Including Extended Family in Your Family Photo Session

Why Including Extended Family in Your Family Photo Session Creates Lasting Memories

When families reach out to book a session, one of the first questions I ask is, “Who do you want included?” For many, it’s just the immediate family. But there’s something really special about bringing grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins into the frame too. It doesn’t just make for beautiful photos — it creates lasting memories across generations.

Recently, I had the honor of photographing an extended family session in the desert. The golden light, the vast open landscape, and the natural connection between family members made every image feel timeless. This session was a perfect reminder of why including extended family — and choosing a location that fits your vibe — matters so much.

The Power of Including Extended Family

When you bring extended family into your session, you’re telling a bigger story. It’s not just about who you are today but about the history, the relationships, and the roots that shaped you.

Including grandparents captures moments that are truly irreplaceable. The way they look at their grandchildren. The little laughs shared between generations. The hugs that feel like home. These are the images that will mean even more ten or twenty years from now.

It’s also an opportunity to capture all those combinations you don’t get to see often — siblings together with their spouses and kids, all the cousins in one frame, or the original family unit before it grew into something even bigger.

Tip: When planning an extended family session, think about grouping shots ahead of time. It helps the session flow smoothly and ensures no important relationship is missed.

Choosing a Location That Matches Your Style

The desert made the perfect backdrop for this family. They wanted something natural, wide open, and a little adventurous — something that felt like them.

When you’re choosing a location for your family photos, think beyond “pretty.” The right setting should feel authentic to your family’s energy and story.

If your family loves hiking or spending time outdoors, the desert might be your perfect match. The neutral tones, warm sunlight, and endless sky create a peaceful, organic feel that doesn’t distract from the real focus: your connections.

Other families might feel more at home in a lush park, by a downtown mural, or at the beach. Whatever your style, the location should complement, not compete with, who you are together.

A Few Things to Consider for Desert Family Photo Session

• Timing: Desert light is stunning, but it’s best close to sunrise or sunset when the sun is low and soft.

• Outfits: Earth tones, rusts, olives, creams, and soft blues look incredible against the desert landscape.

• Comfort: Bring water and plan for some walking — desert spots can be a little rugged but so worth it.

Family photos are about preserving not just faces, but the feeling of being together. Including extended family brings even more love and life into your gallery, and choosing a location that reflects your family’s true style makes every image feel like a page out of your story.

If you’re thinking about booking a family session, I always encourage you to think a little bigger: who would you love to have captured by your side? Where do you feel most connected?

And when you’re ready, get in touch with me, I’ll help you pull all those pieces together into something you’ll treasure forever.