now booking outdoor sessions for september & october

There is something incredibly special about bringing an entire family together for portraits, especially when that family includes multiple generations, decades of memories, and a place that has been part of their story for years. Bruce and Sarah have five children, three daughters and two sons, and twelve grandchildren, with another little one on the way! When their children decided it was time to update the family portraits, there was no question about where they wanted to do them. Their family lake house on Lake George was the perfect setting for their multigenerational family portrait session.

This lake house is where so many of their family’s favorite memories have unfolded. It’s where the grandchildren have spent countless summer days with their grandparents, where adventures begin on the dock, and where everyone comes together to enjoy time at the lake. It has been the backdrop for generations of memories. Being able to document this entire family in such a meaningful place made the session extra special.

The couple that started this family have lived here for years, and their home already has a beautiful wall filled with family portraits documenting decades of life and love. However, it had been quite some time since their last large family portrait, and with eleven new grandchildren joining the family since then, there was a lot of catching up to do! Now they’ll get to enjoy new artwork over the mantel with all of their loved ones smiling down at them every day.

Multigenerational Family Portrait Session on Lake George

We began in the front yard, overlooking the beautiful waters of Lake George. The view was stunning, but what made the portraits so special was knowing how many memories were tied to this very spot. From there, we made our way down to the dock. It’s easy to imagine the grandchildren spending summer days swimming, playing, and making memories with their grandparents in this very place.

With a family of 24 people, there are so many different relationships worth celebrating. We captured portraits of the entire family together, but one of the most important groupings was Bruce and Sarah themselves. After all, they are the two people whose love started it all. Their children, their grandchildren, and all the beautiful relationships that have grown over the years began with the story of these two.

These photographs are a way to honor the foundation of the family and the love that has carried through the generations. They also become treasured images for the children and grandchildren, who will one day look back on these portraits and see the people who helped shape their family.

We also took portraits of each smaller family unit, giving everyone a chance to document their own growing families while we were all together. With five adult children and so many grandchildren, these smaller groupings added even more variety to the final collection. Then of course we have sibling photos of both adults and kids, as well as cousin photos that always turn out so sweet.

Coordinating Outfits for a Large Family

Coordinating outfits for two people can feel challenging enough, so imagine planning for 24! The good news is that it doesn’t need to be complicated. For this session, everyone pulled their outfits together in just a matter of days by sticking to a simple palette of blue, white, and neutrals. This created a cohesive look without requiring everyone to wear the same thing.

The adult sisters had no idea what the others were planning, and they were pleasantly surprised when all three of them showed up with blue and white dresses, each one different enough to reflect her own style while still complementing the others beautifully! It’s a perfect example of why I recommend choosing a few colors and letting everyone work within that palette. You want your family to look connected without looking overly matched.

If you’re planning a multigenerational session of your own, keep the outfit planning simple. Choose a neutral color palette, communicate it to everyone ahead of time, and let each family member select something they feel comfortable wearing. You’ll be amazed at how beautifully it all comes together!

Keeping an Extended Family Session Fun and Relaxed

Photographing 24 people requires a little planning, but it also requires flexibility. My goal during a large family session is to keep things moving without making the experience feel rushed or overly structured. I keep the flow light and easy as we work through the different groupings, give everyone a chance to participate, and leave room for the unexpected, and with twelve grandchildren, you can imagine there were plenty of opportunities for the unexpected!

The kids loved being together and taking their turns in front of the camera. Of course, toddlers have their own ideas about how a portrait session should go, but that’s all part of the fun! We roll with the unpredictability of the toddlers. When one little guy wants to hold a squirt gun throughout the entire session? Okay! When another needs a little extra convincing to trade her Crocs for something else? No problem! When the baby needs a snack break or a little extra soothing? You got it!

There’s no need to turn a family portrait session into a battle of wills. We can adjust, take breaks, and make things work for everyone, including the littles. When you have a family this large, with so many personalities and ages, that flexibility makes all the difference.

Also, I have to give a special shout-out to the dads during this session! The dock was such a beautiful spot for portraits, but working with the light required a little creativity. Thankfully, the dads were more than willing to jump in and help me hold up a giant floating lily pad to diffuse the light coming from the dock!

New Family Portraits

At the end of the session, we had updated portraits of Bruce and Sarah’s entire family captured in the place that means so much to them. That’s one of the greatest gifts of multigenerational family photography. It brings everyone together to create something that will be treasured for years to come.

If your family has been talking about updating your portraits, consider this your reminder that you don’t have to wait for a special occasion. Whether you’re gathering everyone at a family lake house, a favorite vacation spot, or right in your own backyard, there is something so meaningful about having everyone together in one photograph.

Contact me today to schedule your extended family portraits!