Planning Extended Family Photos in Edmonton

Maybe because it’s family day, or maybe because I just because I’m grasping at straws hoping for warmer weather, but as spring approaches, I wanted to share a few tips for planning a family photoshoot in Edmonton! Although I spend most of my time behind the camera shooting weddings, as the mom of an absolute precious 14-month-old (with a large extended family myself!), I can’t help but leave some room in my heart (and calendar!) for extended family photos. If you are looking for an Edmonton family photographer, make sure to connect with me directly and I will be sure to share a few extra tips as you start to prepare for your own family photos!

Below are just a few tips as you start to plan a family photo shoot with your extended family!

1. Assign a point of contact for your photographer!

I love talking to people, but I also love organization. If you are coordinating multiple families, the BEST thing you can do off the bat is assigning someone to coordinate directly with the photographer. All too often, multiple people will reach out with questions and while I am MORE than happy to answer any questions, it opens up more opportunities for things to get missed.  Maybe I’ve talked to you about shooting at an outdoor location in Edmonton but your Aunt is asking about indoor options. Who do I follow up with to make sure the plan hasn’t changed?

Pro tip: Start a group chat between you all, but keep just one person talking to your photographer.

2. Choosing a Location

I always love helping brainstorm the right location, but when it comes to extended family sessions, I also want to remind you to be mindful of any mobility restrictions. It’s easy to forget how far of a walk is from a parking lot when it’s not something you deal with in your everyday life! When grandparents (and great grandparents – if you are lucky) get involved, be mindful of any mobility concerns. I promise that they will appreciate it!

3. Choosing a Time of Day

The obvious answer here would be to choose a time of day that works for everyone, right? But it’s not that easy…

If someone has little ones, they may need to adjust naptime to make something work. If that happens, make sure to be extra prepared with a few of “baby’s favourite things” in case they need some cheering up! That could just be the new mom in me though…

The other thing to consider is LIGHTING. I know that most families want to take photos with that soft golden hour lighting that happens about an hour before the sunsets. If you can make that work, I HIGHLY recommend it.

Pro tip: Golden hour is often easier to plan around in the spring or the fall, as the sun sets too late in the summer for most families with younger children!

4. Make your shot lists!

Ask each family, are there special photos that you want? When we put together a shot list, we are going to hit all the obvious pairings (a group photo of the entire extended family, each family unit separately, etc). However, when you are planning extended family photos, it’s often helpful for each of you to think of shots you might want as well. Maybe it’s an aunt with all of the nieces, or the grandparents and grandchildren.

A recent example of this was a grandma that wanted a photo of all the grandchildren laying in a circle looking at the camera. I was HAPPY to make it happen. Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with your extended family photos – these are probably going to be your favorite photos. Brainstorm these BEFORE the photos and you’ll be happy you did.

 

5. Print your Photos!

We live in a digital world and when I send you your gallery, you are probably going to be so excited to flip through all of the photos. So excited, in fact, that you forget to download them and keep them somewhere safe. Don’t miss this step.

I’m going to take it one step further (as I often do, if you know me). PRINT YOUR PHOTOS. Seriously. As soon as you get them. Put them in a photo album and/or hang them on your wall. Do NOT let these precious families collect dust on a digital shelf somewhere in your computer. You’ve invested in family photos for a reason, make them count.

BONUS: BOOK YOUR FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER EARLY

Seriously, I know you might be busy now but life only gets busier. If you think I might be the right fit for your extended family photos, contact me here, and let’s get a date on your calendar. You won’t regret it!