Chicago Extended Family Sessions in the Northwest Suburbs

When multiple generations of your family are together, finding the right time to document everyone can feel like a challenge. Between grandparents, siblings, cousins, little ones, and busy schedules, getting the whole family together is something worth celebrating — and preserving in photographs.

For families in the Chicago area, an extended family photography session in the northwest suburbs is a beautiful way to capture those connections in a relaxed, natural setting.

Whether your family is spread across Chicago and the suburbs or everyone is gathering for a special occasion, an extended family session gives you photographs that tell the story of your family as it is right now.

What Is an Extended Family Photography Session?

An extended family session is designed for multiple immediate families or several generations to be photographed together.

Instead of photographing just one household, we can include grandparents, adult children, grandchildren, siblings, cousins, and everyone in between.

A typical Chicago extended family session may include:

The entire extended family together

Each individual family unit

Grandparents with grandchildren

Parents with their children

Siblings together

Grandparents with their adult children

Smaller combinations that are meaningful to your family

Plenty of candid moments and natural interactions

The goal isn't simply to create one large group photograph. It's to document the relationships within your family so that everyone has photographs they'll treasure.

Where Can We Take Extended Family Photos in the Chicago Northwest Suburbs?

The northwest suburbs offer many beautiful options for family photography, from open fields and mature trees to wooded trails, gardens, and quiet neighborhood locations.

Depending on the season and the size of your group, locations in and around Northbrook, Glenview, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Barrington, Long Grove, Schaumburg, and surrounding northwest suburbs can provide a beautiful backdrop for an extended family session.

For larger groups, I typically look for locations that offer:

Plenty of open space

Easy parking and accessibility

Room for children to move around

Beautiful natural light

A variety of backgrounds

Comfortable options for grandparents and younger children

The best location isn't necessarily the most popular park. It's the location that allows your family to feel comfortable and connected.

How Many People Can Be Included in an Extended Family Session?

Extended family sessions can accommodate larger groups, but the ideal setup depends on the number of people and how you want your photographs to feel.

For a large family, we'll plan the session so we can photograph the entire group while also making time for smaller combinations.

For example, a family gathering with grandparents, three adult children and their families might include a large group photograph, individual family portraits, sibling photographs, grandparent portraits, and photographs of the grandchildren together.

This approach gives you a complete collection of images rather than just one photograph of everyone standing together.

What Should We Wear for a Large Family Photo Session?

For an extended family session, coordinating outfits is usually more effective than trying to make everyone match.

Choose colors that work well together without requiring everyone to wear the exact same thing. Soft neutrals, earthy tones, muted colors, and classic patterns tend to photograph beautifully outdoors.

A few helpful tips:

Start with a color palette rather than identical outfits.

Choose comfortable clothing, especially for young children.

Avoid large logos and distracting graphics.

Mix textures such as knits, denim, linen, and dresses.

Consider the season and location when choosing colors.

Give each family some flexibility while keeping the overall palette cohesive.

Most importantly, choose clothing that feels like you. The photographs should look timeless rather than overly coordinated.

What Happens During a Chicago Extended Family Session?

The session begins with the full family together, while everyone is still feeling fresh and organized. From there, we'll move through smaller groupings and combinations.

With large families, I don't expect everyone to stand still and smile for an hour. Especially with children, some of the best photographs happen in between the traditional portraits.

We'll make time for hugs, walking, playing, grandparents interacting with grandchildren, siblings laughing together, and all of those little moments that show your family's personality.

My goal is to keep the experience relaxed while making sure we capture the photographs that matter most.

When Is the Best Time for an Extended Family Session?

Extended family sessions can be photographed throughout the year, but the best season depends on the look you want and when your family will be together.

Spring offers fresh greenery and soft colors.

Summer is wonderful for families gathering during vacations, reunions, or visits from out of town.

Fall is especially popular in the Chicago suburbs because of the beautiful foliage and warm, earthy colors.

Winter can create a cozy, classic look, particularly when families want a more seasonal or holiday-focused session.

If your family lives in different states or cities, I recommend planning around when everyone will actually be together rather than waiting for the "perfect" season. Having everyone in one place is the most important part.

Why Schedule an Extended Family Session?

As families grow, it becomes increasingly difficult to get everyone together.

Grandchildren grow. Children become adults. Families move. Grandparents get older. Holidays and reunions come and go.

An extended family photography session gives you an opportunity to stop for a moment and document the people who make up your family.

Years from now, these photographs won't just show what everyone looked like. They'll remind you of who was there, how everyone was connected, and what your family looked like during this chapter of your lives.

Chicago Extended Family Photographer in the Northwest Suburbs

If you're looking for a Chicago extended family photographer serving the northwest suburbs, I'd love to help you plan a session that feels comfortable and meaningful for your entire family.

Whether you're planning a family reunion, celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary, visiting Chicago with extended family, or simply realizing that it's been far too long since everyone has been photographed together, an extended family session is a wonderful way to preserve this season of your family's life.

From the largest group portrait to the quiet moments between grandparents and grandchildren, we'll create a collection of photographs that tells the story of your family.

Extended Family Photography FAQs

How far in advance should we book an extended family session?

For large family groups, it's best to schedule as early as possible because coordinating multiple households can take time. If your family is traveling to the Chicago area, start planning as soon as you know when everyone will be together.

Can you photograph grandparents and grandchildren together?

Absolutely. Grandparent and grandchild photographs are often some of the most meaningful images from an extended family session. We'll make sure to include plenty of combinations so those relationships are documented.

Can each family have individual photographs?

Yes. An extended family session can include the entire group as well as individual family units, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and other combinations that are important to you.

Are extended family sessions only for family reunions?

Not at all. Families book extended sessions for reunions, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, vacations, new grandchildren, multi-generational gatherings, or simply because everyone happens to be together.

What if we have young children who won't sit still?

That's completely okay. Young children don't need to sit perfectly still for the entire session. Movement, play, cuddles, and interaction are all part of creating natural family photographs.

Do you photograph extended families outside of Chicago?

Yes. The northwest suburbs offer many beautiful locations for extended family photography, and sessions can be planned throughout the surrounding Chicago suburbs.

What is the best location for a large family photo session?

The best location depends on your group's size, ages, mobility, season, and preferred style. For extended families, I prioritize locations that are accessible, spacious, visually beautiful, and comfortable for everyone.

Ready to Plan Your Extended Family Session?

If your whole family will be together in the Chicago area, don't let the opportunity pass without documenting it.

An extended family photography session in the Chicago northwest suburbs is more than a group photograph. It's a chance to preserve the relationships, personalities, and connections that make your family yours.

When everyone is finally together, let's make photographs you'll want to keep for generations.