Large Family Fun Time – Tips for photographing your family session
Photographing a large family is a blast—full of laughter, personalities, and energy—but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Whether you’re a photographer or a family member trying to capture those priceless moments, here are some fun tips for your large family photo session in San Jose!
• Embrace the Chaos
Large families have a way of filling a space with energy and, let’s face it, a little bit of chaos! Instead of fighting it, go with the flow. As a San Jose family photographer, I’ve found that some of the best moments happen when people are laughing, playing, or just being their natural selves. You don’t need every shot to be posed and perfect—capture the in-between moments. Those candid interactions between siblings, the spontaneous giggles, and the gentle touches are often the most memorable.
• Plan the Outfits
Coordinating outfits can give your family photos a cohesive look, but don’t get too matchy-matchy. Go for colors that complement each other rather than identical outfits. Visit Pinterest to get ideas. Think along the lines of a color palette rather than everyone wearing the same shade of blue. When I photograph families in San Jose, I love when each family member brings their personality to the table—rock those Vans or have your youngest wear a fun graphic t-shirt. These details make your family unique and the photos even more meaningful!
• Create Layers
With a big family, it’s important to arrange everyone so everyone can shine. Mix up the seating with standing, sitting, mix it up to create different levels. This adds depth to your photos and makes the whole family look more dynamic.
• Give Everyone a Role
When working with a large family, I love to give each person a small role during the session. Have the older kids or adults help engage the younger ones. Have the parents be in charge of a game while the kids play or bring an extra camera for the kids to be helpers. As a San Jose family photographer, I find that giving everyone a little job to do keeps the session fun and stress-free.
• Create Mini-Sessions Within the Session
During a large family photo session, it’s important to break up the group for smaller moments too. Capture siblings together, get shots of parents with just the kids, or the parent snuggles. These mini-sessions within the larger family shoot allow you to highlight individual relationships and add variety to the final album.
Photographing a large family is a unique opportunity to capture the beautiful connections that hold everyone together. By embracing the chaos, planning loosely, and making space for fun moments, you’ll end up with photos that tell the true story of the family’s love, laughter, and life.
At Photos by Kim E, I make capturing your amazing family’s story into an adventure! Let’s preserve those genuine moments from bike rides to beach days, or playing at a park — let’s create photos that are as unique, fun, and full of life as you are!
