My favorite part of photography is capturing genuine moments between people, and the best opportunity for that is during an extended family session.

Family sessions in general can be stressful to coordinate, between the perfect matching outfits, finding a date that works, and, lets be real here, the best times in the day to have a session aren't easy to accommodate. 

So when I sit here and say you need to schedule an extended family session, you must think I'm even crazier. Trust me when I say I know how hard it is to get a bunch of people with extremely busy lives to get together for some professional photos, but I've come up with some great reasons why I think you should schedule one with your family sometime very soon!

Reason #1: Your parents/ grandparents

When is the last time your parents, or the kids grandparents got to have their pictures professionally done? It's probably been a while, allow them to have photos together and with each family member. It's something that will always be treasured by every member of the family. I'm also willing to bet that they would love some updated photos for their house as well. 

Reason #2: Couples Portraits

Most of the time, after the engagement photos, and your wedding day, most couples don't take pictures together again for a long time. After they start having kids, it becomes about the kids and even less about them. In an extended family session, each couple will get photos together. It's easy for parents to sneak away and have some quick alone time in from of the camera, while the rest of the family is already there waiting to help out with the kids, and young cousins near by to help out as well. That brings me to reason number 3.

Reason #3 :Cousins

As much as I love big families, I was an only child, and for me my cousins were my siblings. Some of my best childhood memories were with my cousins. Being able to capture those genuine moments between cousins, interacting, getting along and playing around. Cousins will be there to help make the fussy baby laugh, cousins will be there to help everyone smile at the same time. What a great way to capture the love between an entire family together.

Reason #4 Camaraderie 

Being with family is always the most fun, because they are who you can be yourself around the most. During these sessions I love to capture an aunt with her niece, or a son in law with his mother in law. So much magic happens between shots, just looking around at everyone interacting with each other. Kids playing games on the floor, parents laughing at inside jokes, and grandparents saying their " remember whens" 

Reason #5 You'll be the hero

If you are the one who decides to take on this huge task of planning an extended family session, you'll be the hero of the family when all of your gorgeous images get delivered. Think of all the gifts you'll be able to give each family, and how now each member of your family gets a reminder of that fun day, when everyone got dressed up to take pictures with their entire family. 

For those of you who have booked with me already, you'll know each session is full of fun prompts, singing, dancing, and games to bring out the true expressions on everyone's face. I love getting to know you and your families, and I love being surrounded by a families love and capture it all on camera. 

If you'd like more information on the pricing difference in a regular family session, and an extended family session please feel free to contact me on Facebook or through my website.