There’s always something uniquely meaningful about gathering extended family in one place—but especially when the year has been marked by both extreme joy and immense heartbreak. In this session, I spent an afternoon with a family who had traveled from all over the East Coast to meet for the holidays. One of the couples was getting married at Early Mountain Vineyards the following year, so we decided to make their family photos there as well since it’s both a gorgeous and meaningful location to them.
Their group was a blend of all adults, two beloved dogs, and one baby—the newest member of the family and first grandchild. Although the session was playful and warm, their images held an unmistakable depth. This family had tragically lost their son/brother earlier in the year, so being together for the holidays carried a new weight and importance, too.
Their session was both a celebration of their togetherness and new life, along with the grief of loss.
My Approach to Extended Family Photos
Extended family sessions move at a different pace than traditional family sessions. They ask for attentiveness, gentleness, and a wide enough lens—emotionally and visually—to hold the complexity of generations and relationships.
The goal isn’t to choreograph perfection or force everyone into one version of “togetherness.” It’s to notice what’s already here. It takes maturity to perpetuate an air of lightness and fun while sensing when and how to get quiet for more emotional connection.
We wandered between around the open fields outside the winery, letting the lovely Virginia landscape work quietly in the background while the family filled the focus with connection, softness, and laughter that showed up in its own time.
The heart of it is simple: these sessions aren’t really about the photos—they’re about honoring the relationships that make your family what it is and the journeys you’ve taken together.
Read more: Extended family session details
A Gentle Invitation
If your family is navigating a year of transition—whether joyful, complex, or a mix of both—and gathering together feels especially meaningful, I’d love to help you hold that. One of the greatest misconceptions around photos is that you have to have it “all together” for a session to work.
In reality, the “perfect” time is only now.
When you’re ready to explore what that might look like for your family, you can reach out to inquire here.
More featured extended family sessions:
A backyard summer session with a large family on the farm
