How to Plan an Extended Family Photo Session in New Braunfels

Getting the whole family together for photos can feel like a BIG undertaking.

Grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, spouses, toddlers, teenagers… suddenly you're trying to coordinate everyone's schedules, outfits, and personalities all at the same time.

But extended family photos don't have to be stressful.

One of my favorite things about photographing larger families is creating a gallery that tells the story of the whole family while still giving each individual family and relationship space to shine.

Start with the people, not the poses

When you're photographing a large family, there are a lot of combinations to think about.

Of course, we want the big group photo. But I also want to photograph the smaller connections:

  • Grandparents with their grandchildren
  • Parents with their children
  • Siblings together
  • Cousins
  • Each individual family
  • Couples
  • The little in-between moments

Those smaller groupings are often some of the most meaningful images in the gallery.


Years from now, you may not remember exactly how everyone was standing for the big family photo; but you'll remember the way Grandma looked at her grandchildren or the way the cousins laughed together.

Choose a location that gives everyone room to breathe

For larger families, I love locations that give us space to move around rather than keeping everyone in one tiny area.

Here in New Braunfels, we have beautiful outdoor locations that give us room for both the large group portraits and smaller combinations.

A location should also feel comfortable for the youngest and oldest members of the family. We don't want Grandma hiking a mile to get to the perfect spot, and we don't want a toddler expected to stand still for an hour.

The goal is to make the session enjoyable for everyone.

What should everyone wear?

The goal isn't for everyone to match.

Instead, I recommend choosing colors and styles that coordinate without looking identical.

Think about the overall color palette first. Neutrals, soft earth tones, blues, creams, and other complementary colors tend to photograph beautifully outdoors.

Then let each person choose something they feel comfortable in.

And please don't wait until the morning of the session to figure this out. 😉

For large family sessions, giving yourself a little extra time to coordinate outfits makes everything much easier.


What if we have little kids?

We embrace it.

Kids don't always want to stand still, smile on command, or look at the camera, and that's okay.

Some of my favorite family photographs happen in the moments between the posed photos.

We'll get the traditional portrait, but we'll also let kids move, interact, laugh, and be themselves.

Those moments are part of your family's story too.


“Because someday, these will be the photographs everyone wants to have.”

You don't have to know how to pose

This is probably one of the biggest things I want families to know.

You don't have to know what to do in front of the camera.

I'll guide you.

I'll help organize the different groupings, give you direction when we need it, and then step back when the moment is better left alone.

My goal isn't to make your family look like a group of people who have never met before standing perfectly still for a photograph.

I want your photographs to feel like your family.

The best part of an extended family session

The best part is getting everyone together.

Life gets busy. Kids grow up. Grandparents get older. Families move. And sometimes getting everyone in the same place at the same time becomes harder and harder.

That's what makes these sessions so special.

We're not just taking a picture of everyone standing together.

We're documenting who was there, how you loved each other, and this particular season of your family's life.

If you've been talking about getting the whole family together for photos, this is your sign to finally do it.