Making Extended Family Photos Easy
I didn’t always love extended family photos. They are chaotic. All the adults have their own opinions on what needs done and the kids often see how stressed the adults are and start melting down. Well, over the many years I have worked as a Seattle Area family photographer, I have learned a lot about what to expect during extended family sessions and how to still make it enjoyable. Having fun and keeping things light-hearted is always my goal!
Let me share a couple of tips with extended family sessions so that we can have a great time together:
Choose a “Point Person”
This person’s job is to help me coordinate the families into the various photo groupings you want captured (I will be working to get to know your names, but having a point person can make this easiest!)
Pick One Person to Get the Kid’s Attention
Pick one person to stand behind me (who is not in the photo) to get the kids' attention. If there are 5 people behind me getting the children's attention it can be overwhelming for the kids and then they don't know where to look. I am good at making lots of weird animal noises to get the kids' attention, but if there is an adult that they really respond well to, that person is welcome to help!
Stay Calm!
I am super good at moving from one group to another. Kids are very perceptive of our moods and if we are stressed, they will get anxious even without knowing why and that could make the session more complicated.
Don’t Worry, We’ll Get the Photos
No matter how chaotic it feels, if we have a point person and follow a flow of photos (if the kids allow for it), we’ll get the photos. The most important thing for you to do is to relax and have fun!
The Ideal Extended Family Workflow
Okay, now there is an ideal flow to extended family sessions that I will share with you now. If it doesn't happen this way, it is okay!!!
1. Whole Extended Family
2. Parents slowly, carefully and calmly step off to the sides leaving grandkids and grandparents
3. IF we want to capture a full cousin photos, then we will have the grandparents slowly slide out of the photo area
4. Then, filter in any other groupings will all kids (example: all kids with all sets of parents, but not grandparents?)
5. Then we will move onto individual families, working with one family at a time, swapping grandparents in and out. (I always suggest starting with the family with the highest energy little ones.)
6. Hopefully this will wrap up all the photos that the kids need to be in, then we can capture adult only gatherings and let the kids relax.
I LOVE capturing playful, candid photos if we have time! So after the groupings are all captured, go play with your kids in the area and I will capture any spontaneous love that I see.
Need help getting everyone dressed for the big session? Check out one of these blogs to help you navigate that challenge:
What to Wear to Family Photos
Neurodivergent Family Outfit Planning
If you have any neurodivergent people in your family, please let me know so I can help guide you into having an amazing extended family session. We will want to take some additional considerations to make sure all family members enjoy themselves.
Extended family photos can be a lot of chaos and stress, but we can work together to make it fun! Ready to do this? Great! Click the link below!