One of my favorite sessions to photograph is an extended family session, and this recent gathering at Faust Park in Missouri was such a fun one! With almost 25 family members spanning multiple generations, we captured a beautiful collection of memories in just one hour!


Many families worry that photographing a large group will be stressful or take all day, but with a little planning, it can be surprisingly smooth. We started with the full family portrait while everyone was fresh and smiling, then worked through each family grouping, grandparents with grandchildren, sibling groups, cousins, and individual family photos. Before we knew it, we had photographed everyone and still had time for some fun, candid moments.

One of my favorite parts of the session was seeing all of the grandkids together. These are the kinds of photos that become family treasures—capturing cousins growing up together and grandparents surrounded by the people they love most. Years from now, these images will mean even more.


Faust Park is one of my favorite locations for extended family photography because it offers beautiful walking paths, mature trees, and open green spaces that create a timeless backdrop for portraits. No matter the size of your family, there's plenty of room to spread out while still keeping everyone comfortable and close together.


If you're thinking about scheduling extended family photos, don't let the size of your group stop you. Whether your family has 10 people or 30, I help organize everyone so the session feels relaxed and efficient. My goal is to make sure every important combination is photographed—from the entire family down to individual families, grandparents with grandchildren, sibling groups, cousins, and more—without the session feeling rushed.

If you're looking for an extended family photographer in the St. Louis area, I'd love to help you create images your family will cherish for generations. Whether your session takes place at Faust Park, Busch Wildlife, or another favorite location around St. Louis, I'll guide your family through a relaxed, organized experience that results in timeless portraits you'll be proud to display in your home.


Ready to plan your own extended family session? I'd love to hear from you!