Capturing an Outdoor Extended Family Session
Extended-family photo sessions are some of the most joyful and meaningful sessions I do—full of laughter, connection, and just a little bit of playful chaos. There’s something truly special about bringing together grandparents, adult children, spouses and cousins for one shared memory.
What Does an Extended Family Session Actually Include?
When I say “extended family,” I mean more than the immediate family unit. You’ll often have grandparents, siblings with their own families, cousins—and together you all come together for one big celebration of connection. Here’s what you can expect:
A large group photo featuring everyone.
Grandparents with their grandchildren.
Grandparents with their adult children.
Each individual family unit (for annual updates!).
Fun candid shots of cousins or sibling pairs.
How We Keep It Organized (and Fun!)
A session that includes many people can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. I treat it a bit like a wedding “family photo lineup”: we start together, then gradually move into smaller groups. A typical one-hour outdoor session flows like this:
Large Group Portrait — Everyone together while the energy is still high.
Grandparents + Grandkids — these tender moments are always a highlight.
Grandparents + Adult Children — capturing the generational link.
Individual Family Units — great for updating each household’s portrait.
Cousins Together / Kids Playing — relaxed, fun, often their favourite.
Any Special Requests — sibling portraits, spouse pairings, individual grandparents, etc.
With clear direction and a relaxed pace, we make sure to get all the important combinations—and the images that feel spontaneous and real.
Why Choose an Outdoor Location?
Doing the session outdoors brings a world of advantages:
There’s space for everyone to spread out, move, relax—not stuck on a tight indoor floorplan.
Natural light tends to be more flattering and gives that warm, authentic look.
The environment itself adds character—whether it’s a leafy park, a golden field, or your own backyard.
The result is images that feel organic and genuine—not overly posed.
Final Thoughts
An extended-family photo session is far more than just a set of pictures: it’s a celebration of your family’s legacy and connections. These portraits tell your story: where you’ve been, who you are now, and how the love among your generations continues to grow.
If you’ve been meaning to bring your whole family together for photos, there’s no better time. A one-hour outdoor session is a beautifully simple way to gather the generations and create images you’ll treasure forever.
Ready to schedule your time together and capture your story? Let’s make it happen.
