Extended family photography can be stressful. Finding the right poses, location, and timing to suit everyone requires more than knowing how to capture group shots. It requires careful preparation and planning because of the several small units of families within the group.
I have planned and captured a few beautiful extended family photos. Hence, in this article, I am going to share with you how you can plan and execute a successful large-group photo session. I will also provide tips on outfit suggestions for extended family photography.
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What are extended family portraits?
Think of extended family portraits as multiple generations or branches of a family captured in a single photograph. Extended family photos usually have between 10 – 20 people (including grandparents and in-laws) or more in a single frame. These photographs can serve as heirlooms.
How to prepare and capture beautiful extended family portraits?
As I mentioned earlier, family photoshoots can be stressful. In fact, many photographers are often terrified by the thought of capturing a large extended family.
I used to be one of those photographers until I found myself in a dire situation when I had no other choice than to take a group shot of my wedding clients and their respective family members. Combined, I had about 20 people in the frame.
And guess what? I was able to produce a beautiful family portrait for them. But that was after a couple of shots on the spot. After that first scary opportunity, large family photoshoots became one of my favorite sessions.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how I have been shooting and producing stunning extended family photos.
1. Ask the family to give you a shot list
First and foremost, ask the family to give you a shot list of all the groupings they want. This will help make the session more coordinated and faster.
Some families usually have detailed ideas of what they want, while a few others may require your professional guidance to craft a good family photoshoot list for the session.
If your professional guidance is required, you can make the following suggestions for the extended family session:
- The whole family
- Grandparents alone
- Grandparents with grandkids
- Grandparents with all the adults
- All the adults
- Grandparents with each couple and their kids
- All the grandchildren together
- Individual portrait of each couple with their kids
- Grandparents with their adult children
- All the in-laws
- All the men
- All the women
- Each individual
When making the shot list, do keep in mind that some of these photographs will be used for birthdays and funerals, while others will serve as keepsakes. So take your time to craft the list.
Finally, once you have a confirmed list for the family photo shoot, write out the order in which you want to execute the ideas.
I recommend starting with a group shot of the whole family, then individual portraits involving the grandparents, and ending the session with individual shots of the members.
2 Choose a location with a substantial amount of space
Outdoor settings like parks, beaches, and gardens, with a substantial amount of space, are the best for extended family photoshoots. However, you may consider taking the photos indoors if the group size is small.
For relatively large extended families comprising more than ten people, look for a nice area with open shade and beautiful natural backdrops if you want the pictures to appear flawless.
When choosing a location for large family photography, do keep in mind that some of the members, like the grandparents and kids, may not be able to travel long distances.
3. Bring some props along for the kids
Kids can be annoying and fun during photoshoots. They might exhibit playful and unpredictable behavior, making the session more dynamic, but at the same time, they can get easily distracted or restless.
Having some squeaky props can help get their attention and interest during the photoshoot. Aside from using props, another way to get their attention is for you to act bold, friendly, and fun. Talk to them in soft tones. Make them laugh. Play with them before the photoshoot and act professionally.
4 You will need an assistant
It’s impossible to coordinate and pose a large group all by yourself. You will need someone, preferably a student photographer, to help set up the lighting and other equipment, coordinate the family, and everything in between.
5. Learn how to pose a large family group beforehand
During the photoshoot, you could have several small units of families, and it is essential to pose each sibling and family within the group close together. This will make the photo easily understandable.
You might find it difficult to properly coordinate and pose the members during the moment. Therefore, I suggest you learn how to pose a large family beforehand. Knowing how to pose an extended family will earn you some accolades as your clients would be looking up to you for direction.
More articles you may like to read –
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6. Sharpen your portrait photography skills
Before shooting family portraits, ensure you know how to use props, the rules of composition, and, most importantly, how to set your camera and lighting for portrait photography.
You can go through the article below to gain more knowledge about portrait photography and how to capture flawless family pictures.
Mastering the Art of Portrait Photography: A Comprehensive Guide
What should you wear for extended family photoshoots?
Most of the extended families I have photographed wore dark, blue, and white casual dresses for the session. And the pictures were all beautiful.
However, the most important thing is to encourage everyone to wear something they would be comfortable in. It could be casual dresses or business attire. As long as the colors are in harmony with each other, it’s okay.
If all of you wear tight or ill-fitting outfits, the discomfort will show in the portrait, and it might spoil it. Similarly, wearing clothes that are not on the same color wheel can make the family picture appear incohesive.
Ultimately, wear dresses that complement each other. This will make the picture visually interesting. Finally, I suggest taking a few shots with different outfits. This will give everyone a lot of options to choose from after.