Creating Memories | "How to Plan the Perfect Fun Extended Family Photo Session"

One of my favorite things about extended family photo sessions is capturing a family's relationship a just as it is! Extended family sessions are such an important piece of preserving joyful memories with the people who mean the most to you. Not only does the session include your immediate family unit, but we get to include grandparents, cousins, and more!

Extended family photo sessions often turn into a mini family reunion. You get to reconnect with your family through a fun experience, and as a sweet bonus, you are delivered stunning photos through a digital gallery that memorializes your time together.

There are a few key items that make for really beautiful, natural extended family photos. You will find my top suggestions on how to plan the perfect fun extended family photo session below!

Choosing the Right Time and Place

The time of year you schedule your photo session will have a major impact on the look of your images. Do you love rich, dark greens? Summer is your vibe! Do you like the look of tall brown grass? Then fall is the time for you.

You will also need to consider your family's availability. If there's a time of year when you will all be gathered together, you may want to schedule it around that time. That way, out of town family members don't have to travel twice!

The location of your extended family session is also an important piece of planning the session. First, you will need to decide if you want an indoor session (like a studio or in your home) or an outdoor session. If you choose an outdoor session, think about what backgrounds you're drawn to! Woods, gardens, cityscapes, and parks are all great starting places when researching the perfect location.

Outfits and Coordination

You will want a cohesive look to all of your images. To achieve this, you will want to coordinate your outfits. This can be tough with an extended family session! I suggest choosing a color palette and sending it to everyone that will be attending the session. Instead of one big family shopping trip, this allows everyone to choose outfits that they feel confident in on their own time.

There are great, pre-made color palettes that can be found on Pinterest. I suggest choosing one from there and texting a picture of the color palette in a group chat.

With a coordinated color scheme, accessories will add a sense of individuality to each person's outfit. Personal touches, like family, heirlooms, are great to wear as accessories. Accessories also offer a variety to group posing!

Planning Activities and Poses

For more camera-shy members of the family, having a group activity can be an amazing warm up to start the session! Does your family love to play yard games? It might be a good idea to bring a giant jenga set to get started.

Another important step is to have a list of must-have photos ready for your photographer. Extended family sessions can get chaotic without structure - it is helpful when you have a prepared list of names and groupings written out for your photographer. This leaves you stress-free during the session! You don't have to worry about rounding up people or calling out names. Your photographer can handle that for you!

Examples of groupings could include generations together, individual family units, and couples. One way to write it out could be: Group #1 - Grandma Shirley, Grandpa John, Jason, Jessie, Kiera, Kendyl, and John.

Preparing the Family

Communicate the date, location, time, and attire in advance with your family. Communication is key to avoiding tension on the day of the session! We want your extended family session to be a relaxed, fun experience.

You will also want to consider ways to set your family up to be in great moods. It's important to have bellies full and laughter flowing when you arrive. Most people think about going out to dinner together after the session, but I think it's a great idea to eat beforehand! It's true for everyone, but especially with kids, it's important to arrive well-rested with full bellies. They are much more likely to cooperate!

Post-Session Excitement

The hardest part about photo sessions is waiting to see your photos! It's so special to get to see them for the first time. If your photographer posts sneak peeks on their Instagram or Facebook story, you can share their page with family members. Everyone will be excited to see the first couple of photos!

Consider your options for displaying your photos. If your photographer offers prints or products, this is the easiest way to order high-quality image prints. You don't have to worry about using the right type of download file or the colors turning out "off" from a consumer print lab. Rest assured that the prints and products will come from a professional photo lab and look amazing!

Make Your Extended Family Photo Session a Tradition

After all, your extended family photo session is all about capturing beautiful memories and bonding together as a family. It's one of my favorite traditions to be a part of as a family photographer! I hope my suggestions help you plan a fun extended family photo session experience.