I LOVE a full family session! We’re talking grandparents, all the adult siblings, their partners and all of the grandies. They always feel like such a joyful celebration of family, and they’re a brilliant excuse to finally get everyone together in one place.

You get so much from one session

We usually begin with the big, beautiful group photograph. Then we break it down into smaller family groups, so everyone walks away with photos that feel personal to them too.

Each individual family. Grandparents with the grandies. Adult siblings together. Couples. Mum and Dad with their grown-up children. The kids on their own. We can even sneak in a few solo portraits for your LinkedIn profile. There are SO many opportunities for great photos. We can also recreate an awkward childhood sibling photo for old time’s sake, because heck yeah!

Everyone can share the cost

Extended family sessions can be a much more affordable way to update everyone’s photographs.

Instead of each household booking its own session, the family can split the cost while everyone still receives a beautiful selection of photographs for a fraction of what separate sessions would cost.

More memories, less pressure on one family budget. Win-win!

The photographs become more valuable with time

I do a session like this with my own family every year. It has become completely non-negotiable for us. We book it for roughly the same time each year, choose a date that usually works for everyone and make it happen.

I’m so grateful we documented our family together, because it’s surprising how rarely the whole family actually ends up in one photograph otherwise. Since losing my dad last year, those photos have only become more important.

They’re much more relaxed than you think

You might imagine coordinating a large family will be chaotic, but genuinely, these sessions are always far easier and more relaxed than people expect.

Bring an esky with drinks and snacks. Turn it into a catch-up. Let the kids play and the adults chin-wag while we work through all the different combinations. It doesn’t need to feel stiff or formal. It can simply feel like a lovely afternoon together.

And for the least enthusiastic members of the family, I’m always happy to accomodate by photographing them first so they can rip the Band-Aid off and get out of there! Although, after 15 years in this business, I’ve found the sessions are usually so chill that they end up staying for the whole thing anyway. The idea of a photo session is nearly always far scarier than the reality.

My top tip

These sessions are best booked during the more reliable weather months.

When you’re coordinating multiple households and busy schedules, it’s much easier to choose one date and not have to worry about reorganising everyone if the weather turns.

So, if you’ve been considering capturing your whole family, I HIGHLY recommend you just book it.

Document the family tree and all its branches. It’s a beautiful gift for you, your parents and your children, and one that will only become more precious with time.

Feel free to reach out with absolutely any questions about booking an extended family photo session with me. Happy to help

Also, can we take a quick moment to take in how absolutely beautiful this entire family was! Wow. What a session!

E