An extended family portrait session is a wonderful way to document special moments with loved ones you might not see very often. My extended family sessions are just a little bit different than my classic family portrait sessions. Here are some of my most asked questions to help you prepare for your extended family portrait session.

What is an extended family session?

“Extended” covers a pretty wide range as far as what family members and how many. I usually apply it to groups of six or more, outside the immediate family (for example, a family of four, plus two grandparents, would be an extended family session). These sessions can also include cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents and/or family friends.

Can we get individual family photos too?

With a wide variety of family members to photograph, we will have many potential combinations — I try to capture individual families within the larger group and any other combinations that you would like, such as all the grandkids together with grandpa and grandma! Let me know if you have a specific list of combinations, I’m happy to accommodate special requests. It’s so important that we have plenty of time to capture all of these moments. For this reason, extended family sessions last between 45-60 minutes or longer — please let me know if you would like more than one hour of coverage.


When is the best time to meet? Where do you recommend?

Extended family sessions are held outside; it will depend on the time of day, the weather and what you want to capture in your session. We’ll be aiming for either the first or last hours of daylight. Taking pictures close to sunrise or sunset means we get to work with soft, gorgeous light. If your session is downtown or another spot with plenty of buildings, we have more flexibility with the session time. Be mindful of the fact that some outdoor locations will not have a restroom available.


If you have a location in mind, let me know! I have a list of my favorite spots here! I have others that I can recommend based on the time and weather. And I’m always willing to check out a new setting, especially if it carries some significance for your family.

What to wear

First and foremost, choose outfits that make you feel good and comfortable! That feeling of confidence will show through in your photos. Dress appropriately for the weather; it’s especially hard for kids to give authentic smiles if they are feeling way too hot or too cold. Props (sentimental toys, furniture you’d like to use, a quilt to sit on) are welcome but not required.


Don’t be afraid of vibrant colors, textures and patterns like florals and plaid. Do avoid pinstripes and logos. We recommend that you go for coordinating colors amongst your family members rather than matching. You don’t all need to wear khakis and blue sweaters! A mix of textures and colors that “go together” rather than match makes for fun and stunning photos. Remember to include shoes when you’re considering the overall look and coordination of your outfits; your feet will definitely be in some of the photos.

What you get

My sessions are all inclusive! You will receive one on one attention from an amazing portrait photographer--ME! Each session includes professionally edited high resolution digital files, a print release, and an online gallery to print and share. Everything you see in your gallery is yours to download, no need to pick favorites when you LOVE every single one! This means that you can download ALL the images from your gallery, print them where you like, at whatever size you like as well as share your gallery with your loved ones for them to do the same!

There are no additional sitting or creative fees. No print order minimums! The price you see is the price you pay!

What to expect during our session

When it comes to photographing children, you can expect me to say or do silly things to get real smiles. Adults, for the posed shots, just keep looking at the camera and smiling while all that craziness is going on. Otherwise, follow our direction, play with the kids and just have fun! For the times that you aren’t in the picture, you can stand back and let me interact with the kids so they’re looking right at us and not distracted. If I need some help, I’ll let you know.

With younger children especially, I’m happy to let kids run around a bit between posed shots. Letting them be little goes a long way in helping them warm up and I love capturing those candid moments. My sessions are built around the idea of letting kids be little and embracing the fun and magic of playtime as a family.

Above all else, I want you to enjoy yourselves during your extended family portrait session. I’ll do my part to make sure you look amazing and will give you directions as needed. For the most part, you can relax and do what feels natural; if I need to make adjustments, I’ll let you know. Just have fun! Trust me: the “we’re actually having fun” smiles are always the best ones.



Are you located in the St. Louis/St Charles County area and still looking for an extended family photographer? Send me a message by clicking here to learn more and book a session for your family!