Photoshoot With Grandparents – Extended Families

As a family photographer, I photograph not just immediate family units, but a few large extended families throughout the year. I honestly really appreciate a photoshoot with grandparents and other relatives. Grandparents want portraits with their grandkids. Even though their children have left the house, grandparents want portraits with their grown children too.

You’re already going to the trouble of getting everyone dressed and out the door. Why not invite along the whole extended family? Granted, this does make the logistics of scheduling a session a bit more challenging. But in the long run, the effort will be worth it.

What to Wear to A Photoshoot with Grandparents and Extended Family?

On of the biggest questions I get about portrait sessions in general is: What should I wear? The task of coordinating a wardrobe is daunting for some moms when it only involves the immediate family. Trying coordinate across multiple families can be down right paralyzing. Don’t fret! I’m here to help. I love consulting with my families about wardrobe as part of the planning process. What you wear has just as much impact on the feel of your images as the location we choose. In this post, I want to share a few quick tips to get your started in the right direction.

We’ve all seen the pictures of families on the beach from the early 2000s where everyone is wearing jeans and a white polo. This is a look I would not suggest if you are going for timeless family portraits. Everyone does not need to match! However, if there’s no effort at wardrobe coordination, your portrait will look disjointed and unpolished. Let’s make it easy:

1) Decide on a level of dressiness for a photoshoot with Grandparents

How formal do you want your images to be? Should everyone wear suits and dresses? Would a casual portrait better lend itself to your home decor? Does your taste fall somewhere in between? It’s important to decide on your level of desired formality and communicate it to the rest of the family. We don’t want one family unit showing up to a photoshoot with grandparents in t-shirts if another is wearing their Sunday best.

2) Choose 3-4 colors

Just because we don’t want to replicate the matching beach pictures I mentioned above, does not mean there shouldn’t be any color scheme. Consult with your photographer to choose colors that will suit the style of photography you have chosen. I personally steer my clients towards light, neutral tones in order to achieve my light and airy style. For outdoor sessions, I strongly take into account the fact that my subjects will be surrounded by bright green and steer them away from colors that may clash. With your photographer, settle on 3-4 colors, including at least one neutral like white or cream.

Check out the portraits below. This family nailed their session wardrobe with a semi-casual style, lots of neutrals, but pops of light blue and light green. If you are looking for a family photographer near Chattanooga, TN or for the surrounding areas, let’s talk! Learn more about planning a session with me here.

Consider accessibility when planning a photoshoot with grandparents and extended family

When planning a session with your photographer, besides wardrobe, another element to give special consideration is the location. Do the grandparents (or anyone else) involved in the session have any special mobility needs?

• Does parking need to be near the photoshoot location?
• Do any of the family members need paved accessible paths so that they can navigate a wheel chair or rollator walker to the photoshoot site?
• Will any family members need a place to sit down and rest over the course of the session? If there is no bench, should the family or photographer plan to bring along a chair?
• Are there young children or children with special needs that may need a location away from a road or parking lot to keep them safe from moving vehicles?

If you are near me, there are thankfully plenty of fairly accessible locations with nearby parking such as Point Park, Coolidge Park, and Heritage Park.