Grandparents, Parents, Kids & All the Sweet Moments In Between

When you hear “extended family photo shoot,” you might immediately picture chaos, bribery, and someone inevitably crying (kid or adult—could go either way). But this session? Somehow, it all came together beautifully. No bribery necessary.

We had grandparents, their three grown kids (all college friends of mine—yep, the whole crew), and a bunch of grandkids making sure there was never a dull moment. I’d just photographed one of the siblings and their family a month ago, so this time we captured everyone—from the oldest to the littlest—in one shot. The sky was a classic gray—no golden hour magic—but the soft light worked in our favor. The kids ran, played, and kept us on our toes, and honestly, it just flowed. One sweet kiddo was a little under the weather but showed up with all the spirit and sweetness. Total trooper.

There’s something pretty awesome about capturing generations all together. These aren’t just photos—they’re family treasures in the making. The ones that get printed, framed, and pulled out at every family event for years to come.

Also, here’s a thought: can we normalize updated photos of the parents, too? Most couples haven’t had a professional shot together since their wedding (unless you count the rare date-night selfie). Your kids deserve to see what love looks like *right now*—not just the throwback version.

So grateful to be part of this day and this legacy. Cloudy skies, kids wandering around, and all the perfectly imperfect moments—it was a good one. These are the days that remind me why I love this work: catching the real, messy, beautiful love that holds families together.  Getting to tell stories through photos? Yeah, that's the good stuff.