Chod Extended Family Session | Hilton Head Island
Today I am excited to share with you some tips and what to expect for Extended Family Photos. These sessions are some of my favorite but also some of the most exhausting! There are definitely lots of factors when it comes to planning and executing a successful extended family session. Understanding the flow before our session will help you get the most out of your experience.
My Top Tips for Extended Family Photos
First, I’d like to share some of my top tips for extended family photos. If your family is anything like mine, there can be a lot of family members involved. Therefore meaning lots of opinions to be shared. Here are some of the things I would want all my extended family clients know:
Pick a SIMPLE color palette. Lean into neutrals and blues as much as you can. Then allow family members to choose a shade within that hue of blue, cream, or gray to wear. If you want to add a pop of color, I’d suggest not adding more than 1-2 “accent” colors.
Start with the matriarch’s outfit. This often means Grandma’s outfit should be chosen first. Match Grandpa to her and then plan the rest of the outfits around theirs.
Start a group text. Lay out all of your outfits and send it to Grandma/Grandpa and siblings. Make sure that no colors are going to cause one or two people to stick out too much.
Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early. Almost, without fail, one family will run late. Planning to arrive early will prevent the rest of the family from having to wait. Parents with toddlers will thank you!
Dress babies and toddlers once you arrive. Doing so will prevent any spills/stains on your drive to the location.
Choose a location with enough space and that is easy to access. The best locations for extended families are spacious and easy to walk to. The beach is always a great option when having a “Family Beach Week.”
The “Flow” of an Extended Family Session
Generally speaking, I will choose to do the whole group first. This photo is not only the whole point of the session but also one of the hardest to get, especially with overtired babies and toddlers.
After whole group, I will move to grandparents and grandchildren. After that, my flow goes as follows:
Grandparents and their original children
Sibling picture of original children
Individual families, shots of each kid and couple- I start with the family who has the most toddlers/babies
Any other requests (mom/daughters, dad/sons)
Often times 60 minutes is enough for our session. Below is an example of a 36 person extended family session that we capture in under an hour. We move as fast as possible! Preparing a shot list for me in advanced in your client questionnaire I provide definitely helps move things along in an organized way.
