Extended Family Photographer Gilbert AZ | The Draper Family at San Tan Regional Park
Extended family photos are tricky. You've got multiple schedules to coordinate and different age groups to wrangle.
But when my friend Ashleigh asked me to shoot photos for her whole crew, I was all in. This wasn't just any family session—this was three generations of Drapers getting together, and I knew it was going to be good.
We met up at San Tan Mountain Park in October for a sunset session. If you've never been there, the desert backdrop is unreal, and that golden hour light was incredible. We had Ashleigh and her husband with their kids, her sister with her boyfriend and their kids, plus the grandparents. Fourteen people. And somehow, we made it work without anyone losing their mind.
Their Extended Family Session at San Tan Mountain Park
The best part? This session was extra special because we were also celebrating Ashleigh—she'd just graduated with her masters that same day. So not only were we documenting three generations together, we were marking a huge milestone.
This family made my job so easy. Warm, friendly, genuinely happy to be there. Extended family sessions don't happen all the time—everyone's busy, people move, life gets complicated. But when you can actually get everyone together and document it? That's something worth doing right.
Tips for Extended Family Sessions
Coordinate Early: With multiple families and schedules, pick a date months in advance. Sunset sessions at San Tan Regional Park…or really anywhere in the desert is perfect—everyone looks good in that light.
Embrace the Chaos: Fourteen people means things won't be perfect, and that's okay. The best moments happen when people relax and just enjoy being together.
Mix Posed and Candid: You want the formal group shot for the wall, but don't forget the walking, laughing, mid-chaos moments. Those are the ones you'll actually look at years from now.
Want to see more family sessions? Check out recent sessions on the blog.
Let's Make This Happen
If you've got a big family gathering coming up and want photos that don't look like stiff department store portraits, let's talk. I promise I won't make you say "cheese."
Contact me here to book your family session.
