How do you plan for a 28-person multi-generational family photo shoot?
It can seem daunting trying to coordinate that many schedules and gather everyone on one day, but for the hundreds of families I’ve photographed over the last 18 years, there’s a reoccurring sentiment: it’s ALWAYS worth it to do it.
For this family, they had to juggle out-of-town travellers, flight schedules and some work & nap schedules. But once they gave me the firm date and time, I got to work to pull this off. (And it was fun!)
I always take 1 to 2 full group shots, and then I make sure to take individual family photos, and smaller group combinations, like grandparents with grandkids, all the cousins together, couple photos, even individual portraits when requested. And of course, I’m always trying to capture some candid moments in between.
This session was done on a cold (but thankfully snow-less) day in November, working with the evasive Golden Hour just before sunset. It was a whirlwind, but we pulled off all photo combinations in under 45 minutes! Usually I allocate 60-75 minutes for a photo shoot like this, but since it was cold, we all were moving particularly fast to get through the photos. 😉
Here’s a preview of the final collection of photos we captured. They were so much fun to work with!
Let’s be honest, kids can’t pose for longer than a few milli-seconds, so the way to capture real smiles, real expressions and real fun for kids is by setting up non-poses during a family photo shoot. Setting up non-poses – that sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s a thing, and it’s what works best for me
My favourite way to capture natural family photos is by leading with fun. Exploring, playing, interacting with parents and also having the kids interact with me are all the ingredients I throw into a family photo shoot. I’ve been taking photos of the H-G family for a few years now, and it’s always a really fun time. Their kids are SO cute, and their energy is the best.
This past fall, we met up at Assiniboine Park for some gorgeous late September colours under a golden sun in mild temperatures. Can’t get any better than this! No wonder late September is the most popular time of the year for family photos in Winnipeg. Did I also mention, no mosquitoes at that time of year?!
A sunset evening on a white sandy beach on the shores of Lake Winnipeg… is there anything better than that?! I’m so glad Ashley jumped at the chance to get her family photography session at the beach because this type of light and colours in the sky is one of a kind!
I met up with her adorable family on the beach at the perfect time when the sun is low in the sky and the water is calm. It was perfect for getting those pastel colours, and of course, that golden light. Her girls loved playing in the water (yes we all got wet by the end of this shoot!) and it turned out exactly as we had envisioned.
If you’re looking to get your family photos taken at the beach or at your cottage, I’m now serving the Victoria Beach, Albert Beach, Hillside Beach and Traverse Bay areas. Contact me for availability (year round):
Almost 7 years ago I had the honour of being Kristin and Jonathan’s wedding photographer, and fast-forward to today, they are a full and happy family with 3 adorable kiddos! I had fun taking their photos this morning and celebrating their newest addition: 10-day-old Jordan. His older brother and sister had so many cuddles and kisses to shower him with and the sibling shots we got are just so priceless. Here is a preview from our newborn family portrait session:
