The words “extended family session” have probably made every photographer panic at least once.

There are grandparents, parents, cousins, toddlers who would rather be anywhere else, and about twenty different opinions on where everyone should stand. It can feel like complete chaos before you even pull your camera out.

We’ve been there.

The good news is that extended family sessions don’t have to feel overwhelming. You don’t need dozens of poses or a perfect memory. You just need a simple workflow that keeps everyone moving while making sure you capture the photos the family actually wants.

This is the exact process we follow, and it has made these sessions so much less stressful.

Start planning before anyone arrives

A smooth extended family session starts long before you ever pick up your camera.

Before the session, ask the person who booked to send you everyone’s names, the ages of the children, and a list of the family combinations they want photographed. This saves so much confusion once everyone arrives because you’re not trying to remember who belongs where.

It’s also the perfect time to think through any extras you may need, like a blanket, stools, or chairs for grandparents. Spending a few minutes planning ahead makes the entire session feel much more organized.

Give yourself enough time

Unlike a typical family session, an extended family session simply needs more breathing room.

While our regular family sessions usually last around 30 minutes, we like to schedule 45 to 60 minutes for extended families. That gives us enough time to work through each family combination without rushing everyone through the experience.

Whenever possible, we also schedule these sessions one to two hours before sunset. The softer light makes photographing large groups much easier and creates more flattering skin tones for everyone.

Start with the photo everyone came for

Before you photograph anything else, get the entire family together.

That’s usually the reason they booked the session in the first place.

We like to create two versions of this image. One standing and another with some family members sitting. Giving them both options creates variety without making the session feel complicated.

Don’t forget to leave extra room around the group when you’re composing. Large family portraits are often printed big, and giving yourself room for cropping later can save the final image.

Work through the family one group at a time

Once you’ve captured the full family portrait, the session becomes much easier because you’re simply working through smaller groups.

Leave room for the unexpected

No extended family session goes exactly according to plan.

Someone will probably arrive late.

A toddler may decide they are completely done with photos.

Somebody’s uncle will inevitably try to become your assistant.

That’s okay.

Stay flexible and keep the session moving. If you finish your planned workflow early, that’s when you can have a little fun with playful ideas like grandchildren running under a blanket held by grandma and grandpa or everyone laughing together.

Those bonus images are often the ones families remember most.

A simple workflow beats a hundred pose ideas

Extended family sessions are not about memorizing endless poses.

They’re about having a repeatable system you can trust.

Start with the full family.

Move to grandparents and grandkids.

Photograph each individual family.

Finish with siblings, individual portraits, and any special requests.

That’s it.

Your camera isn’t the stressful part.

Trying to wing the session is.

Once you have a workflow, these sessions become so much easier.

Grab our free Family Posing Guide

It’s easy to think editing can fix everything.

Sometimes it can.

However, getting your white balance right before you press the shutter saves time, improves consistency, and gives you a much stronger starting point.

Your camera isn’t making your editing harder.

It just needs a little help understanding the light.

Want to master natural light? 🎥