When someone said “extended family session,” my brain immediately started doing the math..
Three sisters
Two kids
A grandma (who is Ma D and NOT grandma lol)
Three significant others
Approximately 47 different combinations of people who all need photos together.
Totally normal. Totally fine. Nothing stressful about that at all.
This was actually my first extended family session, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going into it. I knew we’d get the classic, stand and smile at the camers, family photos everyone wanted.. but I was a little worried about keeping things moving and making sure nobody felt like they’d been standing around for an hour waiting for their turn.
Turns out I had absolutely nothing to worry about because this session ended up being one of my favorites!
Partly because this family is genuinely so close, but also because there was never a moment where nothing was happening. I’d be lining up one group photo and look over to see one of the sisters sitting with her mom watching the kids play.
I’d turn around and somebody was swinging a niece around. Somebody was laughing, chasing a kid, cuddling.. There was always something!
Honestly, it felt less like a photoshoot and more like I accidentally showed up to a family hangout with a camera.
And those are usually the best sessions.
One of the sisters is actually a friend from high school and the last time I photographed her and her husband, they were still dating. I think it was close to eight years ago! Which feels rude, frankly because how has it been eight years if I’m only like 23? Oh wait..
Now they’re married, have kids, and we’re taking photos with the whole family together.
Photography is weird like that. One minute you’re taking photos of someone’s boyfriend. The next minute you’re photographing their children while their mom watches from the sidelines.
We shot everything at Old Waynesborough Park in Goldsboro, which was looking ridiculously good that afternoon. Everything was green, full, and very committed to making my job easier.
If you’re looking for family photo locations in Goldsboro, this is one I recommend all the time, especially for families with young kids. There are plenty of open spaces to run around, and kids tend to do much better when they’re allowed to move instead of being asked to stand perfectly still and smile for an hour.
We started with all the photos I knew everyone would want.
The whole family.
The sisters.
Each individual family.
The kids with Ma D.
Just the girls + just the guys
The couples.
All the important photos that will end up framed somewhere..
Then we got to the fun stuff.
One of my favorite moments happened when I had all of the adults hang back while the kids came forward. I focused on the kids while all the adults stood behind them smiling.
Then I told everybody to run in and tickle them.
The kids immediately ducked down laughing while seven adults charged toward them like the world’s friendliest stampede.
Exactly the kind of chaos I was hoping for.
And honestly, that’s what made this session so fun.
Yes, we got the photos where everyone is looking at the camera.. but we also got the photos that feel like them. The kids being adored by every adult in the family, sisters laughing together.
The little moments that feel like they would’ve happened whether I was there or not. THESE ARE MY FAVORITE!!!
Also, after doing this session, I fully understand why people book extended family sessions.
Everybody gets updated family photos. Everybody gets photos with the people they love.
And when you’re splitting the session cost between multiple families, it’s honestly a pretty great deal.. ammiright?!
So if you’ve been trying to coordinate family photos with your siblings, parents, grandkids, cousins, or whoever else makes up your crew, consider this your sign.
Just maybe don’t tell me how many people are coming until after I’ve had my coffee. Deal?