...Because your family doesn't have to be perfect to be worth remembering
There is something incredibly special about having grandparents, parents, and grandchildren all together in one place.
Yes, they're a little chaotic.
Someone will probably forget to smile. A toddler might refuse to cooperate. Someone will spill juice. Grandpa may wander off. Dad may quietly ask, "Are we almost done?"
And honestly?
That's exactly what I expect.
One of the biggest misconceptions about a large family session is that everything has to go perfectly.
It doesn't.
In fact, some of my favorite photographs come from the moments no one planned.
Controlled Chaos Is Still Beautiful
When people book a multi-generational family session, they're often nervous.
"What if my kids don't listen?"
"What if someone cries?"
"What if my husband is already over it before we even start?"
As both a photographer and a mom, I completely understand those worries.
But here's what I've learned over the years...
The magic isn't found in perfectly posed smiles.
It's found in the way Grandma laughs when her grandchildren pile into her lap.
It's the cousins chasing each other through the grass.
It's Mom brushing hair out of her daughter's face.
It's Grandpa holding the tiniest grandbaby.
Those are the moments that become priceless.
My Job Isn't to Control Your Family
Children aren't supposed to sit perfectly still for an hour. Two-year-olds aren't supposed to smile on command. Teenagers aren't always excited to be there, and dads usually aren't counting down the days until family picture day.
I know that because I'm a wife, a mom of three, and I've been on the other side of the camera too.
When I photograph your family, I'm not trying to force everyone into perfection.
I'm trying to preserve who you are right now.
Every Session Begins With a Plan
Before every extended family session, I arrive with an outline of how I'd like the evening to flow.
Typically we'll photograph:
- The entire extended family
- Grandparents with all grandchildren
- Each individual family
- Grandparents with adult children
- Cousins together
- Siblings
- Individual grandparent portraits
- Any special requests your family has
Sometimes...
Everything goes exactly according to plan.
Sometimes...
We throw the plan out the window.
Flexibility Is Part of the Process
A toddler gets tired.
Someone needs a snack.
Grandpa needs to sit for a few minutes.
Dad has reached his picture limit.
That's okay.
Instead of forcing the moment, we simply adjust.
We'll photograph another family while someone takes a break.
We'll circle back when little ones are ready.
We'll move faster if attention spans are fading.
The session works because we stay flexible.
One Day You'll Miss This Stage
I've looked back at old family photos and found myself smiling at the very things that once exhausted me.
The toddler who wouldn't stop running.
The missing front teeth.
The child who insisted on wearing rain boots with every outfit.
The goofy faces.
The way they always wanted to be carried.
At the time, I was simply trying to survive the moment.
Now...
I'd give anything to have just one more day in that season.
Those little phases disappear so much faster than we realize.
That's why I don't spend the entire session trying to make children act older than they are.
I want to remember them exactly as they were.
My Best Advice
Don't make family pictures the only reason everyone gets together.
Instead, build them into an already special day.
Plan the session around a family gathering.
Share a meal.
Let the cousins play.
Visit Grandma and Grandpa.
Then head outside for photos.
Save dessert for afterward as a reward for the kids...
(and maybe the dads too. 😊)
It turns picture day into an entire family memory instead of just another appointment.
Trust Me
I've got you.
If your child falls and gets a grass stain, I've got you.
If someone has a complete meltdown, I've got you.
If Dad has reached his limit, believe me—I can tell.
I've been married for nearly twenty years. I know when it's time to move on.
You don't have to apologize for your children.
You don't have to apologize because your family isn't perfect.
You simply have to show up.
I'll take care of the rest.
Years From Now...
My hope isn't that you'll remember how smoothly the session went.
Honestly, you probably won't.
My hope is that years from now, you'll pull these photographs off the wall, smile through a few tears, and think,
"I had forgotten how little they were."
And you'll be so thankful you didn't wait for everyone to be older, calmer, less busy, or more perfect.
Because your family doesn't have to be perfect to be worth remembering.
It just has to be yours.
Thinking About Scheduling Your Own Extended Family Session?
Whether you're celebrating a milestone, gathering everyone together for the holidays, or simply want to preserve this season before it changes, I'd be honored to help tell your family's story.
The perfect time isn't when everyone is older, less busy, or perfectly behaved.
The perfect time is while everyone is still here.
I'd love to help you create images your family will treasure for generations.
