Extended family sessions can be a lot of work - both for the family (who needs to coordinate a million outfits, plan around nap time and travel logistics and all show up clean, happy and on time with fingers crossed for good weather because if not you have to do it all over again) and for the photographer (a lot of names to remember, people to pose, kids to keep smiling and engaged, and family combinations to photograph). But guys, they are worth it. Trust me. Because at the end of what might feel like a chaotic couple of hours, you will have photos of all of you together. In focus. Not taken by cousin Jim's self timer (no offence to cousin Jim's self timer). As kids get older and teenagers go off to college and families move to different cities and provinces, these photos become even more priceless. And even though it's more work than your typical 4-person family shoot, it's something I really love capturing. What's more - an extended family session can be a great way to save money by killing two birds with one stone, as they say (what a terrible expression). Do you and your siblings all want a few fun family photos without each booking a full session? Go in on an extended family shoot together and get a photo of the whole group on top of your individual family shots. What grandparent doesn't want a framed photo of all their beautiful grandchildren? There is so much richness in documenting multiple generations all together. Here is an extended family shoot from last Summer that I just loved.
