Welcome! I’m so excited to capture beautiful memories of your extended family. Large group sessions with multiple generations are among my favorite shoots, and with a little preparation, we will create stunning portraits that everyone will treasure.
Before Your Session
Share Family Dynamics with Me
Leading up to the session, I’ll ask for a list of names of the folks who will be included in the session and their relationships to one another.
- If there are little ones involved, I also ask for their ages, simply to have proper expectations.
- If there are grandparents involved, please note their grandparent names. I will usually call them by those names.
Additionally, I need to know about any potential family dynamics and situations that may affect the portraits.
Does everyone get along well? Are there any family members who should or shouldn’t be grouped next to one another? Any recent family changes (divorces, new relationships, etc.) that might affect groupings?
This information helps me plan the session flow and ensures everyone feels comfortable.
Share the Guides (with Your Family)
Please share this guide, and any of the others, with the adults in your group! The more people who know what to expect, the smoother our session will be.
During Your Session
Backgrounds & Lighting
Please review this guide: Timing Your Session for Best Light
TL;DR: On a sunny day, we start with the dunes as the background for the images. Once the sun goes down a bit, we will adjust and use the ocean as the background. On a cloudy day, we have more flexibility, and I will make a judgment call at the time of the session. Please relay this information to your family.
Adults: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Adults, during formal portrait time, please, please look at me and smile the whole time. Keep looking at the camera, even when children need redirecting. If I need some help getting a child’s attention because my typical methods aren’t working, I will ask one of their parents to help guide them towards me.
Avoiding the Overwhelm
Please read this guide: Beach Photo Session Tips for Young Families
Getting genuine smiles from kids can be challenging, especially with a group of people calling out directions to them. When too many folks are behind me looking at the kids or trying to get the kids attention, this can quickly turn to overwhelm.
I ask that we designate ONE person who is not in the particular group being photographed to help me engage with the children or child. Some days they might smile every time they look at Mom, some days Pop-Pop might be the favorite, some days Uncle Jeff and his silly faces are exactly what they need to see.
Everyone else should:
- Mostly ignore the group being photographed
- Avoid calling out instructions or trying to get the child’s attention
- Let me and the designated helper work together
Too many voices and directions will overwhelm children and make it harder to get natural, happy expressions.
Keeping Littles Engaged
I will accommodate children as much as possible! Kids make sessions fun, and I’m all about working with their energy:
- They need high fives? I’m on it.
- They need to run around to burn off energy? Go for it.
- They want to see the back of the camera? Absolutely.
- We need to let them make a silly face to get them to then make a nice smile? Let’s do it.
- My one rule: no throwing sand. I will put on my stern teacher voice if children start throwing sand.
Staying Connected
The magic happens when families are close together. Great family portraits show connection, warmth, and unity.
- Stand Close – put arms around shoulders, hold hands, lean in to one another
- Eliminate gaps – if I can see space between family members, we need to get closer, and I will tell you, and you may feel weird about it
- Don’t worry about feeling crowded – close groupings photograph beautifully and show family bonds
Think of it as one big family hug that happens to be photographed!
What to Expect
Session Flow
- We’ll start with the largest groups first and work our way down to smaller family unit combinations.
- Tell me about any special requests or important shots you want – otherwise, I’ll work through my standard groupings as seamlessly as possible
- If little ones are getting overwhelmed, we’ll give them a break – this is completely normal! While giving them a break, I’ll capture groups that they are not included in.
- We often have to adapt based on the young ones’ behaviors – please come in with some flexibility.
- Feel free to bring a beach towel or some beach chairs to relax in when it’s not your turn.
- Sessions typically take 45-60, but not everyone is in all the photos during that time.
Posing and Positioning
- For formal portraits, I will guide everyone into position. With large groups it takes time to get to each person, so please be patient as I work my way through the whole group!
- I try to avoid touching anyone, but sometimes I need to make small adjustments for the perfect shot, especially with children. I will always ask permission before scooting someone backwards or forwards, and sometimes this requires gentle lifting or nudging. I promise I’m just trying to get everyone positioned perfectly – nothing more!
- I may walk backwards while shooting and don’t always look behind me, so I bump into people on occasion – I’m not trying to bulldoze anyone over, just getting the best angles!
Final Tips
- Arrive on time so we can use our full session
- Bring any props or special items you’d like included
- Consider the timing for small children (avoid nap times and meal times)
- Trust the process – I’ve photographed hundreds of large families and know how to make this work!
Your family gathering is special, and these portraits will become treasured keepsakes for generations. I can’t wait to work with you all!