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Let’s be honest – when was the last time everyone was actually together?

Think about it. The whole family in one place, at one time, on purpose. It doesn’t happen often. And when it does, it’s usually a wedding or a funeral.

That’s kind of the whole point.

Multigenerational family sessions are one of my favorite things to photograph – not because they’re logistically simple (they’re not), but because the images that come out of them are the kind nobody ever regrets having. Nobody looks back at a gallery full of their whole family and thinks, “wow, what a waste of time.” That has never happened. It will never happen.

If you’ve been on the fence about including grandparents, aunts, uncles, or extended family in your session, this one’s for you.

The Biggest Thing People Get Wrong Before Booking

Most families assume that coordinating an extended session is going to be a nightmare to organize. And yeah – getting everyone in one place at one time is genuinely a little tricky. But it doesn’t have to be the headache you’re imagining.

Here’s what actually makes it easier:

• Get input on dates early. Before you even reach out to a photographer, check in with the key people you absolutely cannot do this without. Lock in a general window of time, then book.
• Put it on the calendar as early as possible. Families are busy. Sports, jobs, school schedules – they don’t move easily once they’re set. But a photo session that’s already on the calendar? That one gets protected.
• Reframe the conversation for reluctant family members. Some people (let’s be real – often the guys in the family, especially the older ones) are not thrilled about photo sessions. That’s fine. But instead of making it a chore, try turning it around: look how much this means to Grandma. Is 30 to 45 minutes of your day worth that? Usually, the answer is yes.

What to Actually Think About When Planning a Multigenerational Session

This is where I want to get practical, because there are a few things worth thinking through before you show up to your session.

Mobility matters – plan around it, not against it

A lot of families come to Savannah or Tybee Island and want a beach session. I love a good Tybee session. But if Grandma and Grandpa can’t easily make it down to the sand – or if walking in the sand is hard on them – that creates a real challenge for everyone.

Here’s what I suggest:

• Bring a chair. Seriously. If your less mobile family members can get to the beach, bring something for them to sit in. We can arrange everyone around them, and it takes so much pressure off.
• Start with the full group. Get the shots that include everyone while energy is high and mobility isn’t an issue yet. Then, once the grandparents or less mobile family members are done, the rest of the group can move around for individual family shots.
• Think about what “beach session” actually means for your specific family. Sometimes the best version of that session happens closer to the access point, not halfway down the shoreline.

Little kids have needs too

If you’ve got toddlers or young kids in the mix, nap time is worth thinking about. I plan my sessions around light, so I’m not going to shoot a beach session at 3 PM regardless – but it’s worth adjusting nap schedules if you can, or at least making sure little ones have eaten something before they arrive. Hungry, tired kids at a late summer beach session is a recipe for everyone being done before we’ve even started.

The photos are the point – the process is temporary

Here’s something worth saying out loud: people might not love getting their photo taken. That’s pretty common. But nobody – and I mean nobody – looks at the finished images and wishes they hadn’t done it. The resistance is almost always about the anticipation, not the reality.

Why This Actually Matters

There are so few moments when everyone is genuinely together. And the older we get, the more we understand that those moments aren’t guaranteed.

Multigenerational sessions aren’t just about getting a nice photo for the wall (though you will absolutely get that). They’re about making a deliberate choice to document this season of life – with the people who make up your family’s story – while you can.

No one hates the gift of photographs. Keep that in mind when you’re deciding whether it’s worth the effort to coordinate one more family member.

It always is.

Ready to Make It Happen?

If you’ve been thinking about booking a session that includes the whole crew – grandparents, extended family, and everyone in between – I’d love to help you think through the logistics and find a location that works for your whole group.

Reach out here and let’s figure out what this looks like for your family. The sooner you get it on the calendar, the easier it is to make sure everyone can actually be there.

Because someday, you’re going to look at those photos and be really glad you did this.