This shoot started long before we met. Courtney won a spot as a runner up winner in our Valentines Day Give Away in 2023. Her family like many families today is blended and scattered across the country. This would be their first family photo all together and felt it would make an amazing wedding gift to her parents-in-law as well as a beautiful momento of the first 6 months with her own first child. The stars could not have aligned more with her mothers birthday comming up as well – Courtney was not short of an excuse to hire a photographer and invest in a professional shoot.
Luckily, so luckily she won a spot in our giveaway which entitled her to a discount on her session fee and also a beautiful 10 inch wooden circle for her own home.
Finally the time arrived when all the “kids” would be in town at once for the birthday occasion. A short hike to the top of our shoot location allowed everyone to get to know our photographer Sudeep.
He is from Srilanka, has a wife and son of his own and has lots of photography experience. He has been working with Precious Pearl and our Sister Company Raj and Rani Photography for two years. He photographs all of our location giveaway winners, raj and rani clients and in home newborn sessions.
After a morning rain the colours were so vibrant, poetically complimenting the personalities of these fun-loving family members.
Choosing three locations for the group shoot with different light we then split off to have some individual shots of courtneys family.
I will let the images speak for themselves, lets just say the golden hour sunset came to play!
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN BOOKING A GENERATIONAL OR LARGE FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT
1. Keep everyone in similar colour tones but not matching exactly. Match again within family sets with either a pattern, texture or feature colour choice.
For example if you do warm earthy tones one family might do burnt orange another family chocolates and another family mustard as a feature colour. Then compliment with nuetral colours and tones but no more than three or it gets to busy instead individualise and add interest to individuals with accesories and layers.
2. You may need two photographers.
Golden Hour is just that – one hour.
When someone books a shoot they are the “primary family” and the focus will be on them for the individual and individual family shots. Other family members come to be in the group shot and to have their photo with the primary family.
If you would love each family and each family member to have their own family photos and individual portraits you will need a second photographer to make sure everyone gets to take advantage of the lovely golden light.
3. Bring some essentials
With group sessions there can be a little bit of standing around so make sure you have jackets and snacks for off camera time. If you have young kids avoid messy snacks and the temptation to entertain with electronic devices and toys because re-engaging them in the shoot can be difficult if you have to take away their toy or tv show. You will be in nature a game of hide and seek or a mini scavenger hunt will be better and easy to wrap up quickly.
