A Guide to Extended Family Photo Sessions in Arizona
Authentic Relationships
Extended family relationships are a valuable part of life and deserve to be preserved in a meaningful way.
Planning extended family photos doesn’t have to be stressful!
Family relationships are a massive part of life and these beautiful families were captured in San Tan Valley, Arizona. They are the cornerstone of my world, starting with immediate family members and branching out to extended family. From grandparents to cousins, these relationships are so important to celebrate and nurture. A great way to do that is through extended family photos.
Professional pictures are a fantastic way to memorialize what your family looks like right now, in whatever stage of life you may be in. Family photos allow you to celebrate each unique member of your family individually and as a group. And to top it all off, when you get together for family photos you have a built-in opportunity to reconnect with loved ones through conversation, laughter, and shared memories.
Planning any kind of photo session can be daunting, but if you have a large extended family, you may need help knowing where to begin. In this blog post, I want to outline everything you need to feel ready to book your extended family photos. Let’s dive into it!
1. Choose a meaningful location
A lot of the time, part of what makes a family photo special is where it takes place. Logistically, large group photos are easiest to take outside, unless you come across an indoor space with lots of room and great lighting. Think about each member of your group and consider places where you have spent time together. It could be a family cabin, outside a childhood home, or even a park or beach where you have created memories. This family chose San Tan Mountain Regional Park.
2. Coordinate Outfits
One easy way to level up your family photos is to aim for coordinating instead of matching outfits. This creates more visual interest in your photos and allows each family member’s personality to shine through, instead of looking like copies of one another. The best method for this is deciding on a few colors that look good together and letting each member of the family find clothing within the color guidelines. You can also specify what style of clothes to wear, like casual or formal.
3. Plan for Candid Moments
Don’t worry, we will take lots of posed shots with your whole family smiling into the camera. (Those are great ones for grandma and grandpa to print for their home!) But what really captures the true essence of your family are the unprompted grins and genuine interactions. That’s where the real magic happens! If you’re unsure about your family’s photogenic abilities, don’t be. That’s what I’m there for! I will give lots of directions and feedback to help you feel at ease in front of the camera.
4. Embrace Imperfections
This may be hard to understand for some, but the real beauty of extended family photos is that you are able to preserve all the unique qualities of your family members exactly as they are. In any kind of photo session, the goal should be to strive for authenticity over perfection. It’s okay if the little ones are busybodies or the teenagers don’t want to show their full smiles. We can work around the little imperfections and quirks within your family to create images that you will treasure for years to come.
5. Showcase Diversity
Families are a special collection of different personalities, interests, and preferences. During your extended family session, let’s highlight both the things that make you unique as well as the things that bond you to one another. It’s important to look at extended family photos as a way to honor the way you come together in love and respect, regardless of your differences.
The ultimate goal of extended family photos is to create a timeless collection of memories that can be passed down for generations to come. The images of grandparents snuggling their grandkids and sisters laughing together are the kind of moments that you will want framed on your wall. By following these tips, you will be well-prepared to capture the genuine core of your remarkable family.
Want to book your Extended Family Photos with Cayleen Ann Photography? Click here to book!
