If you are reading this blog, chances are you’re thinking about a trip to Panama City Beach or 30A with your extended family. We’re talking grandparents, cousins, in-laws, siblings, heck, even your favorite neighbor! While you’re all together, this is the time for an extended family photo session. One of the most important things you can do to preserve your family memories, to freeze that time together, is to have family portraits taken. After the last few years we’ve had, this precious time together should be documented now more than ever.
That being said, as a Panama City Beach and 30A photographer, this time of year gets really busy for me. I frequently get asked what my clients can expect from an extended family session with me, so I am going to break it down here as well as show off a gorgeous extended family session as an example.
1. Traditional Group Photo
Getting everyone together isn’t easy. And harder even to plan a big trip to the beach with such a big group. Celebrate it. Cherish it. Document it! I promise, it’s always going to be hard to get everyone together. But it will always be worth it.
2. Each Family Gets Their Own Mini Session
During extended family sessions, we don’t just focus on the entire group together. There are endless family combinations, and we’re there to capture them all. Grandparents, grandparents and grandkids, couples portraits for every couple, cousins all together, you name it! Not to mention, these photos make great gifts throughout the year – canvas, prints, magnets and more! Check out my recent blog post about why it is important to print your digital photos and how to order your keepsakes!
3. Lifestyle Photos
There are so many tender moments that happen during an extended family session. Grandparents get a chance to connect with their kids and their kid’s kids. All of the little grandkids have a chance to play together on the beach. Parents and siblings start to relax as they watch the people they love the most have so much fun together. That connection matters and leads to genuinely joyful photos and stories that you’ll be proud to look back on years from now. These moments will become your legacy.
Extended Family Sessions are FUN!
Here’s the deal – extended family sessions are a great time, and they are some of the best memories. All your loved ones hanging around, laughing, and loving on each other? It is a blast. I like to keep things moving fast, so no one ever gets too bored. The time will fly, and before you know it, you’re watching the sun go down while splashing in the water with the people you love most.
Don’t believe me – just look at these photos from extended family sessions that I have done. They speak for themselves!
