly and efficiently, so everyone stays happy.

mothers with their children on the beach kissing them and grandma with daughters and grandaughters

What should I expect during a large group photo session?

First things first…you will have fun and have lots of laughs with your family. If there are a lot of young children involved, it might feel hectic and fast paced. Little ones simply can not be asked to sit still and smile for posed images for an hour straight. I often need to give them breaks between shots so they can relax and run free. Sometimes I am able to capture that playful energy in between shots and others times, I am off photographing another grouping of family members or capturing individual family units. My primary goal is to always capture your “must have” shot list during the session, so I work my way through that shot list based on the children’s needs and moods.

Pre session planning is a must

Make sure to fill out your pre session questionnaire. This allows me to know ahead of time exactly what your “must have” shots are and the groupings I have to photograph. Things move fast and there are a lot of people to organize, so “winging” it on the day of the session is not a good idea. I keep the list with me and review it prior to the session. This helps me to make sure I capture your must have shots.

Most people who book this type of session are looking for posed/portrait style images. Most of the time this is because this type of session has been gifted to grandparents and, let’s face it, grandparents love and prefer all eyes on camera images. So, be sure to tell me what groupings you want for posed images. Every family dynamic is different, so proper planning is key to a successful session.

grandparents dressed in white and blue kissing on the beach at sunset

It is important to note that a multigenerational session is different from a solo family session. I don’t have the same amount of time to work with each individual family alone. If you have booked a solo session with me in the past, you know that most of your gallery is filled with interactive and connected images and a few posed images to balance it out. This is because the entire hour is dedicated to your family alone. Although I allot extra time for an extended family session, capturing posed images with large groups and children takes quite a bit of time. Therefore, your gallery may have less of those candid organic images than a standard family photo session. If you lean more towards that relaxed and natural style of imagery typical to my style, then tell me in your questionnaire.

Pre session planning for wardrobe is essential too. This is especially true with large groups. I can help you plan your entire family’s wardrobe. I can send a color palette, outfit recommendations, and you are welcome to borrow from my client closet as well. Some clients need this extra help, while other don’t. I encourage you to reach out with questions and utilize this service. What you wear for your images is super important to the overall aesthetic and cohesiveness of your images. I truly am always happy to help and really enjoy the styling.

family in pink and blue on the north shore of long island's beach

Relax during the session and have an open mind

This rule really applies to any photo session, but is even more important with extended family sessions that include young children. You really need to go with the flow with this type of session. I know this can be hard for some. I myself am a Virgo, and super detailed oriented, but there is no set flow or script for this type of session. I will capture your shot list, but I may not be able to do it chronologically or in a particular order. Why, you may ask? Because with large groups, there is a wide variety of needs. If there are young children, they may require multiple breaks, they may need time to play and unwind, they may need a snack or bathroom break…etc. You get the point, right? Kids are the best to photograph, but they can be unpredictable, which leads me to my next point.

baby boy in vintage white jumper with toes in water at sunset and mom holds his hands

I will do everything in my power to get the kids to smile and look at the camera, if those are they type of images you want. I will make fart noises, bad jokes, weird sounds, have you tickle them or play games with them …you name it and I will try it. If those tactics do not work, I will work some magic in photoshop through head swapping and other tricks of the trade to get that perfect group shot for you. Even with all of those measures, it is important to note that kids will be kids. If he/she is not in the mood to smile that day, your image will still be gorgeous and authentic to your child’s personality. You really have to have an open mind and realistic expectations, especially with posed sessions.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to try and stay relaxed and calm. Kids will be kids and I love every side of a child’s personality. As a mom, teacher and children’s photographer, I have literally seen it all and truly nothing phases me, so don’t stress about it. You will have beautiful images that you will cherish for years to come.