To many people, it’s fall, but in photographer land, it’s family picture season! Throughout the rest of the year, I do maybe one or two family session a month (the rest of the session are high school seniors and kids). In the fall, I do about two family sessions a week! Here are a few shots from one of last weekend’s families:
One of the biggest challenges when coordinating portraits for large groups is deciding what to wear. I usually tell families to choose a color scheme and stick to that. If the colors would look good all on one outfit, then they will look good when put together in the group portrait. Also, sticking with solids is best for groups, although you can get away with one or two people wearing a pattern as long as they don’t clash with each other. This family really nailed coordinating their clothing. Nice solid coordinating colors on the adults, with the two boys in similar but not identical striped shirts. As you can see, this makes for a much more interesting portrait than everyone wearing the exact same color and a much more organized portrait than everyone wearing non-matching clothing.
Certain extended family photo shoots make me a bit sad, and this was one of them. Here’s why–they were so much fun and you could tell they really enjoyed being together. I don’t have siblings, and groups like this make me feel like I’m really missing out! Maybe I will just have to have lots of kids. 
Here are my favorite shots from this session. It was coooooold but they did great–even the kids!
The whole gang:
Parents their kids with spouses, and grandkids:
Large group sessions always include shots of individual families:
And the kids:
Another couple:
The two good-looking people that started it all:
The five kids:
The weather was not cooperating for Miss L.’s session…our first date was a complete wash and it rained off and on all day. The second date we chose included rain as well…most of the morning, and then gray and overcast all afternoon. However, by 4:00, things were dry enough that we went ahead with the session, and I’m so glad we did!
The first few, in her Madrigrals costume, we took around her house:
And then a few at the covered bridge in Morrison. It’s a small spot, but worth stopping at for a few photographs if you are in the area. I think she made the most perfect wardrobe choices. This jacket looks amazing with her hair and eye color!
And then on the to park. She love spending time outdoors, and felt right at home.
Love the variety of colors of foliage here:
And then a shot back at her house again with her instrument:
