Three generations lined up and smiling at the camera. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews have gathered for an outdoor extended family session. Their clay, black, and white colored outfits pop off the glorious fall colors in the tree line behind them. This is the first time all fifteen family members have been together. It’s a moment to celebrate!
Three cheers for teamwork and tenacity!
Getting a photo of all the grands was a team effort! Thanks to everyone’s unwavering patience, and the lure of bubbles, balls, and bugs, we were able to get both grandparents, two kids, and three toddlers in the shot. Not your typical posed family portrait but it works!
Claire, thank you so very much for asking me to capture these joy filled moments for you and your extended family! It was a pleasure to meet everyone one. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of family gatherings. People spilling out into the yard or enjoying a meal, crammed elbow to elbow around the dining room table. Perhaps one day, even though the little ones are so young, they’ll look back on these photos and remember. xo, Theresa
Five families. Two grandparents. Eight grandkids. Four siblings plus their spouses. All gathered under the same roof for the first time in three years! And rain. So much rain! Not the weather we wanted to capture their family reunion on Memorial Day weekend. Do we postpone a day and hope the rain stops and the clouds clear, or make it work? We made it work. Outside, if you can believe it. Surrounded by rain!
I love the way these photos turned out even though we were confined to one location! The original plan was to shoot in an outdoor location that featured trees. Either in their own lush backyard or at a nearby open space with the Rocky Mountains as a bonus. As you can guess, neither were an option because of the constant rain. Thankfully, a porte-cochere saved the day!
In A Pinch, Just One Well Lit Location Will Do!
The Smiths live in a stunning home on a corner lot. A curved driveway passes through a beautifully landscaped front yard to an impressive, covered entry way called a porte-cochere. Yes, I had to Google it :). This is where all nineteen of us gathered for their multi-generational family portraits.
Kim, thank you so much for inviting me to photograph your Memorial Day family reunion! I had a wonderful time meeting the rest of your family! And thank you for being brave and trusting the location. I know it was a big change from what we had imagined. You were all so gracious and patient as you waited your turn to be photographed.
Rhonda, you and Terry are the reason why I do what I do! My family also holds a special place in my heart. The family portraits decorating your home makes it clear how important your family is to you. You are so blessed to have such large family! I look forward to the day when I gather with my own children and their families to celebrate the holidays like you did this past Memorial Day weekend. I’m sure you made (and captured) many fun new memories during your pajama party later that night! Enjoy displaying all your new family portraits! xo, Theresa
Preparing for a portrait session can feel overwhelming but it doesn’t need to be! Read this blog post for tips to coordinate outfits for your own family portrait session.
Linda gets my vote for the Grandmother of the Year award! Or maybe being a grandmother is the reward! Either way, she’s a star in my book! Every year or two, she schedules an extended family session for when both her children’s families are in town. This year was a little different than what we’ve done in the past. Instead of having an in-home session at Christmas time, we headed outdoors on a fabulous fall morning in Anthem, Colorado.
It is obvious to me that Linda and Richard value their family, and have passed that down to their own children. ‘Nana and Papa’ have an extra special place in their hearts for their grandchildren, and they are adored by them in return. I love spending time with this family! They giggle, cuddle, and dance together. It is a joy to see!
As a nod to the times, we ended the session with a few Covid-19 style family portraits. You guessed it, everyone donned their masks and practiced social distancing. In reality, they were only spaced about two feet apart, instead of six, but you’ll get the idea. In photography even small separations can seem like a lot. That is why I always have my families close together, hugging or holding hands to emphasize their connection.
Multi-generational family sessions are a big deal! It’s a fantastic opportunity to not only get portraits of the entire group as a family legacy, but also of each family unit, and those adorable grandkids who grow up way too fast. Enjoy!
As humans, we like to label things though one person’s definition of a term may not be quite the same as another’s. I use the term “lifestyle” to describe my work and wanted to talk a little about what that means.
Here is a condensed excerpt from Wikipedia: “Lifestyle photography aims to capture people in situations, real-life events in an artistic manner. The primary goal is to tell stories about people’s lives. Lifestyle photography is “posed” in a way that the photographer gives some direction and then documents the natural responses after. It is about telling a story through the lens and the legacy that is left behind because of it.“
While labels can be useful, what matters most is how a person feels about their portrait experience and the emotions their images invoke.
How I define “Lifestyle photography”
To me, lifestyle photography is a combination of traditional and documentary photography. In traditional portraits, the photographer is in charge of everything; light, background, clothing, poses, and props. A documentary photographer is a ‘fly on the wall’, capturing life as it happens without interfering in any way.
My goal as your photographer is to create images full of emotion. This does not come naturally to most people when they have a camera pointed at them so I help you get the ball rolling. This way, we are able to capture a wide variety of images in a short amount of time.
As with traditional portraiture, I try to control the light and location. For the best light and visual composition I’ll choose where to shoot. I’ll share tips on selecting outfits that photograph well while staying true to your own style. I offer posing guidance that unfolds into natural interactions—this is where the magic happens!.
What I want you to take away from this:
Lifestyle photography is about connection—it tells the story of your love.
I’ll be there to guide you every step of the way, offering posing and prompts that will allow your family’s love to shine.
There you have it… my interpretation of the term “lifestyle” photography.
Hi, I’m Theresa—a family photographer, mom of four, and big believer that the best things in life aren’t things.
Looking for inspiration? Curious what a session actually feels like? Want to see families just like yours having fun in front of the camera? I’ve got you.
Go ahead, take a look—you might just see yourself here one day.
