Why I'm Such a Big Fan of Extended Family Sessions at the Beach

Some of my favorite sessions every summer aren't just immediate families—they're the big ones. Grandparents, adult siblings, cousins, babies... everyone together.

I know coordinating an extended family session can feel like a lot. Getting everyone to agree on a day, picking outfits, making sure the kids cooperate... it can seem easier to skip it.

But I promise you, it's worth it.

Every summer I photograph families vacationing in Avalon, Ocean City, and Sea Isle. They're already together for the week, the kids are making memories with their cousins, and the grandparents get to soak it all in. It's honestly the perfect time to document this season of life.

One thing I hear all the time is, "We haven't had a picture with everyone together in years."

Sometimes it's been five years. Sometimes it's been twenty.

Those are the photos that end up meaning the most.

Of course we'll get the big family photo, but I don't stop there. I make sure we photograph each immediate family, grandparents with all the grandkids, the siblings together, the cousins, and plenty of candid moments too.

These are the photos that bring you right back to that vacation years later.

As a mom myself, I know how easy it is to put things off.

"We'll do it next year."

"The kids are in an awkward stage."

"We'll wait until everyone can make it."

But families change so quickly. Kids grow up, grandparents get older, and before you know it, those little moments are gone.

If your whole family is together in Avalon, Ocean City, or Sea Isle this summer, don't let the week go by without taking the pictures.

They're more than photos.

They're memories your kids will look back on one day and be so thankful they have.

And I have a feeling the grandparents will treasure them just as much.

xoxo

Stephanie